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The EU Compliance headache you don't know you have? A priority primer on the European Accessibility Act

Published on 31 Oct 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner and Hettie Homewood , Senior Associate

It is now less than a year until the EU Accessibility Act (EAA) comes into force, which will require businesses to ensure a range of products (eg smartphones and computers) and services (eg e-commerce services, consumer banking services, and ebooks) are accessible for persons with disabilities.

Seeing the wood for the trees: preparing for new deforestation due diligence rules in the UK and EU

Published on 24 Oct 2024. By Sophie Tuson, Senior Associate, Environment and Climate Change Practice Lead

Navigating retail's sustainable revolution as ESG shapes the industry's future

Published on 02 Oct 2024. By Kimberley Nanson, Senior Communications Manager and Caroline Copland, Head of Marketing Communications

As the retail regulatory landscape continues to develop at pace and affordability and sustainability remain important for consumers, ESG poses a variety of opportunities and challenges for those in the retail and consumer market.

The EU's Green Claims Directive

Published on 24 Jul 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner and Ciara Cullen, Partner and Hettie Homewood , Senior Associate and Sophie Tuson, Senior Associate, Environment and Climate Change Practice Lead

The EU's proposed Green Claims Directive (GCD) sets out expansive new rules for companies making green claims in the EU.

What if the CEO asks me... about ESG-linked financing facilities

Published on 28 Sep 2021. By Edward Colville, Partner and Sukh Ahark, Partner, Co-head of India Practice

As focus moves from short term lockdown liquidity on to longer term financing needs, loan facilities linked to ESG and sustainability targets are back in the news.

New legislation proposed to bring FCA regulation to cryptoasset promotions

Published on 07 Jul 2023. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner

What will the Government’s new legislation mean for the promotion of cryptoassets?

D'Aloia – High Noon for Crypto-Tracing

Published on 17 Oct 2024. By Dan Wyatt, Partner and Christopher Whitehouse, Senior Associate

The High Court judgment in D'Aloia v. Persons Unknown and others [2024] EWHC 2342 (Ch) is arguably the most significant crypto judgment of 2024. Critical deficiencies in the claimant's blockchain tracing analysis, evidence presented at trial and pleadings were ultimately fatal to his claims seeking to recover assets misappropriated by fraudsters.

Crypto damages quantification: valuation at the date of breach or date of judgment?

Published on 10 Jul 2024. By Dan Wyatt, Partner and Christopher Whitehouse, Senior Associate

In Southgate v. Graham [2024] EWHC 1692 (Ch), the High Court addressed an appeal from the County Court concerning inter alia the appropriate date for assessing damages in a cryptocurrency loan dispute. Initially, the County Court determined that the damages should be based on the cryptocurrency's fiat value at the breach date. Due to the volatility of the cryptocurrency, this decision would have resulted in significantly lower fiat damages award than if the valuation were based on a later date. The High Court allowed the valuation date part of the appeal, directing a further hearing to establish the appropriate date.

Summary judgment against persons unknown – a tale of two crypto judgments

Published on 09 May 2024. By Dan Wyatt, Partner and Christopher Whitehouse, Senior Associate

Two recent crypto judgements in the High Court, Mooij v Persons Unknown (February 2024) and Boonyaem v Persons Unknown (December 2023) reached different conclusions regarding whether a summary judgment could be granted against unidentified (and unidentifiable) fraudsters, with Mooji deciding 'yes' and Boonyaem deciding 'no'.

Binance successfully challenges interim proprietary injunction over deposited cryptoassets

Published on 24 May 2023. By Dan Wyatt, Partner and Christopher Whitehouse, Senior Associate

In Piroozzadeh v Persons Unknown and Others [2023] EWHC 1024 (Ch), the cryptocurrency exchange Binance successfully applied to discharge an interim proprietary injunction obtained by a claimant whose misappropriated cryptoassets had been deposited at the exchange. This is the first recorded case of an exchange successfully having discharged such an injunction.

The FTX fallout so far and what may come next

Published on 16 Dec 2022. By Dan Wyatt, Partner

The collapse of FTX Trading Ltd. has been as dramatic as it has been fast. Until then, FTX had been the second-largest exchange in the world.

Three Crypto firsts for the English courts

Published on 22 Nov 2022. By Dan Wyatt, Partner and George Fahey , Associate

The recent judgment handed down in Jones v Persons Unknown [2022] EWHC 2543 (Comm) contained three firsts in the English Court: the imposition of a constructive trust between a crypto exchange and a victim of crypto fraud, an order for delivery up of Bitcoin, and summary judgment served by NFT airdrop. It shows the English courts' continued willingness to push the boundaries of English law in relation to the recovery of misappropriated cryptoassets. The innovative application of English law procedures and remedies to the growing problem of crypto theft and fraud is of considerable assistance to the victims of this pernicious and widespread fraudulent activity.

You've been airdropped: English court approves service by NFT and finds it arguable that cryptocurrency-exchanges hold misappropriated assets as constructive trustees

Published on 03 Aug 2022. By Dan Wyatt, Partner and Christopher Whitehouse, Senior Associate and Becky Baker , Associate

In D’Aloia v (1) Persons Unknown (2) Binance Holdings Limited & Others [2022] EWHC 1723 (Ch), the English court approved service of proceedings by NFT and found that it was arguable that cryptocurrency exchanges owed constructive trustee duties to cyber-fraud victims.

First judgment obtained in proceedings brought by a cryptocurrency exchange in the English Courts

Published on 13 Jul 2022. By Christopher Whitehouse, Senior Associate and Jonathan Cary, Partner

In HDR v Shulev and Nexo [2022] EWHC 1685 (Comm), HDR (represented by RPC), which operates the cryptocurrency exchange BitMEX, initiated stakeholder proceedings under CPR Part 86 to resolve a dispute between two rival parties claiming control, and ownership of the contents, of a trading account.

Injunction granted over stolen NFTs held on constructive trust

Published on 10 Jun 2022. By Christopher Whitehouse, Senior Associate and Dan Wyatt, Partner and George Fahey , Associate

In a highly anticipated judgment, the Commercial Court in Lavinia Deborah Osbourne v (1) Persons Unknown (2) Ozone Networks Inc held that "there is at least a realistically arguable case" that non-fungible tokens ('NFTs') are to be treated as property in English Law.

Is the crypto market at the end of its Tether?

Published on 18 May 2022. By Christopher Whitehouse, Senior Associate

The crashing out of Terra has unleashed fears of unsettled investors, rising disputes and fraud exposure.

High Court finds that a cryptocurrency exchange arrangement was not a trust

Published on 16 Feb 2022. By Dan Wyatt, Partner and Christopher Whitehouse, Senior Associate

The High Court decided that no trust could arise where two parties had agreed to an exchange of cryptocurrencies (in essence a sale and repurchase agreement), as the essential economic reciprocity precluded the existence of any trust.

Crypto-assets again confirmed as property by the English Commercial Court

Published on 26 Aug 2021. By Dan Wyatt, Partner and Christopher Whitehouse, Senior Associate and Becky Baker , Associate

In the Commercial Court's latest crypto-related judgment, Fetch.AI(1), a proprietary injunction and worldwide freezing order were granted against various categories of persons unknown who had misappropriated various crypto-assets from one of the claimant's Binance trading accounts. In doing so, the Court agreed with the key finding in the seminal case AA v Persons Unknown, Re Bitcoin [2019] EWHC 3556 (Comm) – that bitcoin is 'property' – albeit it did so on a different basis.

No interim injunction over bitcoin account where damages would be adequate

Published on 03 Sep 2020. By Dan Wyatt, Partner and Christopher Whitehouse, Senior Associate

The court has declined to continue interim injunctions granted in respect of a 'coin depot account' holding bitcoin over which the claimants asserted a proprietary right.

Bitcoin is 'property' and can therefore be subject of proprietary injunction

Published on 03 Feb 2020. By Christopher Whitehouse, Senior Associate

Following recent case law on the matter, the High Court has found that bitcoin can be 'property' and can therefore be the subject of a proprietary injunction.(1) In reaching its conclusion, the court adopted the detailed analysis of the issue set out in the UK Jurisdictional Task Force's November 2019 Legal Statement on Crypto-Assets and Smart Contracts, thereby providing a far more detailed judicial basis for the finding than found in previous cases. The bitcoins at the heart of this case were part of a ransom payment paid to a hacker who installed malware on a company's IT systems.

Regulation of cryptocurrency pre-ICO funding under English Law

Published on 15 May 2018.

Launching a cryptocurrency typically involves an initial fundraising process followed by a public sale process, by way of initial coin offering or token sale ("ICO").

Hong Kong regulator warns of cryptocurrency risks

Published on 09 Feb 2018. By Jonathan Cary, Partner

Myth busting and moving the dial in DEI

Published on 20 Aug 2024. By Kelly Thomson, Partner, ESG Strategy Lead and Rachel Pears, Head of Responsible Business and Katie Horn, DEIB and Responsible Business Manager (Market Facing)

This article is a summary of a session delivered by Kelly Thomson (Partner, Employment, Engagement & Equality and ESG Strategy Lead at RPC) and Rachel Pears (Head of Responsible Business at RPC), at the second Annual D&I Conference, in partnership with the British Retail Consortium (BRC). During this particular session, common myths and misconceptions surrounding Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) were discussed and different sides of various issues were dissected, drawing out the nuances of seemingly polarised positional statements. Below, we address a handful of these myths, offering a balanced perspective on the complexities of DEI and exploring how to drive meaningful progress in our organisations.

Employer lessons from teacher's menopause bias win

Published on 17 Jul 2024. By Kelly Thomson, Partner, ESG Strategy Lead and Ellie Gelder, Senior Editor Employment & Equality

On May 31, a Scottish employment tribunal made its decision in Allison Shearer v. South Lanarkshire Council and awarded a teacher over £60,000 ($77,829) for disability discrimination and unfair dismissal, following her dismissal for ill health after a period of long¬term sickness absence.

Menopause discrimination: Where are we now?

Published on 16 Nov 2023. By Ellie Gelder, Senior Editor Employment & Equality and Kelly Thomson, Partner, ESG Strategy Lead and Victoria Othen, External Consultant

October heralded an important legal first when a Leicester employment tribunal began hearing the case of Rooney v Leicester City Council. It is the first case where a person's menopausal symptoms have been deemed by an appeal court to potentially amount to a disability for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010.

Adjusting your recruitment process for a candidate with a disability: What is reasonable?

Published on 18 Sep 2023. By Ellie Gelder, Senior Editor Employment & Equality and Charlotte Reid, Senior Associate

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has held that a failure to make enquiries into a job applicant's disability amounted to a failure to make reasonable adjustments.

Recent judgment on ad hoc admission of overseas counsel tells of wider COVID-19 story

Published on 10 Dec 2021. By Samuel Hung, Partner and Jennifer Leung, Associate and James Lee, Associate

Applications for ad hoc admission, pursuant to section 27(4) of the Ordinance, are fact dependent and the relevant legal principles are well-established.

Disputes Yearbook 2021: Retail disputes

Published on 04 May 2021. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial

As part of the acclaimed Disputes Yearbook, Legal Business interviewed members of our disputes team exploring the litigation landscape and what RPC brings to the table.

High Court permits enforcement of foreign judgment in crypto recovery case

Published on 22 Jul 2024. By Dan Wyatt, Partner and Christopher Whitehouse, Senior Associate

Tai Mo Shan Ltd v. Persons Unknown [2024] EWHC 1514 (Comm)

RPC earns top ranking for Crypto-Asset Disputes in the UK

Published on 05 Dec 2023. By Dan Wyatt, Partner and Sarah Mountain, Partner

International law firm RPC has been ranked for the first time in Chambers and Partners 2024 FinTech Guide, achieving Band 1 for Crypto-Asset Disputes in the UK.

Cracking Down on High-Risk Investments: FCA considers industry performance

Published on 11 Oct 2023. By Dorian Nunzek, Trainee Solicitor

After introducing stricter rules for the promotion of Restricted Mass Market Investments (RMMIs) in February 2023, the FCA continues to monitor the performance of firms, is conducting a multi-firm review and has outlined good and poor practices in the industry.

FCA rules could trigger 'marked drop' in finfluencers marketing crypto

Published on 09 Oct 2023. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner and Hettie Homewood , Senior Associate

Regulator clamping down over concerns consumers are being 'influenced into high risk investments without understanding consequences'

The FCA sets expectations ahead of incoming cryptoasset marketing rules

Published on 28 Sep 2023. By Kerone Thomas, Associate and Faheem Pervez, Associate

The FCA has issued a "final warning" to firms promoting cryptoassets to UK consumers to prepare for the cryptoassets financial promotion regime. Effective from 8 October 2023, this regime aims to protect consumers from promotions that make exaggerated claims about the benefits in investing in cryptoassets.

What To Know About AI Fraudsters Before Facing Disputes

Published on 29 Aug 2023. By Dan Wyatt, Partner and Christopher Whitehouse, Senior Associate

Fraudsters are quick to weaponise new technological developments and artificial intelligence is proving no exception, with AI-assisted scams increasingly being reported in the news, including most recently one using a likeness of a BBC broadcaster.

Value of NFT fraud plummets 82% in UK

Published on 18 Aug 2023. By Dan Wyatt, Partner and Christopher Whitehouse, Senior Associate

The value of Non-Fungible Token (NFT) fraud in the UK has dropped 82% over the last year as the collapse in prices and lower trading volumes make these digital assets less attractive to fraudsters, reveals new data from international law firm RPC.

Crypto: issues for solicitors and their PI insurers

Published on 31 May 2023. By Simy Khanna, Partner and Harriet Keltie, Senior Associate

We explore the types of work lawyers are doing in this area, the risks this work may give rise to and issues for solicitors and their PI insurers to consider.

Crypto & Digital Assets Disputes

Our crypto and digital asset dispute lawyers have deep technical knowledge of the sector and the technology powering it alongside vast experience in navigating the commercial and legal complexities. Where fraud has occurred, we move fast to secure and recover stolen digital assets.

Green claims update: December 2024

Published on 17 Dec 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner and Ciara Cullen, Partner and Hettie Homewood , Senior Associate and Sophie Tuson, Senior Associate, Environment and Climate Change Practice Lead

Welcome to our round-up of the key legal and regulatory developments relating to green claims.

Navigating risk in the energy transition (With Joe Dutton)

Published on 07 Nov 2024.

Welcome to Insurance Covered, the podcast that covers everything insurance. In this episode Peter is joined by Joe Dutton, Energy Innovation Lead, at AXIS and in this episode they discuss a recent report Joe co-wrote, Navigating Risk in the Energy Transition.

Green claims update: October 2024

Published on 31 Oct 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner and Ciara Cullen, Partner and Hettie Homewood , Senior Associate and Sophie Tuson, Senior Associate, Environment and Climate Change Practice Lead

Welcome to our round-up of the key legal and regulatory developments relating to green claims.

The insurance of systemic risks (Trevor Maynard)

Published on 23 Oct 2024.

Welcome to Insurance Covered, the podcast that covers everything insurance. In this episode Peter is joined by Trevor Maynard, Senior Insurance Advisor at Insurtech Sotera and Vice Chair and Executive Director at Cambridge Centre for Risk Studies. In this episode they discuss systemic risks.

Sustainability and insurance (with Rachel Delhaise)

Published on 01 Oct 2024.

Welcome to Insurance Covered, the podcast that covers everything insurance. In this episode Peter is joined by Rachel Delhaise, Head of Sustainability at Convex Insurance. In this episode they discuss her role as Head of Sustainability and what that means for insurance.

Green claims update: September 2024

Published on 26 Sep 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner and Ciara Cullen, Partner and Hettie Homewood , Senior Associate and Sophie Tuson, Senior Associate, Environment and Climate Change Practice Lead

Welcome to our round-up of the key legal and regulatory developments relating to green claims.

Navigating the ISSB’s sustainability disclosure standards: practical insights

Published on 26 Sep 2024. By Sophie Tuson, Senior Associate, Environment and Climate Change Practice Lead and Connor Cahalane, Partner, Head of Public Companies

The global sustainability reporting landscape is evolving fast. In 2025, the UK government will consult on new sustainability reporting standards for large and listed companies based on the ISSB’s sustainability disclosure standards.

Staying green and true: navigating the new FCA anti-greenwashing rule

Published on 30 Aug 2024. By Mike Newham, Partner and Sophie Tuson, Senior Associate, Environment and Climate Change Practice Lead and Catherine Zakarias-Welch, Knowledge Lawyer

In an era where sustainability is now firmly on the investor agenda and under increasing scrutiny, the FCA has recently introduced a new 'anti-greenwashing' rule to prevent firms from exaggerating the green or social credentials of their products and services. The implications of the new rule are significant, with the risk of regulatory action and civil claims for non-compliance. Against this backdrop, IR professionals can play a key role in helping ensure transparency with investors, raising the firm's profile in the sustainability space and mitigating legal risk.

Green claims update: July 2024

Published on 31 Jul 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner and Ciara Cullen, Partner and Hettie Homewood , Senior Associate and Sophie Tuson, Senior Associate, Environment and Climate Change Practice Lead

Welcome to our round-up of the key legal and regulatory developments relating to green claims.

The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive expert briefing

Published on 08 Jul 2024. By Sam Tate, Partner and Sophie Tuson, Senior Associate, Environment and Climate Change Practice Lead and Thomas Jenkins, Senior Associate and Robert Semp, Associate and Sarah Barrie, Associate and Eve Matthews, Associate

The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) was adopted on 24 May 2024 and was published in the Official Journal of the EU on 5 July. This means the law will enter into force 20 days later on 26 July, and will apply to companies from 2027.

Green claims update: June 2024

Published on 02 Jul 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner and Ciara Cullen, Partner and Hettie Homewood , Senior Associate and Sophie Tuson, Senior Associate, Environment and Climate Change Practice Lead

Welcome to our round-up of the key legal and regulatory developments relating to green claims.

Environmental sustainability: a snapshot of a changing regulatory landscape

Published on 01 Jul 2024. By Sophie Tuson, Senior Associate, Environment and Climate Change Practice Lead

Sophie Tuson charts the key legal developments in the UK and EU across the product lifecycle and flags practical considerations for businesses.