Business Law and Corporate Law

A letter of wishes is a flexible companion document to your Will that allows you to record personal preferences, explain decisions, and provide guidance to executors or trustees. While not legally binding, it offers valuable insight into your intentions regarding personal belongings, funeral preferences, and trust management, and can be updated at any time without changing your Will.

When divorce involves significant wealth, one of the hardest questions is whether you can trust the financial picture being presented to you. You may be worried that assets are being hidden, undervalued or moved out of reach. Or you may be a business owner, entrepreneur or someone with inherited wealth who is concerned about how to protect assets properly without being accused of concealment. These are very different concerns, but they often meet at the same point: the need for clear, accurate financial disclosure and a strategy that protects your position from the outset.

Estate planning extends beyond wealth transfer after death—it's about protecting children throughout their lives. From appointing guardians for young children to managing financial needs during education and early adulthood, proper planning provides security and stability. Tailored provisions can safeguard vulnerable beneficiaries, ensure continuity through Lasting Powers of Attorney, and create lasting legacies for future generations.

Privilege rules vary significantly across jurisdictions, so it’s important not to assume your home country position “travels”.

This review examines five recent court decisions addressing critical procedural and liability issues in civil litigation. From pre-action costs disputes and small claims track protections to privilege hunting abuses and the evolving landscape of omnibus claim forms, these cases provide essential guidance on contemporary litigation challenges and judicial approaches to procedural fairness.

The European Commission's broad information-gathering powers under EU competition law have been reinforced by the General Court's dismissal of Broadcom's challenge to document production requests. The case raises critical questions about the extent to which the Commission can compel production of documents held overseas that are subject to legal professional privilege in other jurisdictions, particularly communications with non-EU qualified external counsel.

Explore the latest commercial legal developments and regulatory updates from across Europe in this curated collection of insights. This edition covers key business law changes, compliance requirements, and strategic considerations affecting multiple jurisdictions from Austria to the United Kingdom.

A UK court has ruled that contracting authorities cannot rely on self-created urgency to justify direct awards under the Procurement Act 2023, and that contract award notices must independently contain accurate justification information. The decision establishes that courts will scrutinize the factual basis of urgency claims and may treat inaccurate notices as if they were never published, potentially allowing contracts to be set aside even after voluntary standstill periods.

Competition law affects every business, regardless of size or sector. Whether you’re negotiating with suppliers, submitting tenders or discussing pricing strategies, the rules governing anti-competitive behaviour are always in play. Getting it wrong can result in significant fines, director disqualification and even criminal prosecution.

A landmark High Court ruling confirms that minority shareholders can pursue unfair prejudice claims under s994 Companies Act 2006 even when their losses mirror company losses, rejecting the reflective loss principle as a barrier. The decision provides crucial clarity on shareholder remedies when directors misappropriate company funds and establishes important precedent for structuring such claims.

The Supreme Court has delivered a landmark judgment clarifying the scope of directors' duties under section 172 of the Companies Act 2006, examining whether a director can act unilaterally based on personal belief when such action conflicts with fellow directors and established corporate governance arrangements. This decision has significant implications for directors, shareholders and those involved in corporate governance, particularly in private companies and investment-backed businesses with agreed exit

In a landmark High Court ruling, two former Petrofac directors facing bribery charges have secured the right to continue receiving defence cost coverage from their insurers under a Directors and Officers policy. The decision addresses fundamental questions about when insurers can avoid policies based on alleged fraud and establishes important precedents for executive protection during criminal proceedings.