In This Issue:

- Features

..Investors in Africa Benefit from Regional Trading Blocs

..Understanding the COMESA Merger Control Regime

..Protecting Your UK Business Against Departing Employees

..China's New Trade Mark Law: Implications for International Brand Protection Strategy

..Latin American Private Equity on the Rise

..Controlling Costs in International Arbitration

- Focus on Mining and Metals

..Environmental Regulatory Developments Affecting Coal Mining in the United States

..US Metal Products Industries Must Still Rely on Import Relief to Protect Against Competitive Imports

..Legal Developments Affecting Mining in Africa

..Termination or Novation of Metal Hedges in M&A Transactions

- Excerpt from Investors in Africa Benefit from Regional Trading Blocs:

An investor new to Africa needs to understand not only the relevant local laws but also the applicable regional arrangements. Africa has multiple regional trading blocs, some of which provide significant advantages for investors. The main regional trading blocs are

..The Economic Organisation of West African States (ECOWAS), which comprises 15 western African states with a population of about 300 million