On 20 January 2026, the UK Department for Business and Trade (“DBT”) launched a major consultation inviting views on proposed refinements to the UK's competition regime (the “Consultation”), with a primary focus on the...more
A resilient electricity grid underpins modern economies and is essential for almost all day-to-day activities. As global energy demand continues to evolve in the context of decarbonisation, geopolitical risk, and...more
10/7/2025
/ Clean Energy ,
Electricity ,
Electricity Costs ,
Energy Policy ,
EU ,
Foreign Direct Investment ,
Goods or Services ,
Infrastructure ,
Liquid Natural Gas ,
National Security ,
Popular ,
Power Grid ,
R&D ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Supply Chain ,
UK
In recent years, competition authorities around the world have increasingly focused on labour markets. Following recent enforcement activity in the US, the EU and France (as well as in the UK), the CMA has further signalled...more
9/23/2025
/ Anticompetitive Behavior ,
Antitrust Provisions ,
Collective Bargaining ,
Competition ,
Competition Authorities ,
Confidential Information ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Contract ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Human Resources Professionals ,
International Labor Laws ,
New Guidance ,
No-Poaching ,
UK ,
UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) ,
Wage-Fixing
The U.S. and UK have this week confirmed their “Tech Prosperity Deal” in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) accompanied by a string of headline grabbing UK investment announcements by major U.S. tech players....more
In what was a busy week for the centre of Government in the UK, the Cabinet Office launched a consultation on proposed changes to the scope of the sectors subject to mandatory notification under the National Security and...more
At a time of marked geopolitical uncertainty, governments around Europe are committing to meaningful increases in defence spending, whilst also looking to private capital and investment to supplement public funds. This in...more
If the UK and China were friends on social media, their relationship status would be ‘it’s complicated’. China is integral to many integrated supply chains, globally as well as in the UK, and is also a significant source of...more
As 2025 begins, the foreign direct investment (FDI) landscape continues to evolve at a rapid pace. Driven by geopolitical shifts, technological advancements, and changing regulatory priorities, businesses must navigate an...more
In line with international and European developments, Ireland has introduced a new regime to provide for a process to allow for certain transactions that may present risks to the security or public order of the State to be...more
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) has published an “Update Paper” outlining its evolving views on AI foundation models as well as its approach to supporting Government consideration on possible regulation. This...more
During the course of 2023, the screening of foreign direct investment (FDI) continued to be an item at the top of the agenda when planning and executing global M&A transactions, as well as greenfield cross-border investments....more
Further to the UK CMA’s ‘Initial Review’ of AI foundation models back in May, the regulator has now published an ‘Initial Report’ setting out its evolving thinking on the regulation of AI. While there are no immediate...more
The UK Government has published its second Annual Report on the functioning of the National Security and Investment regime, providing high-level statistics on how the regime has functioned over the past year. The report...more
Following the publication of the UK Government’s AI White Paper in March 2023, the CMA is becoming increasingly active in considering publicly the direction of AI regulation in the UK in order to promote competition for the...more
The highly anticipated Memorandum of Understanding on scrutiny of the Investment Security Unit (“ISU”) between the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee (“BEIS Committee”) and the ISU (the “MoU”) agreed on 14...more
The increasing number and complexity of foreign direct investment (FDI) screening regimes requires careful navigation when planning and executing global M&A transactions, as well as greenfield cross-border investments. In...more
This year will likely be significant in setting the ambit and intensity in which the High Court reviews decisions made by Government under the National Security and Investment Act 2021 (the "NSIA"). In particular, the High...more
The National Security and Investment Act 2021 (NSIA) came into force a year ago, ushering in a new era of investment control in the UK. Though not without teething issues, the NSIA appears to be working well, and is...more
The UK Government has, for one of the very first times, used its new national security powers to intervene in respect of a transaction. This new intervention is in respect of the acquisition of asset development rights to an...more
The UK Government this week prohibited the acquisition of intellectual property owned by University of Manchester by a Chinese company – marking the first time the UK Government has exercised its powers to block a transaction...more
The UK Government has published its first Annual Report on the functioning of the recently implemented National Security and Investment regime, which gives the Government the power to scrutinise certain acquisitions and...more
There are just over two months to go until the National Security and Investment (NSI) regime goes fully live in the UK – now is the time to ensure you are up to speed on how it will impact your acquisitions and investments. ...more
The CMA has imposed a record fine on an Irish trading software supplier for alleged breaches of a ‘hold separate order’ in relation to the completed purchase of a US rival. This is the latest instance in a string of fines...more
In what could herald the most significant changes to the UK competition regime in 25 years, the UK Government has announced a series of proposed reforms to UK competition law enforcement. The stated aims of the reforms are...more
The UK’s much publicised National Security and Investment Bill has now been granted Royal Assent – passing into law an Act which will significantly affect the way investments in the UK can be reviewed by the Government where...more