This article reviews some of the latest innovative structures in ESG derivatives, as described in ISDA’s recent paper Overview of ESG-related Derivatives Products and Transactions of January 2021 and considers some of the legal and drafting issues which those structures raise.
13 June 2024The 6AMLD has been introduced and implemented to provide stricter measures in the fight against money laundering. In particular, criminal sanctions both by way of imprisonment and fine are increased. Further, 6AMLD broadens the scope of financial crimes being dealt with. However, whilst 5AMLD has been incorporated into the UK’s domestic legislation, 6AMLD will not be implemented. This is because the UK has its own strict measures in place for AML offences.
13 June 2024This article discusses findings from a new book which examines secured transactions law in thirteen Asian countries. Special focus is given to the drivers, substance and process of law reform, and lessons are drawn from the Asian experience that could aid a broader understanding of the principles and policies shaping legal development in this area.
13 June 2024This article examines the problem of “liquidity mismatch” within certain categories of retail funds and assesses whether recent new rules and proposals from UK regulators adequately address that issue.
13 June 2024This article emerged in response to the onslaught of publicity generated by the insolvency of Greensill. For many this has been their first true introduction to supply chain finance and the coverage has not been very positive. Every few years the collapse of an industry stalwart or promising up-and-comer is held up as a cautionary tale, emblematic of underlying weaknesses or failings of its sector. However, it would be unfortunate to let Greensill’s legacy be the tarring of supply chain finance in general when it plays such an important role in facilitating global trade.
13 June 2024Holders of Islamic financial instruments (often creditors) carry well-justified expectations that offerors and issuers (often borrowers) will observe the highest levels of integrity, transparency and proper (non-prevaricatory) conduct. The discussion surrounding the legal ramifications and impact on the Islamic financial services industry of Dana Gas PJSC v Dana Gas Sukuk Ltd and others [2017] EWHC 2928 (Comm) (17 November 2017) (Dana Gas PJSC) is therefore still incomplete. The High Court’s decision to rule the Purchase Undertaking valid and enforceable, regardless of whether the Mudarabah Agreement governing the Sukuk had been Shariah complaint or not, barely scratched the surface. Indeed, if anything, what has come out of the High court in Dana Gas PJSC is that not much has been said in a manner which would have addressed fundamental questions pertaining to Sukuk in a norm-setting way.
13 June 2024In this article, the authors consider some of the key international developments in Q4 2020 relating to LIBOR transition. They conclude that parties should exercise significant caution before signing up to the ISDA 2020 IBOR Fallbacks Protocol.
13 June 2024This article summarises the post-Brexit position regarding inbound and outbound recognition of insolvency and restructuring proceedings between the UK and the EU.
13 June 2024In this article we consider what duties are owed by a lender in the period after default by the borrower, but before any appointment or other enforcement steps are taken. We do so in the context of the question of what duties are owed in relation to restructuring services or actions of the lender having regard, in particular to the recent decision and observations of the Court of Appeal in Morley Estates v Royal Bank of Scotland [2021] EWCA Civ 338. We start by considering the question of why there is a need for protection and then seek to identify the case in favour of lenders’ duties being owed in the context of the decision made in Morley Estates v RBS at first instance and in the Court of Appeal.
13 June 2024In this article Professor Suzanne Rab responds to the Financial Market Law Commission’s clarion call to consider key competition issues arising from a move to Risk Free Rates (RFR) or similar. She identifies challenges for the competition law regulation of banking benchmarking practices that need to be addressed.
13 June 2024