On 23 September the Government announced its ‘Growth Plan 2022’ (Growth Plan). It was intended, the Government said, to tackle rising energy costs, bring down inflation and help businesses and households alike. Instead, it caused a sudden and significant rise in interest rates which caused havoc for defined benefit (DB) pension schemes with liability driven investment (LDI) strategies ...
What are Digital Assets? The Official Bermuda Definition The definition of "digital asset" under Bermuda's Digital Asset Business Act 2018 ("DABA") is: "anything that exists in binary format and comes with the right to use it and includes a digital representation of value that – (a) is used as a medium of exchange, unit of account, or store of value and is not legal tender… &nbs
On December 14, 2022, the National Labor Relations Board reinstated a previous test used to determine which employees must be included in an appropriate bargaining unit. In American Steel Construction, Inc., 372 NLRB No. 23 (2022), the Board overruled the test established in PCC Structurals, 365 NLRB No. 160 (2017), and The Boeing Co., 368 NLRB No. 67 (2019), opting to return to the test set forth in Specialty Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center of Mobile, 357 NLRB 934 (2011) ...
The SEC, in a unanimous vote, adopted final rules on December 14, 2022 amending Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Additionally, it includes related amendments concerning disclosures about insider trading policies, disclosures about equity awards made close in time to the disclosure of material nonpublic information and the reporting of gifts by insiders ...
On December 19, 2022, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) issued a proposed rule that, if enacted, will permit prime contractors to receive small-business subcontracting credit for subcontracts at any tier. The deadline for comments on this proposed rule is February 17, 2023. 13 Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) § 125 ...
Financial Services Principles-based sustainable and responsible investment (“SRI”) taxonomy for Malaysian capital market 9th Meeting of Joint Committee on Climate Change (“JC3”) Meeting Revision to Guidelines on the Registration of Venture Capital and Private Equity Corporations and Management Corporations Bank Negara Malaysia issues exposure draft on Capital Adequacy Framework (Basel III — Risk Weighted Assets) — Operationa
On December 13, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) published a decision in the case of Thryv, Inc. and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 1269 that promises to substantially expand the available financial penalties that the Board can require employers to pay if they are found to have infringed upon employees’ rights under the National Labor Relations Act ...
On 14 December 2022, the People's Bank of China ("PBOC") issued for public comments the Measures for Administration and Supervision of Financial Market Infrastructures (the "FMI Measures"). The public comment period is open until 14 January 2023 ...
Maritime operators should diligently enact and follow policies and procedures on personal leave and drinking ashore. In a recent decision from the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana, the court refused to dismiss claims against a tugboat operator by estates of two crewmembers killed while operating a skiff, In re Chester J. Marine, LLC, No. 20-214 (M.D. La. Nov. 10, 2022) ...
Financial Services Exposure draft on licensing framework for digital insurers and takaful operators Amendment to the Guidelines on Recognised Markets Guidelines on Islamic Capital Market Products and Services
The season of goodwill is upon us, with retailers and the press announcing Christmas charity partnerships to raise funds for good causes, but the cost-of-living crisis will still be with us in 2023. Charities are increasingly feeling a greater level of pressure to be the first line of defence as gaps in public services open up and they face a “triple threat” of increasing running costs (in particular, energy bills), rising service demand, and falling incomes ...
Over the past few weeks, the European Union has issued somewhat of a landmark act which is aimed at addressing the topical issue surrounding the lack of women in top-level corporate positions ...
In this case the debtor argued the underlying debt was disputed. The Royal Court agreed with Carey Olsen that a claim is not disputed for the purposes of a creditors’ winding up application unless it is the subject of a “substantial dispute”. New regime On 1 March 2022 a new creditor instigated insolvent company winding-up regime came into force in Jersey. Carey Olsen discussed it in detail here ...
Renewable energy developers and contractors have been anticipating the Treasury Department and IRS’s initial guidance on what is required to satisfy the prevailing wage and apprentice requirements under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) ...
On 5 December 2022, the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (“MLVT”) issued Notification 045/22 on Extending the Deadline for the 2023 Foreign Employee Quota Application (“Notification”). Through the Notification, the MLVT has delayed the submission deadline for 2023 foreign employee quota applications until 31 January 2023, being two months after the original deadline ...
On the twelfth day of Christmas, HR asked with heavy hearts “should we delay dismissing an employee until the New Year starts?" After much deliberation, they decided … no Dealing with redundancies or other dismissals is challenging at any time of the year, never mind in the run up to Christmas when everyone is already feeling the pinch of their purse strings whilst trying to stay afloat with festive joy ...
In a Pre-Budget Report (PBR) announced to Parliament last week, the Government has set out its priorities for next year's budget. These include proposals to increase revenues via significant changes to the current employment tax regime. Perhaps the most headline-grabbing aspect of these potential reforms is the proposal to increase the employer portion of payroll tax for exempted companies, from 10.25% to 10.75% ...
One of the common complaints that commercial entities have about international arbitration in Thailand is the costs. Whilst in the past, international arbitration has been promoted as being cheaper than court litigation, in practice this has not always been the case, particularly in the case of complex commercial disputes or investor state arbitration. Third party funding can dramatically change this landscape ...
Just weeks after the “implosion” of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, credit services provider BlockFi filed for Chapter 11 protection with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey, indicating that it is burdened with billions of dollars of estimated liabilities and more than 100,000 creditors ...
Jeremy Hunt’s speech on 9th December heralds the (delayed) arrival of the anticipated reform of consumer credit in the UK…and much more. But will the fanfare live up to the industry’s expectations? The financial services sector have faced unprecedented challenges over the last few years, particularly those involved in the provision of consumer credit ...
On the 11th day of Christmas, HR heard management say…“if they all work at Christmas, how much must we pay”? A weary HR team replied - whatever the contract says! Once again employers should initially turn to the contract of employment for the answer, which will vary from employer to employer and could include any of the following: You will receive normal salary for any time worked on a public holiday but will be rewarded with an equivalent day off in lieu to be taken at a
With an estimated 3.5 million people suffering from fertility issues in the UK, and with fertility treatment involving an emotionally draining not to mention a long, costly and risky process, it is unsurprising that Nickie Aiken MP has begun a campaign for change and better employment rights for individuals and couples undergoing fertility treatment ...
On 23 September 2021, the government published a consultation paper on ‘making flexible working the default’. The response to this consultation has now been published (on 5 December 2022). Overall, the responses to the consultation were broadly in favour of the proposed change ...
