In this episode of Defining Matters, partners Kam Jamshidi and Simon Walker unpack one of the most important and frequently negotiated provisions in public M&A transactions: standstills.

Using notable Takeovers Panel decisions, including Diatreme/Metallica and International All Sports, Kam and Simon explore the commercial and legal tensions that arise between bidders seeking flexibility and targets seeking protection.

Key topics include:

• The role and purpose of standstills in public M&A
• How bidders and targets approach key negotiating points
• The importance of due diligence access and information-sharing
• What recent Takeovers Panel decisions mean for dealmakers
• Why parties should not expect the Panel to rewrite a bargain once it has been struck

A great discussion on the negotiation, strategy and risk considerations shaping today's public M&A transactions.

The ways in which regulators respond when things go wrong is continuing to evolve. In this episode of the FSR Brief, Jon Ford, Michael Tan and Eva Barbosa discuss the Financial Conduct Authority's ("FCA") Enforcement Watch 2, including consumer duty investigations and the continued use of assertive supervision alongside/ in lieu of enforcement, the Financial Reporting Council's ("FRC") changes to its Audit Enforcement Procedure to introduce new routes to resolution, including an Early Admissions Process, and the latest case brought by the Prudential Regulation Authority using the Early Account Scheme. They share insights into these different approaches and consider whether there may be learnings that could be shared across regulators.

See here our blogs on the changes to the FRC's Audit Enforcement Procedure and the FCA's Enforcement Watch 2.

This podcast explores the rising complexity of disputes in infrastructure joint ventures and the key issues that drive them. With large-scale, long-term projects bringing together multiple parties, the potential for disagreement is inherent. In this episode, we discuss: 1) why infrastructure joint ventures are particularly prone to complex disputes, given their scale, duration, capital intensity and the interdependence of responsibilities; 2) the most common areas of contention, including funding and capital calls, governance and deadlock, exit and valuation, as well as downstream construction disputes involving scope changes, cost overruns and the relationship between JV entities and their participants; and 3) key takeaways for C-suite executives and lawyers.

本期我们专注基础设施合资企业中日益复杂的争议问题及其主要成因。大型、长期的基础设施项目汇集了多方参与者，分歧的产生在所难免。在本期节目中，我们将围绕以下三个方面展开讨论：1）首先，我们将分析为何基础设施合资企业特别容易引发复杂争议，包括项目规模大、周期长、资本密集以及各方责任高度交织等因素 ；2）其次，我们将探讨最常见的争议领域，涵盖出资与增资催缴、治理与僵局、退出与估值，以及涉及范围变更、成本超支和合资实体与参与方之间关系的下游施工争议 ；3）最后，我们将为企业高管和法律从业者提供关键建议。

In this episode of On Just Terms, Jason Betts and Melissa Gladstone are joined by Hamish Hansford, Head of National Security at the Department of Home Affairs and Australia's Commonwealth Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, for a discussion on the evolving national security landscape and its implications for Australian organisations.

Hamish discusses Australia's Cyber Security Strategy, mandatory ransomware reporting, the convergence of cyber, foreign interference and organised crime threats, and the growing role of AI in both security and resilience. He also explores the Security of Critical Infrastructure framework, board preparedness, and the importance of strong security culture and risk management.

A practical discussion for directors, executives and advisers navigating cyber, critical infrastructure and national security risks. an increasingly complex threat environment.

In this special crossover episode of Inside Employment and Inside Safety, Steve Bell, Tony Wood and Lucy Boyd explore the increasingly complex regulatory landscape facing Australian employers and the growing scrutiny from workplace, safety and human rights regulators.

Steve, Tony and Lucy discuss the rise in regulatory investigations and enforcement activity, the challenges employers face when responding to overlapping regulators, and the Australian Human Rights Commission’s evolving approach to enforcing the positive duty to prevent sexual harassment. They also share practical insights on governance, compliance and how organisations can prepare for greater regulatory scrutiny.

In this episode, we explore how GenAI is being integrated into real-world document review, and why hybrid approaches are fast becoming the standard.

Stephanie Barrett (Director, Legal Technology), together with Caoimhe Powell (Director, Disputes - Digital Legal Delivery) and Craig Glover (Head of Disputes, Digital Legal Delivery), unpack how GenAI and technology-assisted review (TAR) work best in combination.

Drawing on live delivery experience, they show how hybrid workflows balance contextual insight with the precision, consistency and defensibility required in high stakes matters, and why the best results come from combining the right tools, not choosing between them.

Since our last podcast in July 2025, which covered the key features of the UK's enhanced consumer protection regime introduced under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act, there have been significant developments including a number of investigations and final infringement decisions under the new regime, new guidance on green claims across the supply chain, guidance on the use of AI agents, and the Government's response to the consultation on implementing the new subscription contracts regime.

Our latest podcast focuses on the CMA's first investigations into online pricing practices, pressure selling and fake or misleading consumer reviews. At the time of recording the CMA had completed three of its investigations, adopting infringement decisions with penalties and imposing consumer redress measures. The CMA has also issued advisory letters to over a hundred businesses, putting them on notice of the need to review their practices. In this podcast we take a closer look at the CMA's areas of focus and the lessons learned based on these first investigations.

After our brief hiatus, we are back with our Cross-Examining Cyber Director Series. In this series, we sit down with some of Australia's leading directors to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing boards in an increasingly complex cyber landscape.

In this episode, we cross-examine Anne Templeman-Jones, one of Australia's most accomplished business leaders and non-executive directors. Anne has served on the boards of Commonwealth Bank, GUD Holdings Limited, Worley Limited, and Blackmores (as Chair). She has also held board and leadership roles with Cuscal Limited, HT&E Limited, Pioneer Credit Limited, TAL Superannuation Fund… the list goes on. Anne is also passionate about technology and cyber security – what a combination!

In this conversation, Anne shares insights from her boardroom experience, including how directors can navigate emerging technology risks, approach cyber resilience, and balance governance with growth and innovation. Drawing on a career that has spanned multiple industries, Anne reflects on what makes an effective director and the lessons that boards can apply in an increasingly uncertain digital environment.

Thanks again for listening. This is Cross-Examining Anne Templeman-Jones. Here we go…