<p>Filter Knowledge</p>

US PE sponsors, and their portfolio companies, have continued to execute a significant number of UK public takeovers - launching bids for UK companies listed across both the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange and AIM.

On 6 November 2024, the Takeover Panel (the "Panel") published a response statement setting out changes to be made to the Takeover Code (the "Code"), to narrow the range of companies to which the Code applies.

Daniel Gerring, partner at Travers Smith, has been included in Cambridge University Alumni's inaugural The Q100. He, along with other esteemed alumni from across a range of industries, have been honoured and recognised as "LGBT+ firsts" in many of these industries, in marriages and as parents.  "They have excelled beyond the LGBT+ community", said the University.

Leading independent law firm Travers Smith LLP has announced the appointment of Will Yates as Head of Private Equity and Financial Sponsors, with effect from September 2024.   

Welcome to the ninth episode in our series of podcasts exploring the key legal issues relating to the development and use of artificial intelligence.

The Data (Use and Access) Bill ("DUA Bill") began its parliamentary journey in the House of Lords on 23 October 2024.  It resurrects many of changes from the previous government's Data Protection and Digital Information Bill ("DPDI Bill"), which fell away before the general election.  This briefing focuses on the package of data protection and e-privacy reforms proposed in the DUA Bill, although the bill's ambit is much wider than data protection, also covering data sharing and digital verification schemes.  Overall, its data protection reforms are more limited than previously, and certain controversial measures from the DPDI Bill have been dropped. 

This article was first published in GLI - Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Regulation 2025.

Travers Smith LLP has advised network solutions provider, Optinet, on its new agreement with Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield to install their full fibre network in both the Westfield London & Westfield Stratford shopping centres. The installation of the Optinet full fibre network will bring a futureproof connectivity solution to the 950+ retail, dining and entertainment units at both Westfield sites in London.

Earlier this year, the World Uyghur Congress was successful in its appeal in a case which centered on concerns about the importation of cotton products to the UK from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region ("XUAR") in the People’s Republic of China¹. In this article we will explore the important legal and practical ramifications of this decision, in light of more recent allegations against large multinational entities for failing to prevent slavery and human trafficking abuses in their supply chains. We will also examine the impacts this decision may have in other areas from a Proceeds of Crime ("POCA") perspective, along with practical steps organisations can take to manage supply chain risk. 

Many B2C businesses face the possibility that services they've agreed to provide may not go ahead as planned – but is it fair for the business to retain or demand any payments where this has happened?  The Court of Appeal has recently ruled that a term in a contract for legal services was unfair, because it required the consumer to pay the full projected fees, even where the relevant hearing was delayed. We explain why the Court reached this conclusion and look at the wider lessons for providers of consumer-facing services.

In its 2024 Manifesto (the "Manifesto"), as highlighted in our post-election Infrastructure Spotlight, the Labour Party made some ambitious commitments towards accelerating the UK on its path to net zero, in addition to overhauling and regenerating the UK's ageing infrastructure, by using public investment "to crowd in private funding".

The Water (Special Measures) Bill (the "Bill") was introduced into Parliament on 4 September 2024 and is currently at the Committee stage in the House of Lords ("HoL"). As part of its announcement introducing the Bill, the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs ("DEFRA") emphasised that the Bill is intended to significantly strengthen the power of water industry regulators in the UK – holding water companies to account "where they have failed to deliver for the environment and customers and begin to restore trust in the industry".

A regular briefing for the alternative asset management industry. 

Welcome to the eighth episode in our series of podcasts exploring the key legal issues relating to the development and use of artificial intelligence.

As part of Black History Month, we are pleased to publish a podcast conversation between Raphael Mokades from Rare Recruitment and Steph Lee, Partner, Dispute Resolution, on the topic of Black recruitment in the legal sector.

Find the latest news, views and our analysis of all the key announcements.

Top of the watch-list for most private capital managers at this year's Budget was what reforms the Government would make to the UK's carried interest tax regime.

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