Slaughter and May

What is driving the growing interest in the Voluntary Carbon Market and what opportunities can they offer for businesses?   In our 2-part podcast, Samay Shah and Aaron Wu are joined by Amy Merrill, CEO of The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) to discuss this growing interest and the key drivers behind it.   They also cover: • Carbon credit integrity and assessments • VCM interaction with Article 6 • Market reactions to the ICVCM’s work and the science-based assessment process   Listen to the episode now using the link in comments or search for ‘Horizon Scanning Slaughter and May’ on your preferred podcast app. #VoluntaryCarbonMarket #CarbonCredits

Following our win at the upReach 2024 Student Social Mobility Awards of Employer of the Year, we take a look back at our Picture Change #SocialMobility podcast series.   We take stock of some key learnings from each episode of the series featuring an impactful line-up of guests who shared with us important insights into their stories, work and experiences, in order to help us picture change: Catherine Boggan and Clare Hix - Producers of the BBC documentary 'How to Crack the Class Ceiling’ Nik Miller – CEO, The Bridge Group Sophie Pender – Founder and CEO, The 93% Club Nick Bent FRSA – CEO, upReach Chloe Halloran - Associate and Co-Chair of the SoMo Network, Slaughter and May 🎧 Missed the series? Listen now using the link in comments or search for ‘Picture Change Slaughter and May’ on your preferred podcast app.  🔔 Subscribe to the Picture Change show to be notified of future series and episodes. 💬 Join the conversation - let us know your takeaways from the series in the comments below!

Integrating GGRs in the UK ETS will incentivise investment in, and the deployment of, a diverse portfolio of novel GGR methods.   For businesses with UK ETS obligations, this will mean the choice to use a wider array of allowances for compliance purposes. It could also help make CO2 removal projects become more financially viable.   In this article, we cover:   the scope and design of the UK ETS Authority's proposals to integrate GGRs in the UK ETS the proposed timing and pathway for GGR integration how these proposals align with complementary decarbonisation policies in the UK and EU   To find out more, visit the link in the comments.

We are delighted to be the winner of the Employer of the Year Award in the upReach Student Social Mobility Awards! 🏆   The Employer of the Year Award recognises an organisation that is leading the way on improving #SocialMobility in the UK, pioneering ways to make itself more accessible and #inclusive to individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds. We attended the awards at Mansion House on 18 July 2024, organised by upReach, which showcased the incredible achievements of undergraduates from lower socio-economic backgrounds from across the UK.   Find out more about the upReach Student Social Mobility Awards and listen to our Picture Change Social Mobility podcast using the links in the comments.   #TomorrowsStars #DiversityandInclusion

Our July 2024 edition of our Disputes Briefcase is now available to read.   We take a look at the impact of yesterday’s King’s Speech on #DisputeResolution, as well as developments in: • Climate litigation • Arbitration appeals • Insolvency and choice of forum agreements.   Find out more about each of the topics below and read Disputes Briefcase using the link in the comments. #Disputes #Arbitration #ClimateLitigation

The FCA has published the final version of its significant changes to the UK Listing Rules, effective 29 July 2024. Here are the highlights:   • Merging premium and standard segments into a single segment for equity shares of commercial companies (ESCC). • Removing the need for shareholder approval of significant and related party transactions, instead relying on enhanced disclosure requirements. • More flexibility for dual class share structures (DCSS), but limited to 10 years for institutional investors. • Retaining the requirement for companies with controlling shareholders to demonstrate their independent, although a formal controlling shareholder agreement is no longer required.   These reforms aim to make the UK markets more attractive and competitive. Read our summary of the key changes to be aware of using the link in the comments.   #EquityMarkets #CorporateGovernance

We are pleased to announce that we have ranked 16th in Stonewall’s Top 100 Employers List! 🎉 The list is the UK’s leading ranking of employers that are committed to supporting their #LGBTQ+ employees and the firm received a gold award in recognition of its work to create a welcoming workplace for the community.🏆🏳️🌈 Deborah Finkler, Managing Partner, commented: “It is fantastic to see the firm included in Stonewall’s Top 100 Employers List and recognised with a gold award. Our priority is to cultivate a high performing and inclusive culture where everyone at the firm feels that they can be themselves at work. It is important that we maintain respect and openness towards each other through our everyday interactions, living up to a principle of fairness in all our people processes and creating communities and spaces for LGBTQ+ staff and allies to come together.” The full Top 100 List can be found here using the links in the comments. #DiversityandInclusion

Today it was confirmed that the EU AI Act will enter into force on 1st August. It was published in the Official Journal, and will automatically become law in 20 days’ time. We have partnered with Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP to produce an overview of the EU AI Act and the practical steps organisations can take to comply. We have also looked at the approach to AI regulation taken by the UK and US. Read more on the EU AI Act using the link in the comments.   #EUAIAct

Pensions Disputes Partners Chris Sharpe and Richard Jeens acted for the trustee of the BBC Pension Scheme, BBC Pension Trust Limited in British Broadcasting Corporation v BBC Pension Trust Limited and another in the court of appeal.   The case, brought by the BBC, concerned the interpretation of the Scheme’s amendment power. The Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed the BBC’s appeal and upheld the High Court’s judgment that the Scheme’s power of amendment protects future service benefits as well as past service benefits.   Read the full judgment using the links in the comments.   #Pensions #CourtofAppeal

Did you face challenges becoming a lawyer? As we wrap up our #SocialMobility series, Nick Bent FRSA (CEO, upReach) discusses how their work supports underprivileged students to access legal careers. Their star initiative, the Law Springboard Programme, provides 1-2-1 mentoring support, work experience and much more.   Chloe Halloran (Associate, Slaughter and May) joins Nick to share her experiences as a mentor on the programme, and her work as co-chair of our SoMo network.   🎧 Listen to the episode now using the link in comments or search for ‘Picture Change Slaughter and May’ on your preferred podcast app.   🔔 Subscribe to the Picture Change show to be notified of future series and episodes! 💬 Let us know your thoughts on the comments below. #EqualOpportunities #GraduateJobs