Brexit News, Member News

6 months to Brexit – and then? – The “day after” from a customs and foreign trade law perspective

By  Dr Bärbel Sachs and Dr Johannes Schäffer After a surprising 51.9% vote for Brexit in June 2016, Prime Minister Theresa May on 29 March 2017 filed the application to leave the EU under Article 50 of the Treaty of the European Union; the two-year period until the exit will thus expire on 29 March 2019. For company owners and executives it is high time to think about the effects on their own businesses, even if many concrete consequences may still be unclear. Background Political...

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Member News

#MeToo Enters Year Two: New Legal Obligations and How We Can Help

As the United States Senate voted to end further debate and to advance, for a final vote, the nomination of Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court of the United States amidst accusations of sexual misconduct, we are struck by the irony of the date on which these events have unfolded.  Today marks the one-year anniversary of the October 5, 2017 publication of the New York Times exposé, an article in which RPJ Partner Nicole Page is referenced, that broke the...

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Member News

Human Resources Digitisation trends in Poland

There’s a technological transformation underway in Poland and for some in-house HR departments, it’s a two-fold challenge to keep pace and keep ahead of changing requirements. Digitisation is in sharp focus in Poland, with a strong Government commitment to digitising as many aspects of business reporting, social care, healthcare and government interaction as possible. The Ministry of Digital Affairs was established in 2015, linking with the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy – amongst other Government departments – to...

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Chapter News

Protecting Intellectual Property Rights: new EU Customs action plan adopted by the Council

The new action plan will cover the years 2018 to 2022. It will ensure effective enforcement of IPR, tackle trade of IPR infringing goods throughout the international supply chain and strengthen cooperation in this area with the European Observatory as well as relevant law enforcement authorities. The Commission is invited to prepare a roadmap by Spring 2019 on the implementation of the new action plan, as well as to monitor this implementation and to submit annual reports to the Council. Read...

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Chapter News

Single-use plastics: New EU rules to reduce marine litter

With the amount of harmful plastic litter in oceans and seas growing ever greater, the European Commission is proposing new EU-wide rules to target the 10 single-use plastic products most often found on Europe's beaches and seas, as well as lost and abandoned fishing gear. Together these constitute 70% of all marine litter items. The new rules are proportionate and tailored to get the best results. This means different measures will be applied to different products. Where alternatives are readily...

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Member News

New Transparency Requirements for Listed Companies implemented in the EU

The EU rules require issuers of securities on regulated markets must disclose certain key information to ensure transparency for investors. The Regulation (EU) 2018/1212 (the “Regulation”) implements these new rules embodied in the Directive 2007/36/EC regarding shareholder identification, the transmission of information and the facilitation of the exercise of shareholders’ rights (the “SRD”). The Implementing Regulation entered into force last September 24, 2018 and shall apply as of September 3, 2020. According to the SRD and its Amendment, the Regulation is...

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Chapter News, Financing for Development/UN SDG's

Plenary highlights: car emissions, online TV, Romania, future of Europe

Cleaner cars, more European films on streaming services and concerns about the state of rule of law were among the highlight of this week’s plenary session. New cars from 2030 onward should emit 40% less CO2 than in 2021 and at least 35% of them should be electric or hybrid, MEPs proposed on Wednesday. On Tuesday Parliament approved new EU audiovisual media services rules that will better protect children and support European productions. That same day MEPs voted in favour of cancelling €70 million in pre-accession funds to Turkey, saying...

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Member News

Jorge Badía, Cuatrecasas Managing director, named by the FT as one of the 10 most innovative lawyers in Europe

FT INNOVATIVE LAWYERS: MAXIMUM RECOGNITION FOR LEGAL INNOVATION Cuatrecasas receives the award for the most innovative firm in Continental Europe The only firm in a non-English speaking country in the top 10 of European legal innovation The firm also earns the top awards in the “Strategy & Changing behaviors” and “Collaboration” categories Honorable mentions in “New products & services,” “Technology” and “New business & service delivery models” Jorge Badía, the firm’s Managing director, recognized as one of the top...

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Member News

DSM named on Fortune Magazine’s ‘Change the World’ List for third consecutive year and again ranked number 1 globally in sustainability by Sustainalytics

Royal DSM, a global science-based company active in Nutrition, Health and Sustainable Living, again made Fortune Magazine’s 2018 Change the World list, an annual recognition of companies that have a positive social impact through their core business strategy. DSM was featured for the third consecutive year. This week Sustainalytics also recognized DSM when it named the company the leader in ESG (environmental, social and governance) within the chemicals industry for the second year in a row. DSM’s approach as a purpose led company is now widely...

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Brexit News, Member News

Dispute Resolution Update: After Brexit – Ireland as a Litigation Safe Haven?

By Sinéad Power  The departure of Ireland’s biggest trading partner from the EU will undoubtedly create challenges. However, depending on the outcome of the current Brexit negotiations and the precise terms of the deal that might ultimately be struck, this seismic change in our business and legal structure will also create opportunities. Speaking in New York recently, Ireland’s Chief Justice Mr Frank Clarke highlighted Ireland’s attributes “in the context of transactions or litigation which involve common law countries who wish to do business...

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