Operators, investors and advisers are contending with legal and regulatory uncertainty as data centre demand rises At a glance Large-scale data centres can now seek consent as nationally significant infrastructure, opening a new planning route in England. Grid access remains a significant constraint for AI Growth Zones in the UK, with a circular eligibility problem yet to be resolved. AI copyright disputes and tightening cyber resilience rules are creating new contractual and regulatory risk for operators across Europe. Data centre capacity...

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The composite PMI increased from 48.5 to 49.5 in June. This still marks sluggish economic activity for the bloc, but the easing of price pressures indicated by the survey is encouraging. The combination of sluggish growth and fading inflation concerns marks a dovish reading for the ECB Despite most survey responses coming in before the Middle East deal was signed, the PMI had already ticked up a bit. But the increase to 49.5 would still indicate slightly declining activity according...

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Conflicting news from the Middle East initially lifted oil prices and weighed om risk-taking appetites, but US-Iran negotiations continue and both sides report progress. Oil prices have come back off. The dollar is mostly firmer but so far has held above last week’s lows against the euro and sterling. The yen snapped a five-day slide ahead of the weekend but is softer today, and the greenback is knocking against the recent high (~JPY161.80). The Canadian dollar is extending is slide...

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Starting September 12, 2026, connected products sold in the EU must be built with data access functionality. This alert discusses the new access-by-design obligation and provides practical steps for compliance. The New Access-by-Design Obligation The EU Data Act (Regulation (EU) 2023/2854) became applicable on September 12, 2025. Among other things, it requires data holders to provide users, upon request, with access to certain product data and related service data generated by connected products and related services. From September 12, 2026, an additional obligation will apply....

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The EU Listing Act is a legislative package aimed at simplifying listing requirements and making EU capital markets more attractive, particularly for SMEs and innovative scale-ups. Key amendments affect the EU Prospectus Regulation and the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The Act was published on 14 November 2024, and the changes are introduced on a staggered timeline. Some changes already took effect on 4 December 2024 and 5 March 2026. This contribution highlights the notable amendments becoming applicable on 5 June 2026. Key changes to the...

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If your business spent money developing products, software, or processes between 2022 and 2024, there may be a refund waiting for you — and for some taxpayers, the window to claim it could close as early as July 6, 2026. Here’s what changed, who qualifies, and why moving quickly matters. The Section 174 Trap That Started It All How the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Reopened the Door Who Qualifies? Two Paths to the Money Why July 6, 2026 Matters ...

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