As the June 2026 deadline for transposing the EU Pay Transparency Directive (Directive (EU) 2023/970) draws closer, employers across the European Union are preparing for a significant shift in pay equity practices. The directive aims to strengthen the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value, and it introduces a harmonised set of transparency and reporting obligations that will apply to organisations across all EU member states. Quick Hits Employers across the EU are preparing for the June...

EIB Group President Nadia Calviño offcially opens the 2026 edition of the EIB Group Forum. Your Royal Highness, Monseigneur, ladies and gentlemen, dear colleagues, Welcome to this year’s EIB Group Forum! It is such a pleasure to be in the company of so many friends, committed policymakers, business leaders, innovators, and civil society champions in this annual gathering in Luxembourg. Let me start by thanking the EIB Group’s teams that organised this great event. Like every year, they put a lot of effort and put their hearts into bringing such an impressive lineup of speakers – of thinkers...

Welcome to the latest edition of the Stephenson Harwood Data and Cyber Update, covering the key developments in data protection and cyber security law in February 2026. In data regulation news, the European Data Protection Board (“EDPB”) and the European Data Protection Supervisor (“EDPS”) issue a joint Opinion on the Digital Omnibus Regulation proposal; and the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”) publishes its data protection complaints guidance. In cybersecurity news, Ofcom fast-tracks its decision on online safety proposals, as UK regulators...

With USCIS having now announced the FY 2027 H‑1B cap lottery registration dates, this is an opportune time to revisit the H‑1B registration process and highlight key considerations for employers as the registration period opens next month. As discussed in our January 2026 article on major policy changes affecting the FY 2027 H‑1B cap, this year’s registration cycle introduces significant new complexities, making early and strategic preparation more critical than ever for employers seeking to sponsor foreign national talent. FY 2027...

On 10 February 2026, the European Parliament, Commission and Council of the European Union (“Council”) have published a Proposal for a Regulation on the screening of foreign investments in the European Union (“Proposal”) which follows the provisional political agreement reached in December 2025. The Proposal is expected to be formally approved in spring 2026 by the European Parliament and the Council and is intended to replace the existing EU screening regulation. Nevertheless, it is important to note that the Proposal is...

KeyBank (NYSE: KEY) is being recognized for its support of small and middle market business clients with nine 2026 Best Bank Awards from Crisil Coalition Greenwich in small business and middle market banking. These national and regional awards honor Key’s collaborative approach that empowers small business owner-operators in addressing their complex financial needs and depth of expertise that helps middle market companies optimize business performance. KeyBank received the following national Coalition Greenwich 2026 Awards: Best Bank: Trust for Middle Market Banking in...

The Trump administration is expected to call on major U.S. technology companies and data center developers to voluntarily commit to a compact designed to ensure power-needy data centers do not raise household electricity prices or undermine grid reliability. The initiative comes amid a nationwide surge in energy demand, driven largely by the rapid proliferation of data centers that power the artificial intelligence (AI) boom. Although the compact would be voluntary and details on monitoring or enforcement remain limited, it signals a...