VULCAN VIEW-KEY EVENTS THIS WEEK: BREXIT  Theresa May pushes for consensus on current Brexit deal as negotiations continueThis week, Theresa May’s government has largely focused on stepping up preparations for a Brexit deal, which they claim is “95% completed,” as cabinet ministers were allowed for the first time to inspect the draft withdrawal treaty. The intention was undoubtedly to inspire consensus on the deal as it stands, which is still notably missing any workable solution for Northern Ireland. Their strategy to...

By Greig Taylor| Managing Director | Alix Partners In September 2018, I spoke at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) New York conference on a panel titled Efficiency Is Money: Techniques to Improve International Arbitration. The large number of actors involved in any given international arbitration, coupled with the differing interests in desired outcomes, makes the process highly complex. AlixPartners is experienced in working with clients and counsel to help them overcome such challenges, and in this article I summarize some of...

By Etienne Bodard and Etienne Soula In the face of new findings regarding the challenge of climate change, exciting new initiatives on both sides of the Atlantic are finding greater and greater expression. On October 8, 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued a special report documenting the consequences of global warming for life on Earth. Its conclusions are bleak. The Paris Agreement pledged to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The IPCC report explains that reaching two...

The US market is very attractive for companies looking to invest and run operations. The US represents a quarter of all global economic activity and is a reliable and consistent country with a long-standing history of economic growth. 1. Starting a Business The US ranks as 49th in the world for ease of starting a business, according to the World Bank and International Finance Corporation (IFC). The process of starting a business can vary depending on what state, or even city, you would...

HSBC Navigator surveyed over 3,000 small to large international corporates operating across 11 European markets (Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK) and Russia. 81% firms in Europe are positive about the international trading environment  A quarter of European firms are focusing on up-skilling their work force to capitalise on new technologies The outlook has certainly cooled for European exporters, but this must be viewed in the context of a historically-strong 2017. The...

By Jake Rubinstein According to a Supreme Court brief filed by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), federal law allows employers in the United States to purposefully discriminate against employees based on their gender identity. In other words, in the view of the United States government, an employer can fire, suspend, or otherwise punish employees for not conforming to gender norms. In the case now before the Supreme Court, a funeral home fired an employee who identified as female for breaking a...

By Valerie Hughes | Senior Counsel The World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement system has been a remarkably good tool for resolving disputes, but it is not perfect and like any mechanism that has been in use for some time, it needs updating. The last 23 years have shown that a well-functioning WTO dispute settlement mechanism is critically important to Canadian business. On October 24–25, 2018, Canadian International Trade Diversification Minister Jim Carr hosted a meeting in Ottawa of 13 trade ministers from...

November 2018 FX OutlookThe US dollar has been resilient in recent weeks despite the increased volatility in equities and the decline in yields. Two considerations remain dominant.  The widening interest rate differentials and the policy mix can continue to underpin the dollar.  With fiscal stimulus still in the pipeline, and talk of a further reduction in middle class income taxes, the US economy is still the best positioned to weather the headwinds of trade tensions and equity weakness.  Europe...