Standard Essential Patents and the Self-driving Industry

SEPs and FRAND – two legal issues that have resulted in global patent disputes in the mobile device space is now beginning to make its presence known in the automotive industry.  

Paul Keller, our New York partner and host of Propel, sits down with three legal experts to discuss the issues from a global perspective:  From China, Jill Ge, one of A&O’s IP litigation colleagues; from France, partner David Por; and from the United Kingdom, partner Mark Ridgway.  

Collectively, this group has over 25 years of experience addressing SEP/FRAND issues, and in this episode, they walk us through a basic understanding of what these patents are, the legal issues they raise, and what to consider as the global disputes begin to take shape.

APAC M&A Insights: De-SPAC considerations in Southeast Asia

There is increased SPAC activity in the Asia Pacific region, with most of the recent activity focused on business combinations or ‘de-SPAC’ transactions. A growing number of SPACs are targeting companies in Indonesia and Vietnam, and in this 10-minute podcast we highlight the considerations and challenges for de-SPACs in these markets, from tax implications, to legal structures to foreign ownership limits. The speakers provide their thoughts on how companies can work within these constraints to ensure an attractive capital structure.

Singapore-based US capital markets partner Felipe Duque discusses these developments with Tina LeDinh, Vietnam-based M&A and capital markets partner and Sugianto Osman, a Jakarta-based partner who has advised on some the market-leading tech transactions in Indonesia.

Institutional Investor Forum: How I Made It

Following the launch of the Institutional Investor Forum, Allen & Overy’s client facing diversity and inclusion initiative, we publish our first podcast in the How I Made It series with a number of women leading the way in their organisation.

In this podcast, MaameYaa Kwafo-Akoto speaks with Nouar H. Albahli to learn about Noaur’s career journey in Saudi Arabia and shares her tips for others in the institutional investor space

To sign-up to our next seminar, please email the institutionalInvestorForum@allenovery.com

Podcast: Collaborations with tech companies and IP considerations

Collaborations stimulate innovation and can accelerate entry into markets and broaden market opportunities.

In this podcast, we discuss IP as one of the top concerns for executives considering collaboration.

M&A Insights H1 2021 podcast: A rise in hydrogen-related M&A activity globally

In this podcast, Goran Galic, a projects, energy, natural resources and infrastructure partner from our Perth office, discusses how hydrogen is emerging as a credible alternative to fossil fuels in a wide variety of applications and markets, and the implications that has on M&A transactions across the world.  Key points addressed in this podcast include:
 
• Why, after several false dawns, hydrogen is finally emerging as a key component in the transition from fossil fuels
• What has driven the rapid advance in the development of “green” hydrogen over the past 18 months
• The growth of hydrogen-related M&A activity globally and the types of deals in the market
• Which markets are most active
• The risks facing investors in this field
• The potential opportunities for investors

For more information on this or any related topics, please get in touch with Goran or your usual A&O contacts.

In conversation with the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) – Navigating impact investing

As part of a closer look at impact investing, MaameYaa Kwafo-Akoto from our Institutional Investor practice speaks to Amit Bouri, CEO of the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN), about what impact investing is and how GIIN supports investors.

MaameYaa and Amit discuss market trends for fund managers and institutional investors, whether there is a difference between sustainable investment and impact investing and how this can positively affect financial returns.

English law and the English courts 5 years after the Brexit referendum – are they still an attractive choice?

In this podcast we provide an update on the legal position, including when the Hague Convention might not apply, whether the UK is likely to rejoin the Lugano Convention, and how the markets have reacted to the change of regime.  We also discuss the key issues parties should be thinking about when negotiating governing law and dispute resolution clauses in their commercial contracts.   

Great Fund Insights podcast: Spotlight on opportunities in alternative investments in the Middle East

This timely discussion is part of a series of Allen & Overy conversations on opportunities in alternative investments across our global funds network.

Partner, Nick Smith and counsel, Kamar Jaffer, both based in Dubai, put the spotlight on the Middle East as they discuss opportunities in alternative investments and market trends from the manager and investor perspective.

Topics discussed in this podcast include:

• Recent trends in the Middle East fund raising environment
• How managers have navigated the challenges of Covid-19
• Investment strategies and opportunities in the Middle East
• The trends and demand for Shari’a-compliant funds
• The trends on domicile and fund vehicles
• Flexibility in governance and economic terms to navigate challenging markets
• The industry’s emphasis on ESG
• Models being used to attract institutional capital
• Outlook for 2021 and beyond

This Great Fund Insights podcast will be of interest to sovereign wealth funds, institutional investors, family offices, fund managers and portfolio companies with a focus on the Middle East.

“Secure first, then ride.” V2X technology and enhancing the safety of self-driving vehicles

New York partner Paul Keller interviews Jaeson Yoo, Chief Strategy Officer of Autocrypt, a leading V2X provider that offers services and solutions to secure communication lines between connected and autonomous vehicles and the outside world. 

Paul and Jaeson discuss the basics of V2X technology, the emergence of CV2X technology and its impact on V2X technology, cyber-security and data ownership issues, and, what the future may hold for not only autonomous vehicles but also for the cities in which they operate.

In Credit Podcast: The Financial Conduct Authority’s proposed new “Customer Duty”

In this episode of In Credit, A&O’s consumer finance team Joanne Owens, Victoria Ferres, Sophie Skeet and Mercy Hadfield discuss the Financial Conduct Authority’s recent proposal to introduce a “Consumer Duty.”  The consultation paper is proposing firms provide a higher standard of care for consumers by asking themselves “would I be happy to be treated in the way my firm treats its customers”, or even “would I recommend my firm’s products and services to my friends and family?” 

The goals and themes echo those of previous consultations papers from the FCA, including the  treatment of vulnerable people which we discussed in a previous episode here, however the proposed measures could herald a “paradigm shift” in how business is conducted in the retail sector.

This episode will consider:

• the background to the paper
• the three elements of the Consumer Duty
• what this means for firms dealing with retail customers 

If you liked what you heard and want to keep up to date then sign up here to receive the most up to date podcasts, briefings and webinars from our retail and digital finance team.