Whatever view individuals may take on matters of public importance, debate must not be shut down by the courts. Contrasting opinions and vigorous argument are the essence of democracy. The public are the people who should decide on the merits of a political case, not the courts. Attempts to criminalise free speech must be resisted […]
We are in the unusual position where the President of the United States and the man most likely to be the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom are subject to significant legal proceedings at the same time. So what happens when the most powerful politicians in their respective countries are alleged to have fallen […]
The law is often criticised for being too slow in reflecting changes that occur in societal attitudes. But the debate over whether it is a catalyst for change, or simply reflects a shift that has already happened, is finely balanced: compelling empirical evidence can be hard to find. In some circumstances, however, the law clearly […]
Created by the so-called “Sapin II” Law of 9 December 2016 (the Law), the French Anti-Corruption Agency (Agence française anticorruption, the AFA) is at the heart of the new French anti-corruption framework Not only is it in charge of (i) monitoring compliance with the eight anti-corruption measures set out in Article 17 of the Law, […]
With Japanese businesses sitting on more than $900 billion dollars in cash, analysts expect a “spending spree” as Japanese companies target new acquisitions abroad. The European Union is becoming the likeliest target for a wave of new deals as Japanese companies take advantage of the investment environment created in part by a historic trade deal. […]
The Rule of Law. Like democracy, the phrase is much used by politicians when they are trying to assume the role of a statesman rather than just being a mouthpiece of their party: they hope that it somehow elevates them to a higher philosophical plane. But practising lawyers know its true meaning: they live by […]
English criminal law has recently been working overtime. As Extinction Rebellion protests have disrupted everyday life at multiple locations, well over 1000 people have been arrested in Central London. Dame Emma Thompson grabbed the headlines, jetting in from Los Angeles in support of the movement, saying that she wanted to be arrested. After her day […]
It is more than ten years since Richard Susskind completed his provocative work, The End of Lawyers? He was right to end the title with a question mark. The book was written in the immediate aftermath of the financial crisis, just as the first real impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) was beginning to make itself […]
New laws in small countries rarely make big headlines.
Commercial disputes arise as an inevitable consequence of globalisation. Internationally, they have continued to grow in number as a direct result of increased cross-border activity. Those affected are resolving their disputes in all the major dispute resolution centres: London, New York, Singapore, Hong Kong, Paris. And so on.
Nick Clegg to face questions in ENRC Court action
It is thirty years since my first visit to Singapore. At the time, I had no idea that within a decade I would be managing a legal publishing and conference business based in Hong Kong that covered the Asia Pacific region. From a satellite office in Singapore, the company also published the Law Gazette, the […]
