REUTERS | Gene Blevins
April 11, 2019

Why directors and officers insurance is important for NEDs

REUTERS | Gene Blevins
April 11, 2019

Why directors and officers insurance is important for NEDs

Clyde & Co recently hosted a NEDonBoard panel discussion that touched on the role of directors and officers (D&O) insurance in mitigating directors’ personal liability. During the discussion, Francis Kean, Director at Willis Towers Watson, pointed out that a company will usually stand behind its non-executive directors (NEDs) when it comes to personal liability, provided they have not acted dishonestly. However, as part of their due diligence, NEDs should check whether their actions while performing their director duties will be covered by an adequate D&O insurance taken out by the company.

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REUTERS | Corbis
April 10, 2019

I’m an EU citizen. If I leave the UK before Brexit, can I come back?

If an individual with an EU passport leaves the UK before Brexit, will they be allowed back into the UK after Brexit? It’s quite rare not to answer a Brexit-related question these days with “It depends…” but, fortunately, the question has an easy answer: Yes. Of course, it’s not Brexit if you’re not having to look at a few different scenarios, but in short, EU citizens will be allowed to come back into the UK fairly easily after Brexit. Continue reading →

REUTERS | Michaela Rehle
April 9, 2019

Why you need to be aware of, and even participate in, the ICO’s evolving AI auditing framework

The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has for some time now been trailing its combined interest in, enthusiasm for, and (of course) concerns about, artificial intelligence (AI) in the context of data protection. For the growing number of lawyers who need to advise on the implications of AI for GDPR compliance, as well as for those of us who want to understand AI in the context of data protection, the best starting point is the ICO’s excellent 2017 discussion paper, Big data, artificial intelligence, machine learning and data protection. Continue reading →

REUTERS | Global Creative Services (no copyright)
April 8, 2019

The DCMS Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2019: some key takeaways

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) published its Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2019 last week which brings together quantitative and qualitative data drawn from an extensive telephone survey and 52 in-depth interviews. The survey shows the continued upward trajectory of cybersecurity as both a risk and near-universal concern for organisations. Indeed, both businesses and charities see cybersecurity as a markedly higher priority than in previous years. Continue reading →

REUTERS | Corbis
April 8, 2019

In-house counsel: adding value as a business partner

In-house counsel can be exceptionally valuable internal business partners, providing organisations, individuals and leadership teams with real competitive advantage. For many years, in-house counsel has been seen by some like many other admin and back office functions, however businesses that are switched on are finally giving the legal function the seat at the table they deserve.

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REUTERS | David Mdzinarishvili
April 4, 2019

Directors’ duties and liabilities: key issues for NEDs

Clyde & Co recently hosted a NEDonBoard panel discussion on the legal duties and liabilities that apply to non-executive directors (NEDs). Laura Cooke, a partner at Clyde & Co, kicked off the discussion by reminding the audience that the Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006) does not differentiate between executive and non-executive directors: they must all abide by the same duties (sections 171 to 177).

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REUTERS | Global Creative Services (no copyright)
March 28, 2019

What to watch out for in LawTech implementation contracts

On 11 March 2019, DWF Group became the first law firm to IPO on the main market of the London Stock Exchange with a market cap of £366 million. The 300-page prospectus includes some interesting information on the intersection of technology and the UK legal services market, and the size and shape of the global legal market. According to the prospectus the global legal services market is growing at 4% per year, and was worth £653 billion in 2017, with the United States (£218 billion or 33% of the market) and the UK (£33.3 billion or 5%) holding the top two spots.

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REUTERS | Mark Blinch
March 25, 2019

What’s on the agenda for in-house lawyers in April 2019?

Continued uncertainty surrounding the date of Brexit ensures it remains at the top of the agenda for in-house lawyers this month. Other areas of focus include corporate governance reform and a consultation on the use of confidentiality clauses in situations of workplace harassment or discrimination.

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REUTERS | Global Creative Services (no copyright)
March 25, 2019

How to eat the ‘Third Party Elephant’: the first step in effective third party risk management

Third parties (3Ps) can be valuable partners, providing competitive advantage through the supply chain and access to opportunities and markets. However, it is well known that 3Ps can expose businesses to bribery and other regulatory risks, with the OECD’s 2014 Foreign Bribery Report stating that 75% of the bribery cases it examined were carried out by third party intermediaries. Whilst most legal and compliance professionals, and to varying extents our business colleagues, understand this risk, managing 3Ps is a daunting task for those implementing a new 3P risk management process, and an on-going and challenging one for those further along the journey.

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