REUTERS | Boxes of fresh strawberries for sale sit in the summer sun at a farmers' market in Hoboken, New Jersey, June 24, 2015. REUTERS/Mike Segar

Consultations launched by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), on significant reform proposals to the UK listing regime, and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), on the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) foundation models, will be of interest to in-house lawyers. The High Court’s decision to refuse ClientEarth permission for its derivative claim against Shell on its directors’ approach to energy transition and climate risk is noteworthy too.

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REUTERS | Toby Melville

Practical Law Global Intellectual Property & Technology has published 34 Quick Compare charts, which allow you to review and compare information about IP law and practice across different jurisdictions. The charts provide multi-layered content, allowing you to view “at a glance” summaries, together with more detailed explanations, citations and links to other relevant resources.

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REUTERS | A hummingbird rests on a tree branch as it looks out over some 50 acres of giant tecolote ranunculus flowers at the Flower Fields in Carlsbad, California March 10, 2010. The flowers attract thousands of visitors each year during their six to eight week bloom period. REUTERS/Mike Blake (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENVIRONMENT ANIMALS SOCIETY IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Publication of climate change guidance for solicitors and a statement on post COVID-19 AGM practices and shareholder rights are among the key developments this month. In-house lawyers should also be aware of a consultation on the Data Protection and Digital Information (No 2) Bill.

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REUTERS | An aerial view of tulip fields near the city of Creil, Netherlands April 18, 2019. REUTERS/Yves Herman

Keeping up with developments in digital technology is essential for an organisation or business to stay relevant. However, a key challenge is the rapidly expanding breadth and depth of regulation and legislation applicable to the use of digital technology. As organisations embrace digital transformation, they may be exposed to unfamiliar regulatory environments.

Practical Law has published a sectors note explaining the concept of digital transformation. The note identifies the principal legal and regulatory issues associated with different aspects of digital transformation in the UK. Among others, the note considers the laws and regulations affecting cloud computing, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, distributed ledger technology and new supply models.

REUTERS | A man carrying an umbrella walks across the Old Town Square during a rainstorm in Prague, May 30, 2013. REUTERS/David W Cerny

The Thomson Reuters Institute’s 2023 State of the Corporate Law Department report examines law department leaders’ key priorities for this year. The findings are the result of 1,569 interviews with professionals from corporate law departments of companies with more than $1 billion in global revenue.

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REUTERS | Jorge Adorno

The Practical Law In-house Consultation Board convened recently and discussed hot topics for 2023. The discussion covered a range of topics, including:

  • Inclusion of environmental, social and governance (ESG) clauses in standard contracts.
  • Dealing with the reality of approaching ESG deadlines.
  • Managing the growing burden of ESG due diligence and reporting requirements.
  • Technology implementation.
  • Regulatory burden.
  • Recruitment and the effects of Brexit.
  • Managing the effects of hybrid working.

I have reported on the board meeting in more depth in the article Consultation board round table: hot topics 2023.

REUTERS | Nikola Solic

The Alternative Legal Services Providers 2023 Report, published by the Thomson Reuters Institute, the Center on Ethics and the Legal Profession at Georgetown Law, and the Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford, reveals an evolving market in which the boundaries between alternative legal service providers (ALSPs), law firms, corporate law departments, and even technology and software firms, are rapidly blurring.

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