Legal briefings from the world's leading law firms

The European Union has recently proposed new accounting and disclosure rules for European listed and other large companies in extractive industries. This article outlines the proposed new rules and the likely impact on international energy, mining and other extractive sector companies.

The European Union's first unitary IP right, the Community Trade Mark, celebrates its 17th birthday this month and, like many 17 year olds, is set to come of age over the next few years. Field Fisher Waterhouse analyses the key reforms and outlines what they will mean for trade mark owners.

On 19 February 2013, the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court was signed by the majority of the EU member states. This is a significant step forward in the drive to establish a unitary patent system across the EU and is expected to represent a dramatic change in the European patent landscape.

FATCA was introduced to counter tax evasion by US tax payers holding assets outside the US. FATCA applies if a non-US bank or other financial institution fails to disclose details of accounts of a US account holder. This briefing outlines the issues lenders in the UK primary market need to consider.

Whatever your political persuasion, it is hard to deny that the Thatcher years were a tumultuous time. In this article, Field Fisher's Lee Harding provides a brief overview of Thatcher's key employment law reforms and asks how her legacy compares to the current reforms going through parliament.

Independently-conducted research commissioned by Field Fisher Waterhouse reveals growing interest across Europe in finding new ways to pay for legal advice in high-value disputes. In particular, it showed a widespread desire to move away from the familiar hourly rate model.

Many of the changes to the tribunal system proposed by the Government will have an impact on employers. As the changes come into force during the course of this year, employers may find that they need to modify their approach to resolving workplace disputes. This briefing highlights the key changes.

The case of Tamiz v Google cased a stir in the field of online defamation because it created new immunity for websites against liability for defamatory user generated content. This briefing explains the case and the significance of a recent Court of Appeal decision for website hosts.

In December 2012, the CJEU refused AstraZeneca's application to have the General Court's decision set aside. The CJEU decision embeds an elevated antitrust risk environment for pharmaceutical companies as well as companies operating in any IP rich environment. FFW outlines three key lessons.

If the Conservatives win the next general election, David Cameron has promised to renegotiate the terms of the UK's membership within the EU and offer the British public an 'in/out' referendum. FFW outlines what leaving the EU would mean for UK employment law and what would most likely change.