Ashurst Legal Outlook Podcast

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has begun SMS investigations under its new digital markets regime – with tech giants like Apple and Google already in its sights. In this episode, we cast the spotlight on the CMA’s early investigations under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (the DMCC Act). The UK’s new digital regime came into force in January this year, introducing widespread changes to competition law, the enforcement of consumer law and a regime regulating designated digital companies in the UK. Under the DMCC Act, the CMA has the power to designate companies with “strategic market status” (SMS), impose tailored conduct requirements, and make pro-competition interventions. Together, Ashurst’s Fiona Garside, Chris Eberhardt and Isabella Hunt discuss the CMA’s first SMS investigations into Google’s search and advertising services, and Apple’s and Google’s mobile ecosystems. The conversation highlights the activities under investigation, emphasises the importance of third-party input to shape regulatory outcomes, and draws comparisons with the EU’s Digital Markets Act. There’s also discussion of how the CMA’s “4 P’s framework” (pace, predictability, proportionality, and process) might apply and speculation about future investigations into the UK’s highly concentrated cloud services market. To listen and subscribe to this podcast, search for ‘Ashurst Legal Outlook’ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast player. And to find out more about the full range of Ashurst podcasts, visit ashurst.com/podcasts. The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, our special guest is Miles Bake, the former Head of Enforcement at the Bank of England and the Director of Governance at the FCA. In a fascinating discussion, he offers a glimpse into the inner workings of the UK’s financial services regulators. Special guest Miles Bake shares his take on what makes financial services regulators tick. This is something he’s uniquely placed to do, having worked extensively in leadership roles at the Prudential Regulatory Authority (PRA) and at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). In this episode, host Nathan Willmott and his Ashurst colleague Adam Jamieson ask Miles the burning questions that financial services firms often ask, including: Why have the financial services regulators increasingly leaned harder into enforcement in recent years? How do regulators determine which firms do and don’t get referred for investigations? In the absence of targets or metrics, how do regulators decide the appropriate level of enforcement? Since the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards, how successful has the senior managers regime been? How aligned or divergent are the FCA and PRA’s enforcement policies and actions? During investigations, how do regulators balance the need for transparency with firms’ reputational risks? When enforcement heads consider policy decisions, how do they determine when government consultation is required? Considering the FCA’s aim to promote competitiveness, how might enforcement policy be shaped by the government’s growth agenda? To hear Miles tackle these questions (and to subscribe to future episodes in our enforcement mini-series) search for “Ashurst Legal Outlook” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast player. And to find out more about the full range of Ashurst podcasts, visit ashurst.com/podcasts. The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a bid to root out harm before it occurs, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is stepping up its use of intervention tools as an alternative to formal investigations. In this episode, we explain some quite draconian FCA powers – ‘voluntary requirements’ (VREQs) and ‘own initiative requirements’ (OIREQs) – and how these are impacting financial services firms. To tackle this thorny subject, we’ve gathered a crack team of specialists in financial services regulation. Host Nathan Willmott is joined by his Ashurst colleague Adam Jamieson and special guest Oliver Assersohn KC of XXIV Old Buildings. Together, they unpack how these intervention powers allow the FCA to impose restrictions on firms without formal investigations, often pressuring them into compliance within tight deadlines. The trio explain the legal thresholds for these requirements, the increasing willingness of the FCA to test these boundaries, and how firms are responding. As well as outlining the practicalities of negotiating with the FCA, our expert panel flags the risks for firms during interventions and the potential for challenging the requirements in the Upper Tribunal. To hear this (and to subscribe to future episodes in season two of our enforcement mini-series) search for “Ashurst Legal Outlook” on Apple Podcasts,  Spotify, or your preferred podcast player. And to find out more about the full range of Ashurst podcasts, visit ashurst.com/podcasts. The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How effective have new Consumer Duty protections been since being introduced by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in 2023? How have financial services firms responded? And what kind of enforcement risks should firms be concerned about? Now that the dust has somewhat settled, this podcast looks at the impact of new consumer protections introduced by the FCA in 2023. For many financial services firms this has been a huge shift; requiring a fresh approach to regulation, governance, management information, and more. In this episode, Ashurst colleagues Nathan Willmott, Jake Green and Adam Jamieson offer a balanced view of the relative highs and lows of the Consumer Duty so far. They discuss the FCA’s focus on vulnerable customers, analyse the regulator's communications explaining its expectations to firms, and reflect on the FCA’s broadly positive view of how firms have responded. While acknowledging the administrative burden on firms, Adam and Jake agree that the Duty has had a positive cultural impact. And Nathan points out that the Duty is one way in which the FCA is using a broader toolkit to get firms to do what it wants them to do. Our expert panel also point out some areas of concern (including hidden costs and the unpredictability of where enforcement may occur), and they highlight some of the FCA’s learning experiences to date. The trio discuss what “doing the right thing” means in practice and how much risk this carries for regulated firms. And finally, they suggest some modifications that the FCA could make to its approach, which would ensure the Consumer Duty has the most effective impact going forward. To hear this (and to subscribe to future episodes in season two of our enforcement mini-series) search for “Ashurst Legal Outlook” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast player. And to find out more about the full range of Ashurst podcasts, visit ashurst.com/podcasts. The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last year, financial services firms were left reeling by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)'s transparency proposals (aka "naming and shaming" firms that are under investigation). Since then, the proposals have been amended by way of a second consultation. In today’s episode, we explain what’s changed, what’s been clarified, and what all this could mean for regulated firms and individuals. In the latest episode of our continuing mini-series on financial services regulation, we explain the latest developments on the FCA’s controversial proposals on transparency and public announcements during investigations. Host Nathan Willmott  is joined by Ashurst colleagues Eleanor Robinson  and Adam Jamieson  to summarise what has changed in the draft transparency proposals;  the most important being the change to the public interest test (which now states that the FCA must consider the impact on the firm of any announcement as part of the public interest test); and the increased period of notice that firms can expect of publication (from 1 business day to 10) . They also probe some of the case study examples provided by theFCA. While the FCA anticipates there will be very few cases each year, Adam points out that this policy “might be enforced for decades and [FCA] strategy will change, cases will change, personnel at the FCA will change – all factors that could influence the number of investigations and therefore the impact of this type of policy”. And irrespective of how many firms are affected, Adam adds that “if you are one of the firms who does get named … it’s going to be your business [and reputation] that gets harmed”. As well as discussing the implications for firms under investigation and what the new case studies do (and don’t) clarify, our expert panel reflects on the political heat this policy has generated and whether that could yet scupper the proposals before they comes into being. Following the current consultation period, the FCA intends to make a decision by the end of March 2025. To hear this (and to subscribe to future episodes in season two of our enforcement mini-series) search for “Ashurst Legal Outlook” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast player. And to find out more about the full range of Ashurst podcasts, visit ashurst.com/podcasts. The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, our expert panel weighs up potential changes to the way that the UK's Financial Ombudsman Service resolves customer complaints, with a view to clearing up uncertainty and creating a more consistent framework for firms to follow. Our panel for this episode includes host Nathan Willmott, his Ashurst colleague Adam Jamieson and special guest Adam Temple, a barrister at 3 Verulam Buildings (3VB). Together, they reflect on the evolution of the Financial Ombudsman Service ,which was set up in 2001 to deal with consumer complaints and secure redress when things go wrong. As Adam Temple points out, two decades later “it is a quite different beast” from what was originally envisaged. The episode then goes on to unpick some of the challenges that have beset the Ombudsman, the complainants and financial services firms. These include the increased volume of complaints, delays and complexity in the system, the notoriously tricky task of assessing what is “fair and reasonable”, and the difficulties that come with "mass redress events" (like PPI or the current issue of motor finance). Attention then turns to possible solutions. Our expert panel starts by considering the most drastic option (e.g. dismantling the Financial Ombudsman Service completely) before suggesting more pragmatic improvements such as changing the "fair and reasonable" test that the Ombudsman is required to apply and giving the Financial Conduct Authority more power to intervene where appropriate. To listen to this and subscribe to future episodes in our enforcement mini-series, search for ‘Ashurst Legal Outlook’ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast player. And to find out more about the full range of Ashurst podcasts, visit ashurst.com/podcasts. The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Season 2 of our regulatory enforcement mini-series kicks off by considering what the 2025 priorities are (and should be) for the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA). With a busy year ahead for the PRA and FCA, this episode highlights some of the issues and trends that financial services firms should watch out for. For this episode, host Nathan Willmott is joined by his Ashurst colleague Adam Jamieson and special guest Saima Hanif KC, a barrister at 3 Verulam Buildings (3VB). Together, they discuss the Upper Tribunal’s packed caseload and the challenges for barristers and individuals seeking to argue these cases, including the impact of certain judges and the FCA's new strategy on disclosure.   They also reflect on the FCA’s focus on speeding up investigations and streamlining its portfolio, consider how investigations  are prioritised, and question whether or not it’s appropriate for the FCA to have a target for the proportion of investigations closed with no action. The conversation also tackles the vexed issue of the FCA’s penality-setting framework and what might be learned from the PRA’s approach. And finally, our expert panel flags up other issues that will shape 2025, such as the FCA’s revised proposals for naming and shaming (to be revisited in detail in a future episode), the rules around non-financial misconduct, and the prospect of a first  Consumer Duty case. To listen to this and subscribe to future episodes in our enforcement mini-series, search for ‘Ashurst Legal Outlook’ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast player. And to find out more about the full range of Ashurst podcasts, visit ashurst.com/podcasts. The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we hear from employment lawyers in Australia, Singapore, Indonesia and the UK. Together they describe and compare the industrial relations landscapes in their respective countries – and reflect on what UK employers can learn from these. Host Crowley Woodford reflects on the potential impacts of the UK’s long-awaited Employment Rights Bill, which is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious reforms to trade union rights since the 1980s. Crowley breaks down some of the main changes which pave the way for greater union involvement, and he pinpoints issues that UK employers should watch out for. Peter McNulty offers his take on how Australian employers have responded to recent changes to the Fair Work Act, including the process and dynamics of bargaining for agreements. Karen Mitra describes Singapore’s uniquely non-adversial approach to union/employer relationships where strike action is rare, and explains new rights to union representation for gig workers. And Norman Ibnuaji shares  perspectives from Indonesia, where unionisation is relatively high among workers and industrial action is more common. To listen to this and previous epsiodes in our biannual World@Work series, search for ‘Ashurst Legal Outlook’ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast player. And to find out more about the full range of Ashurst podcasts, visit ashurst.com/podcasts. The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following Ashurst’s recent conference, three experts regroup to pick out the most pressing trends and risks stemming from class actions in the UK. Jon Gale, partner at Ashurst’s Dispute Resolution practice in London, is joined by colleagues Tim West and Sarah-Jane Dobson to reflect on the highlights from the firm's recent class actions conference. Together, they discuss the evolving landscape of class actions including litigation funding, competition claims, and more. The conference showcased an array of experts including clients, claimant law firms, barristers, and funders. One highlight was the keynote speech from Mr Justice Robin Knowles CBE, who stressed the essential role of class actions in the legal system and the permanence of commercial funding in such claims. In the podcast, Tim stresses the importance of understanding class actions from a client’s perspective, emphasising that these cases (and the associated risks) often attract C-suite attention. He also discusses the rising prevalance of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns, with potential class actions arising from the gaps between corporate promises and practices. Sarah-Jane discusses the varied treatment of class actions across sectors, particularly in competition and product liability cases. She anticipates a further rise in class actions, especially in sectors like life sciences and consumer protection. The trio also explore litigation funding, discussing the significance of external financial backing for large class actions and the impact of the Supreme Court’s recent PACCAR ruling on funding structures. To hear more episodes on class actions and a range of other subjects, subscribe to Ashurst Legal Outlook on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform. The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the final episode of our new podcast mini-series, where Ashurst's trainees and junior associates share the influences and factors that have guided them in their careers in commercial law. In this episode of the series, trainee’s Khadija Patel and Nick Hwong bring a host of insights and tips to help those considering a career in commercial law navigate their way through the competitive world of legal training applications. Nick and Khadija share practical takeaways that include how to craft an impressive application, tips on how to ace your interviews and general advice on the importance of preparing your application to stand out in the crowd. "Preparation is key. Tailor your application to highlight your unique strengths, and approach every interview as an opportunity to showcase your genuine passion for law." - Khadija Patel. Join us for insightful conversations that shed light on the personal and professional paths of our trainees. Whether you're considering a career in law or just curious about the experiences of our talented team, this series is for you. For more episodes in our trainee mini-series subscribe to Ashurst's Legal Outlook on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform. The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the third episode of our podcast mini-series, where Ashurst's trainees and junior associates share the influences and factors that have guided them in their careers in commercial law. In this third episode of the series, final seat trainee Saba Nasrolahi share her insights and personal experiences applying the crucial skill of commercial awareness in both her application and early career work experience at Ashurst. Saba shares her journey from studying law at King's College London to her decision to join Ashurst as a trainee. She details what commercial awareness is and why it’s essential for a career in law and provides practical tips on how to develop it organically. Saba provides actionable advice for aspiring trainees, emphasising the importance of following your interests, staying updated with industry developments, and continuously building your knowledge. Along the way Saba shares personal anecdotes about applying commercial awareness in real-world scenarios, from the virtual execution process in banking transactions to navigating businesses through political disruptions. "Commercial awareness is … not necessarily a knowledge and expertise of the ins and outs of each part of the law or each sector. It's about understanding how businesses work and what might be impacting businesses.” Join us for insightful conversations that shed light on the personal and professional paths of our trainees. Whether you're considering a career in law or just curious about the experiences of our talented team, this series is for you. For more episodes in our trainee mini-series subscribe to Ashurst's Legal Outlook on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform. The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the next episode in our trainee mini-series, where Ashurst's trainees and junior associates share the influences and factors that have guided them in their careers in commercial law. In this episode of our trainee miniseries, Junior Associates Aoife Weir and Divya Deivanayagam share their enriching experiences of international and client trainee secondments. Aoife and Divya explain the secondment process from their respective secondments, with Aoife working at BP in the gas and low carbon energy team, and Divya experiencing life in Ashurst’s Tokyo office. They discuss the application process, the support they received from Ashurst, and how these opportunities enhanced their professional growth. Divya provides a glimpse into her international secondment in Tokyo, highlighting the cultural differences, increased responsibilities, and the logistical support provided by Ashurst, making the transition smooth and enriching. While Aoife recounts her client secondment at BP, and the development of her commercial awareness, the valuable relationships she built within the organisation, and the importance of timing and clarity of intent when applying for secondments. "Timing is everything. If you know where you want to qualify and a secondment opportunity comes up, I would just say go for it. It's one of the best experiences I've taken on professionally to date." Aoife Weir. Join us for insightful conversations that shed light on the personal and professional paths of our trainees. Whether you're considering a career in law or just curious about the experiences of our talented team, this series is for you. For more episodes in our trainee mini-series subscribe to Ashurst's Legal Outlook on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform. The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to our brand-new podcast mini-series where Ashurst's trainees and junior associates share the influences and factors that have guided them on their career journeys. In our debut episode trainee Tom Segev shares his journey to joining Ashurts’s trainee program, from studying history at the University of Warwick to working at a music label, Tom details his decision-making process between pursuing music law and commercial law, and along the way highlights how he navigated these choices. Tom also details the importance of networking and how engaging with current trainees offered him invaluable insights into the culture at Ashurst, and shares his standout moments so far, reflecting on the significant responsibilities he was entrusted with early in his training, which have contributed to his rapid professional growth. And his advice to future trainees? "Talk to people. Talk to as many people as you can. It's the best way to learn." Join us for insightful conversations that shed light on the personal and professional paths of our trainees. Whether you're considering a career in law or just curious about the experiences of our talented team, this series is for you. For more episodes in our trainee mini-series subscribe to Ashurst's Legal Outlook on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform. The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the last episode of this mini-series, the team discuss what the greatest enforcement threats have been across the globe over the past 12 months and what is likely to be the emerging areas of risk corporates must look out for in 2024. In this last installment in our Corporate Crime and Investigations Series, our international panel of experts, led by Ashurst host Ruby Hamid, dissected the most significant enforcement threats that have shaped the global corporate landscape over the past 12 months. From the Netherlands, we heard from Marianne Bloos from the Dutch firm Houthoff, KS Shin brought insights from Korea, Tristan Bramble talks through the U.S experience while Dr Eleanor Robinson shares the UK  perspective. The discussion examines the key questions, including, the greatest enforcement threats for corporates worldwide. Expectations of authorities in various jurisdictions regarding corporates conducting their own internal investigations and self-reporting, and what enforcement risks should corporates be vigilant about as we venture into 2024? Whether you were a compliance professional, legal expert, or simply interested in staying ahead of the curve in regards to corporate enforcement trends, this episode promises valuable insights, recent case studies, regulatory developments, and emerging trends to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the global enforcement landscape. To stay informed and catch-up on our corporate crime and investigations mini-series subscribe to Ashurst Legal Outlook on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the second episode of this mini-series, we tackle sanctions risk – including the robust systems and controls that firms require, recent enforcement actions, guidance from regulators, and unfolding geopolitical issues to watch out for. Hear an international expert panel share invaluable updates for compliance professionals and organisations seeking to mitigate the risks of a sanctions investigation. Ashurst host Tom Cummins is joined by colleagues in Paris (Olivier Dorgans), Tokyo (Alexander Dmitrenko), and London (Sophie Law and Matt Russell). Together, the group outlines the systems and controls that firms require (including comprehensive risk assessments, considering different sanctions regimes, robust screening processes, and staying updated on guidance from regulators). They also highlight recent enforcement activities and the implications for systems, controls, and due diligence. Read our article on the FCA review of sanctions systems and controls.   Geopolitical challenges are considered (such as those involving China, Israel and Russia), amidst heightened scrutiny over transactions in certain sectors and regions. And the panel concludes by looking ahead: discussing the prospects for enforcement and the growing importance of data-driven supervisory assessments and internal audits. To follow this continuing mini-series about corporate crime and investigations, subscribe to Ashurst Legal Outlook on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the UK set to introduce the most significant changes to corporate criminal liability laws for a generation, how can companies prepare? Fraud is a hot topic currently. New technologies and an economic downturn have triggered a huge uptick in these criminal offences worldwide. With new UK legislation in the pipeline to bolster efforts to prevent (and prosecute) corporate fraud, companies are scrambling to prepare. In this podcast episode, we look at the elevated responsibilities, liabilities, and risks for organisations – spanning controls, governance, frameworks, and more. Along the way, we highlight the issues that should be top of mind for various company leaders, including board chairs and directors, senior managers, chief risk officers, audit committees, and general counsels. To tackle these issues, Ashurst’s Ruby Hamid is joined by an expert panel of colleagues including Nisha Sanghani, Neil Donovan, Matt Russell and Tom Mercer. This is the first episode in a continuing mini-series about corporate crime and investigations. To make sure you don’t miss future episodes, subscribe to Ashurst Legal Outlook on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rolling the dice This is the fifth episode in our second Women in Tech mini-series. In this mini-series, we share inspiring stories of women working at the intersection of innovation, law and technology. In this episode, Denae Erasmus, Senior Associate, is joined by Rebecca Cope, Partner, both from the Digital Economy team at Ashurst. In their discussion, Rebecca looks back on a winding career journey that has led to her current role as a partner at Ashurst. Rebecca talks about how keeping an open mind about the direction of her career path and spotting the opportunities that lead to her pivot from competition law to the tech start-up world and now to her partnership role in Ashurst's Digital Economy team. Rebecca also reflects on the rewards of working on mega digital infrastructure projects which impact the lives of millions of people every day. This is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One step at a time: The path that led me to tech This is the fourth podcast in our second Women in Tech mini-series. In this mini-series, we share inspiring stories of women working at the intersection of innovation, law and technology. In this episode, Ashurst Corporate and Digital Economy Associate, Jessica Leung is joined by Lucy Spencer, Lead Counsel in the Network Infrastructure team at Meta. In their discussion, Lucy shares how her legal career has evolved over the years, how she entered the Digital Economy industry with Ashurst and her switch to becoming an in-house counsel with the Meta legal team in Singapore. This is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Female lawyers on pursuing growth, trailblazers and celebrating the small wins This is the third episode in our second Women in Tech mini-series. In this mini-series, we share inspiring stories of women working at the intersection of innovation, law and technology. In this episode, Ashurst Digital Economy Counsel Dora Guslitser is joined by Maria Marinelli, General Counsel at Bupa Asia Pacific. In their discussion, Maria talks about her transition from private practice to in-house counsel and reflects on the skills she's picked up along the way. Maria also reflects on the barriers she’s faced (and overcome), the importance of pursuing growth and the trailblazers who paved the way for her to succeed.  She also talks about the importance of celebrating the small wins and shares some career advice for junior lawyers. This is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should seek legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Technology x Finance This is the second episode in our second Women in Tech mini-series. In this mini-series, we share inspiring stories of women working at the intersection of innovation, law and technology. In this episode, Ashurst Digital Economy Junior Associate Emily Jones is joined by Sarah Woodland, Managing Director, and Sophie Last, Vice President of the Consumer and Digital Finance Legal Division at Goldman Sachs. In their discussion, Sarah and Sophie reflect upon their careers to date, the things that led them to a career in FinTech and Finance, and they share the advice they'd give to young women in law interested in pursuing a career in FinTech. This is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.