Talking Business

Talking Business is a guide to help you navigate the the practical aspects of corporate law and the tricky regulatory landscape. In this series, corporate lawyer Sophie Brookes will join guest experts to provide you with guidance and advice on legal requirements and corporate governance.

Restrictive covenants: When is a person "concerned in" a competing business?

In this month's podcast we review the High Court's interpretation of certain commercial contract warranties in a sale agreement; consider what it means to be "concerned" in a business and when this may breach restrictive covenants; and examine the Privy Council's decision that unanimous shareholder consent did not require the features of a binding contract.

11-20
26:31

Challenges to historic payments to directors

In this month's podcast we explain the lessons from a recent case on how to notify and measure warranty claims; shine a spotlight on how historic payments to directors may be challenged; review the offence of failing to prevent fraud and new guidance on prosecutors' approach to corporate offending; and confirm that the FCA has approved the London Stock Exchange as the first operator of a PISCES platform.

10-15
29:21

The impact of not having a bespoke LLP agreement

In this month's podcast we explain why the dilution of a shareholding was not unfairly prejudicial conduct; confirm the implementation date for mandatory director identity verification; recount how the court has rejected another challenge to a final order made under the National Security and Investment Act; and highlight the impact of not having a bespoke LLP agreement.

09-24
28:52

The FCA's final rules for its new public offers and admissions regime

In this month's podcast, we consider the Court of Appeal's landmark ruling on directors' duties; review a case involving the interpretation of leaver provisions in articles of association; and summarise the FCA's final rules for its new public offers and admissions regime.

08-19
23:51

How WhatsApp messages can lead to a binding contract

In this month's podcast we review how an informal exchange of WhatsApp messages led to a binding contract; confirm that "sleeping" directors cannot avoid liability through their inactivity; and explain why a recent decision gives hope to passive investors who rely on a company's published share price.

06-11
21:55

The London Stock Exchange's plans for the future of AIM

In this month's podcast we explain how statements by a seller in a draft disclosure letter might give a buyer a claim for misrepresentation, and review the London Stock Exchange's plans for shaping the future of AIM.

05-07
25:01

What is a "manifest error" in an expert's determination?

In this month's podcast we explain the perils of failing to comply with an agreement's notice clause; consider what is a "manifest error" in an expert's determination; and review the Registrar's new powers to strike off companies.

04-17
20:23

High Court confirms fairness of national security assessment and final order

In this month's podcast we consider a case where the forfeiture of a shareholder's shares was found to be unlawful; report on the first judicial review of an order made under the National Security and Investment Act 2021; and explain why claims relating to a transfer of shares were struck out of a shareholder's unfair prejudice petition.

03-18
23:18

Share dealing during a closed period

In this month's podcast we: explain the High Court's important clarification on the decision-making powers of a sole director; review the rules on share dealing during a closed period and the consequences for a senior executive who breached those rules; and confirm the Government's plans for a new trading market for private company shares.

01-16
27:55

How an oral agreement to transfer shares overrode a will

In this month's podcast we consider the preparatory steps a director could take to set up a competing business without breaching their fiduciary duties; explain how an oral agreement to transfer shares overrode provisions in a shareholder's will; and examine the implications of a High Court decision for passive investors who don't actively read published information about investee companies.

12-09
21:18

A new class of personal property

In this month's update we explain the registration process being introduced for organisations that submit information to Companies House; consider the long-running litigation arising from the collapse of BHS which has led to its former directors being ordered to pay £110 million; review the latest report on the operation of the UK's regime for intervening in transactions on the grounds of national security; and describe how new legislation will clarify the legal status of certain digital assets.

10-10
29:21

Non-compete restriction in an investment agreement

In this month's podcast we explain why a non-compete restriction in an investment agreement was found to be unenforceable; highlight a case in which a company's register of members was held to be conclusive as to its membership despite someone's name being removed by an alleged fraud; consider a case where an adjective at the start of a list was found to apply to all items in that list resulting in a broker missing out on a financing fee; and examine the court's approach to interpreting leaver provisions in articles of association.

09-19
31:42

Warranty claims under share purchase agreements

In this month's update we examine two cases dealing with warranty claims under share purchase agreements, both of which favoured the buyer; explain how a transfer of company assets at an undervalue was found to be unfairly prejudicial conduct; and highlight proposals to narrow the scope of companies subject to the Takeover Code.

06-06
32:54

The misuse of non-disclosure agreements

In this month's podcast we explain the time limits for unfair prejudice claims following a landmark decision of the Court of Appeal; examine a case which considered whether a resigning partner was entitled to a payment for their share of the partnership assets; and highlight the Government's plans to crack down on the misuse of non-disclosure agreements.

05-15
28:27

The limits of a limitation of liability clause

In this month's podcast we highlight changes for companies coming into force on 4 March under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023; explain the limits of a limitation of liability clause; and consider when a negotiating party may owe fiduciary duties to another.

03-13
24:22

Talking Business: Directors' interests and conflicts

In this month's podcast we review a case about directors' interests and conflicts; summarise the FCA's proposals for significantly overhauling the UK's listed company regime; and highlight changes to certain key exemptions from the financial promotion prohibition.

02-07
27:04

Talking Business: Government review of national security regime

In this month's podcast we consider whether a document is valid if it has been executed on behalf of a company in the wrong place and by non-statutory directors; explain why an assignment signed on behalf of an individual by their attorney was not valid; and summarise the Government's review of the national security regime for intervening in transactions.

01-23
22:18

Talking Business: The new Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023

In this month's podcast we summarise the changes to be introduced by the new Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023; consider the relevant decision point in relation to an unlawful preference; and explain how the Court of Appeal construed a 'material adverse change' warranty.

12-13
34:52

Talking Business: The FCA's new rules

In our latest podcast episode our expert delivers key aspects of our written corporate update, including a consideration of the FCA's new rules on authorised firms approving financial promotions by unauthorised persons, and also looks at a case involving the disputed novation of a debt between a lender and a football club.

11-07
14:24

Talking Business: Changes to the Employee Ownership Trust regime

In this month's podcast we consider the Government's proposals for changes to the Employee Ownership Trust regime; look at a case involving a dispute over a company's registered name; and review the impact on AIM companies of the Government's overhaul of the UK's prospectus regime.

10-09
27:32

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