The Allen & Overy Podcast archive

Is the Netherlands ready for Hydrogen? An update on the regulatory framework

In this three part podcast series Jochem Spaans, Marinus Winters, Charles Honée, Michael Diosi and Matthias Voss together with Willem Stitselaar from Macquarie Capital examine where we are now, where the market is headed and what the growing pains are.

In part 2, Industry and climate change partner Jochem Spaans and energy regulatory counsel Marinus Winters zoom in on the Netherlands and talk about the ambitions of the Dutch Government and the interplay with market regulations. Can we achieve these ambitions within the current regulatory framework?

The current state of the Hydrogen market: Macquarie’s view

In this three part podcast series Jochem Spaans, Marinus Winters, Charles Honée, Michael Diosi and Matthias Voss together with Willem Stitselaar from Macquarie Capital examine where we are now, where the market is headed and what the growing pains are. In part 1, Corporate partner Charles Honée, speaks with senior manager director at Macquarie Capital Willem Stitselaar, together, they discuss insights and trends, their own experience doing hydrogen projects and the opportunities for businesses and investors and society as a whole.

Strategies when litigating divisional patents

Why are divisional patent applications important to consider when litigating a parent patent?

In this podcast, Rafi Allos, Erin Currie and Elizabeth Taylor, members of our intellectual property team, discuss litigating divisional patents and the strategies used when such patents are in play, such as Arrow declarations, issue estoppel and case management.

A new Consumer Duty - what should payments and e-money firms do?

In this podcast Nikki Johnstone and Jamie Greenwood, members of Allen & Overy's payments regulatory practice, and Claire Haydon from the A&O Consulting team discuss the key legal and practical implications of the latest FCA proposals for the Consumer Duty for payments and e-money firms, including what they need to do to prepare for the April 2023 deadline.

Topics covered in this podcast include:

• What the new Consumer Duty regime is.
• What type of customers the new Consumer Duty applies to.
• What the changes mean for payments and e-money firms in relation to existing and future products.
• Implications for governance and considerations for senior management.
• Top tips - what steps payments and e-money firms should be taking to prepare.

Great Fund Insights podcast: Perspectives on ESG in the Middle East with Apex ESG Ratings

Funds and Asset Management Counsel, Kamar Jaffer is joined by Andrew Pitts-Tucker, Global Head of ESG at Apex ESG Ratings to discuss ESG integration into investment decision-making, data collection, reporting and measuring impact both at a global level and in the Middle East. 

Topics discussed in this podcast include:

• The momentum building around the Middle East ESG’s agenda.
• Observations on managers/GPs and portfolio companies including what they are doing to integrate ESG and sustainability considerations into their investment decision-making process and how they are measuring the impact.
• The top areas of focus from a GP and investor’s perspective and how to address them.
• The ESG outlook in the Middle East for 2022 and beyond.

This Great Fund Insights podcast will be of interest to sovereign wealth funds, institutional investors, family offices, fund managers and portfolio companies with a focus on the Middle East.

Institutional Investor Forum: How I Made It - Tamara Franks - Head of Group General Counsel Operations

As part of the Institutional Investor Forum, Allen & Overy’s client-facing diversity and inclusion initiative, we’re delighted to share our latest podcast in the ‘How I Made It’ series which showcases high-flying women in leading roles across the industry.

In this podcast, Paul Sampson, speaks with Head of Group General Counsel Operations, Tamara Franks at USS about her career journey and advice for others in the institutional investor space.

Topics in this podcast include:

• Tamara’s career journey
• The importance of diversity and inclusion in the industry  
• The role of sponsorship and role models in career development
• Advice to those starting their career.

APAC M&A Insights: What’s driving tech M&A in Asia Pacific and what should investors be wary of?

2021 was a record year for M&A transactions globally, with the global value of M&A transactions topping USD5 trillion for the first time. Technology M&A in Asia was, and still is, especially buoyant, particularly in the fintech and digital assets space. In this podcast, our lawyers discuss the following key topics:

• How extensive amounts of capital looking to be deployed by financial sponsors, including PE and VC investors, coupled with the knock-on effects of the pandemic, are driving activity in the rapidly maturing emerging markets in ASEAN.
• On the fintech front, opportunities are being created as a result of the lack of financial inclusion in various ASEAN economies. Even today, in countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, less than 40% of adults have bank accounts. This creates an opportunity to tap into the unbanked, which is leading to activity both in the start-up space, and, additionally, driving the next wave of M&A. There are many examples – international banks are investing in local banks with a view to turning them into a new surge of neobanks, and the insurance and wealth management sectors are seeing organic and M&A disruption.
• IP is fundamental to value and a key part of investors’ focus when undertaking these  transactions. Investors need to understand the origin of the IP, who’s been working on it and who owns what as an output of the M&A/commercial collaboration.
• The need for investors to understand the different regulatory frameworks when assessing targets, including the importance of the regional FDI licensing landscape, the data and IP restrictions in local jurisdictions, and AI – in respect of which regulations on its application and restrictions remain largely untouched in Asia.

The podcast is moderated by Victor Ho, co-lead of our APAC technology practice, with discussion from Sydney-based Saranpaal Calais, who specialises in technology transactions in APAC, and Singapore-based Tom Jokelson, who advises on M&A and growth capital transactions in various technology sectors.

Access our latest issue of M&A Insights, where we examine the drivers behind the boom in technology M&A, digital infrastructure deals, and software investments.

Great Fund Insights podcast: Spotlight on opportunities in alternative investments in France

This timely discussion is part of a series of Allen & Overy conversations on opportunities in alternative investments across our global funds network.

Partner, Antoine Sarailler and counsel, Kamar Jaffer, put the spotlight on France as they discuss opportunities in alternative investments and market trends from the manager and investor perspective.

Topics discussed in this podcast include:

• How managers have navigated the challenges of Covid-19
• Investment strategies and opportunities that institutional investors are focusing on in France and Europe
• Thoughts on the upcoming French election
• Trends in relation to ESG
• Outlook for 2022 and beyond

This Great Fund Insights podcast will be of interest to fund managers and institutional investors with a focus on France and the European market.

NFTs: a global view on what they are, how they’re regulated, and more

In this first of a series of podcasts, members of Allen & Overy’s global fintech and crypto practice, Ben Regnard-Weinrabe (London), Isabella Karlsson (Silicon Valley), Andre Da Roza (Hong Kong) and Louise Utting (London) take a look at what non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are, review the NFT market players, and discuss some of the legal and regulatory risks to look out for.

Perspectives on the future of banking: In conversation with Sir Douglas Flint, chairman of abrdn

In the second episode of our podcast series featuring topical conversations with leading figures in the world of banking, Sir Douglas Flint, chairman of global investment company and asset manager abrdn, talks to Richard Cranfield, senior adviser and former chairman of A&O’s global corporate practice, about the developments shaping the future of the industry. Sir Douglas discusses the competitive challenge posed by a raft of new digital market entrants, the state of banking regulation, and the preparedness of banks for the transition to net zero. 

In a wide-ranging conversation, Sir Douglas reflects on his career and the experiences that have shaped it, particularly his time as chairman of HSBC, and what personally motivates him in his current role at abrdn. He shares his thoughts on the evolving responsibilities and accountabilities of boards and their directors, the need for boards to define their purpose clearly, and how that can help to identify the skills needed by directors. 

This episode was recorded in October 2021.