The Allen & Overy Podcast archive

In Credit Podcast - Episode 5 Horizon Scanning

In this episode of In Credit, A&O’s consumer finance team Joanne Owens, Victoria Ferres and Sophie Skeet discuss regulatory updates on the horizon for 2021. We round up the key matters on the agenda for consumer credit and mortgages including a couple of the big picture changes such as Brexit and the LIBOR transition. We also run through some of the key consumer credit updates, such as the Woolard Review and the Breathing Space regime, as well as some of the updates expected in the mortgages market.  Please note that this podcast was recorded in early February 2021 before the publication of the FCA’s finalised guidance on the fair treatment of vulnerable customers.

For information on this or any related topics, please get in touch with the speakers, or your usual A&O contact.

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Great Investor Insights: Investing in Saudi Arabia - current and emerging trends for institutional investors

In this podcast, MaameYaa Kwafo-Akoto, partner in our Funds & Asset Management practice, speaks with Mazen Al-Jubeir, Private Investor, Chairman of the Jada Fund of Funds and Vice Chairman of the Alraidah Investment Company.

They discuss the impact of Covid-19 on Saudi Arabia, investing in Saudi PE and VC funds, what distinguishes Saudi Arabia from other emerging market countries and the focus on reforms as part of the Vision 2030.

The revised CSSF circular 12/552 and what it means for banks

Banks’ internal governance issues have, in recent years, received increased attention from regulators and international bodies, aimed primarily at correcting weak or superficial internal governance set-ups and practices.

In this context, the CSSF Circular 20/759 recently amended the CSSF Circular 12/552 on central administration, internal governance and risk management and aligned it with relevant European guidance (notably the EBA Guidelines on internal governance (EBA/GL/2017/11) and the Joint ESMA and EBA Guidelines on the assessment of suitability of members of the management body and key function holders (EBA/GL/2017/12).

Testimony to the importance of the topic in the coming years, the amendments made to the CSSF circular 12/552 go beyond mere cosmetic updates and:

• clarify certain internal governance requirements applicable to banks;
• define the scope of certain regulatory principles (such as the principle of proportionality); and not least
• formalise the CSSF’s approach and practice in certain areas.

In this podcast, Henri Wagner, the head of A&O’s Luxembourg banking regulatory practice, is joined by Carole Schmidt and Andrei Costica, who are respectively counsel and associate in the firm’s Banking-ICM and Regulatory team, in an interactive discussion on the key amendments to the revised CSSF circular 12/552.

In Credit Podcast: The Woolard Review

In this episode of In Credit, A&O’s consumer finance team Joanne Owens, Victoria Ferres and Sophie Skeet examine the findings from the Woolard Review. This review examined change and regulation in the unsecured credit market (covering credit cards, overdrafts, personal loans, high-cost short-term credit and currently unregulated products, such as buy-now pay-later arrangements). The findings were published on 2 February 2021. 

Virtual hearings – an expert witness perspective

As part of Allen & Overy’s interview series on virtual hearings, Shanghai partner Jane Jiang interviews Rick Grove about his experience with virtual hearings, primarily from the perspective of an expert witness. 

Virtual hearings – are they here to stay?

As part of Allen & Overy’s interview series on virtual hearings, Dubai partner Kirsten O’Connell interviews London partner Kate Davies McGill on her experience with virtual hearings so far and how the changes that occurred in 2020 may shape proceedings in the future. 

How virtual hearings are shaping 2021 and beyond

As part of Allen & Overy’s interview series on virtual hearings, Shanghai partner Jane Jiang interviews Sir William Blair about his experience with virtual hearings and his thoughts on the future. 

Great Fund Insights: Spotlight on opportunities in alternative investments in the U.S.

New York based partner, Jillian Ashley and Middle East based counsel, Kamar Jaffer put the spotlight on the US as they discuss opportunities in alternative investments and market trends from both the manager and investor perspective.

Topics discussed in this podcast include:

• Recent trends in the US fund raising environment
• How managers have navigated the challenges of Covid-19
• Investment strategies and opportunities in the US
• Impact of Biden’s administration and upcoming legal and regulatory developments
• Institutional investors focus on good citizenship and governance
• Shifts in fund terms in favour of investors
• Creativity of fund managers and product developments
• Developments in secondaries
• The industry’s emphasis on ESG

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 US.

Arbeitsrecht und Corona: Was war - was kommt?

Nach sechs Ausgaben unserer Client Call-Serie rund um das Themengebiet Covid-19 möchten wir zum Start in das Jahr 2021 noch einmal auf das Jahr 2020 zurückblicken und die aus unserer Sicht besonders erwähnenswerten arbeitsrechtlichen Highlights diskutieren. Unsere Kollegin Frau Anna Masser, Leiterin unserer deutschen Arbitration Praxis, wird uns im Rahmen einer Panel Diskussion durch das Jahr führen. Thematisch werden wir uns über die folgenden Themen austauschen:

• Corona als beherrschendes Thema: was waren und sind die größten arbeitsrechtlichen Veränderungen?
• Die Welt außerhalb Corona: Welche Gerichtsentscheidungen im Jahr 2020 sind besonders erwähnenswert?
• Ausblick: Was können Arbeitgeber im Jahr 2021 erwarten?

The Legal Aftermath of the January 6th Capitol Breach

Washington D.C. Investigations and Enforcement partner, Billy Jacobson, hosts a discussion about the pending prosecution of individuals who breached the Capitol following the events of January 6, 2021. Billy speaks with Andy Wise of Miller & Chevalier and Jon Jeffress of Kaiser Dillon about various factors the Department of Justice may take into consideration as they weigh the evidence at hand against those who participated in this event.

The views reflected in this podcast are that of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of Allen & Overy LLP.