In this edition, the Gowling WLG Private Equity team leads with the result of its independently commissioned research into the effect of Brexit on transatlantic trade, with a sector specific analysis of the results in its "What Brexit means for…" series.

Also, we look at the application of the senior managers and certification regime to private equity and venture capital firms and what steps should be taken to ensure compliance with the extended regulatory environment.

Two articles of general interest are the approach to the regulation of disruptive technology, focusing on the future of blockchain and driverless vehicles.

In this edition:

More in-depth analysis on Brexit is available at our Brexit Untangled knowledge bank.

  • From 2018, all financial services firms - including investment firms and private equity firms - will be subject to the senior managers and certification regime, which is designed to make senior managers more personally accountable for their firms' failures. Firms should now start thinking about the processes and systems they will need to have in place to deal with the new regime. Here, Gowling WLG specialists provide an overview and identify key issues for consideration and action. 
  • Blockchain technology has received a lot of attention for its potential to revolutionise a lot of sectors, with fintech likely to feel the greatest impact. Gowling WLG takes a look at the approach of regulators to disruptive technology.
  • In a fascinating and thought provoking piece that focuses on another disruptive technology and makes one realise how close we are to living in the "future", our automotive experts have produced a white paper called the "Moral Algorithm", which discusses on what basis the driverless car industry can programme a set of moral values into a driverless vehicle and urges for regulation that creates parameters for these preferences to work within.
  • Employers with an annual wage bill of above £3 million will be interested in a piece produced by our employment experts on the apprenticeship levy, which proposes a 0.5% levy on large employers towards the cost of apprenticeship training.
  • Finally, our employment experts pick out the key changes to employment law in 2016, starting with a reminder about the failure to properly calculate holiday pay; something we are increasingly seeing arise as a due diligence and indemnity issue in M&A transactions.