Europe: Corporate/Commercial Law

The UK's new government faces a delicate challenge: raising revenue from higher earners while maintaining London's status as a global financial hub. Recent Supreme Court victories by HMRC against major hedge funds signal an increasingly aggressive stance on executive remuneration that could pose fresh obstacles for private capital firms already grappling with carried interest reforms and non-dom rule changes.

The UK Financial Conduct Authority has published proposals for reforming the remuneration framework for UK solo-regulated firms, introducing greater flexibility and proportionality to how staff compensation is regulated in UK asset managers. The consultation, open until September 2026, presents coherent and proportionate reforms that could significantly impact remuneration regulation if adopted in final rules expected in Q1 2027.

Luxembourg is introducing significant changes to its stock option taxation framework, establishing a new statutory regime while codifying treatment under ordinary rules.

On 9 July 2026, the UK Takeover Panel (Panel) published consultation paper PCP 2026/1, setting out a number of proposed miscellaneous amendments to the Takeover Code (Code).

The European Commission has approved Paramount Skydance Corporation's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, but only after securing significant commitments regarding film distribution partnerships in the European Economic Area. The decision addresses competition concerns in theatrical distribution markets, particularly focusing on Paramount's existing joint venture with Universal and the potential market concentration that would result from combining three major studios' distribution operations.

The European Commission has released a comprehensive report outlining its reform agenda to address fragmentation in the EU banking market, simplify regulatory frameworks, and strengthen the international competitiveness...

On 9 July 2026, the UK Takeover Panel (Panel) published consultation paper PCP 2026/1, setting out a number of proposed miscellaneous amendments to the Takeover Code (Code).

A recent Supreme Court decision clarifies that directors who secretly pursue their own strategy rather than following board-agreed plans face significant personal liability risks, even when they genuinely believe their actions serve the company's best interests.

The Companies Act 2006 establishes a statutory framework allowing shareholders to remove directors through ordinary resolution, but the process involves complex procedural requirements and potential complications. Understanding the interplay between constitutional documents, shareholders' agreements, and employment contracts is crucial before initiating removal proceedings, as directors may possess weighted voting rights or contractual protections that significantly impact the outcome.

Contracts govern nearly every commercial and private transaction in Cyprus, from business relationships to property sales. When one party fails to perform, performs inadequately, or refuses to honour obligations, the other may have a claim for breach of contract. However, establishing a breach is only part of the issue—determining whether a legally enforceable contract existed, what obligations arose, whether termination is justified, what losses were caused, and which remedies are available requires

In our days the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed many professional services and replaced several job roles, without leaving the legal sector unaffected.

The European Commission has issued a commitment decision addressing SAP's practices in the aftermarket for maintenance and support services for its on-premises ERP software. Following preliminary findings that SAP may have abused its dominant position through restrictive contract terms and fees, the company has agreed to implement global changes allowing customers greater flexibility in choosing maintenance providers and modifying contract terms. These legally binding commitments will remain in effect for 1