Recent Articles

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  24/05/2024

  United Kingdom

  Oil, gas and commodities: Supreme Court overturns Court of Appeal on force majeure

  On 15 May 2024, the Supreme Court unanimously overturned the Court of Appeal’s decision that a ‘reasonable endeavours’ obligation in a force majeure clause could require a party to accept alternative, or non-contractual, performance.The Supreme Court clarified the law on force majeure clauses by relying on well-established English law principles and found that an obligation to use reasonable endeavours in the context of a force majeure clause would not require a party who wishes to rely on the clause to accept the other party’s offer of non-contractual performance.FactsCMS...

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  24/05/2024

  United Kingdom

  The DMCC Act becomes law

  The long-awaited Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (“DMCC”) Act is scheduled to receive royal assent today (24 May 2024), in the wash-up period just before the dissolution of the current parliament and following the announcement of a snap UK general election for 4 July 2024.It is a landmark piece of legislation that has been in the making for several years. It aims to regulate competition in digital markets; amend the Competition Act 1998 and the Enterprise Act 2002 and make other provision about competition law; and provide for the protection and enhancement of consumer rights.From...

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  24/05/2024

  Europe

  EU anti-dumping investigations for Chinese lysine and vanillin imports

  On 23 May 2024, the EU opened an anti-dumping investigation concerning EU imports of lysine originating in the People’s Republic of China, which could lead to substantial anti-dumping duties on future imports.On 24 May 2024, the EU opened another anti-dumping investigation concerning EU imports of vanillin originating in the People’s Republic of China, which could lead to substantial anti-dumping duties on future imports.Lysine investigationThe products under investigation for alleged dumping are “lysine and its esters, salts thereof, and feed additives, consisting...

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  24/05/2024

  United Kingdom

  Update: The Media Bill expected to become the Media Act before the general election

  On Wednesday 22nd May 2024, Rishi Sunak surprised many by calling a general election, set to take place just 6 weeks after Wednesday’s announcement, on 4th July. This decision means that Parliament will be prorogued today (24th May), ending this parliamentary session and returning MPs to their constituencies, before it is dissolved on 30th May, marking the official end of this Parliament before the election. All outstanding parliamentary bills must be passed before Parliament is prorogued to become law prior to the election, giving MPs till the end of the day to vote on and pass outstanding...

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  23/05/2024

  United Kingdom

  Merits now relevant in applications to stay adjudication decisions

  A recent decision from Northern Ireland has proposed a change in the law concerning stays of execution in relation to adjudication decisions by permitting a limited merits-based review as part of the discretion to grant a stay. The judgment proposes a merits-based review, firstly, as a threshold requirement for the granting of a stay and, secondly, so that any “clear views” of the merits can be weighed generally in the court’s discretion. Decisions are likely to follow from other UK courts as to whether to adopt this revised approach. In the meantime, the decision is likely to...

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  23/05/2024

  Germany

  The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Sustainable Development: The View of the United Nations

  This article is about the UN resolution on "seizing the opportunities of safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems for sustainable development".Challenges and risks of AIArtificial intelligence (AI) has become an integral part of numerous industries and areas of society, with uses ranging from automation in manufacturing and optimising supply chains to personalising educational opportunities and medical diagnostic procedures. The rapid development of these technologies offers enormous opportunities for growth and innovation, but it also raises questions about the long-term impact...

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