In brief The Hong Kong court has delivered an important judgment on the interpretation of Rule 2.10 of the Takeovers Code and provided practical guidance on the types of court meeting that may be approved for privatisation of a Hong Kong incorporated company pursuant to a scheme of arrangement under the Companies Ordinance and the Takeovers Code. In view of the pandemic-related travel restrictions, the Court also directed a hybrid court meeting, allowing overseas shareholders…
Draft Terms of Reference were published on 10 March for the COVID-19 public inquiry, chaired by Baroness Hallett (see here ). A consultation on the Terms of Reference is open until 7 April 2022. Scope of the inquiry Based on the draft Terms of Reference, the inquiry will: examine the COVID-19 response and the impact of the pandemic, and produce a factual narrative account; and identify the lessons to be learned to inform the UK’s…
On 12 January 2022, the High Court of Justice (āHigh Courtā) handed down its judgment in the challenges to the Governmentās award of contracts for personal protective equipment (PPE) during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.[i] The Court ruled that it was unlawful for those suppliers referred by Ministers, MPs and other senior officials to be afforded favourable treatment, by being allocated to a so-called āVIP laneā. Notwithstanding this, the Court did not find…
One of the most significant impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the administration of justice has been the shift to virtual hearings and mediations. In mid-2020, Baker McKenzie and KPMG UK surveyed civil and commercial court users to explore their experience and perceptions of virtual hearings and mediations and to help answer a key question: are virtual hearings and mediations here to stay? 70% of the participants said they would prefer to have virtual interim…
With the emergence of the COVID-19 virus in early 2020, Switzerland along with many other countries introduced extensive measures to prevent the spread of the virus. Social distancing and protection measures provide new challenges in business relations ā but also in legal proceedings. COVID-19 measures have had (and are still having) an unprecedented impact on the justice system. The article at hand offers a brief overview on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the…
In brief On 11 May 2021, the Supreme People’s Court (SPC) issued Official Letter No. 125/TANDTC-VP to instruct lower courts on the continued prevention of the COVID-19 outbreak (“OL 125”). Later, on 26 May 2021, the SPC issued Official Letter No. 155/TANDTC-VP on the continued prevention of the COVID-19 outbreak at the SPC (“OL 155”). Below is a summary of key instructions from the SPC that may affect parties to lawsuits. 1. Temporary suspension of…
As the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread across the world, businesses are facing significant levels of instability and uncertainty caused by weakened financial markets and disruption to workplace operations and business pipelines. It is almost certain that such instability and uncertainty will result in a growth in the number and types of disputes, as businesses become unable (or unwilling) to perform existing contractual obligations and/or have to re-adjust to new pressures on their…