United Kingdom: While TUPE restricts transfer-motivated changes to terms, employers should not assume inherited contracts are untouchable. A valid contractual variation clause may permit post-transfer harmonisation and make delay difficult to justify in the event of a discrimination claim.

Following the Cold War, Canada significantly reduced its defence spending, based on the assumption that geopolitical tensions had eased. As a result, the federal defence budget declined. Against this backdrop, institutional and private investors and lenders have traditionally avoided the defence sector. The rise of ESG criteria in the 2000s further reinforced investor caution.

Announced at the National People’s Congress (NPC) as a “Guiding Precedent on Foreign Investment Protection for Lower Courts,” Strengthening legal protection for foreign investors in China

Hong Kong: Hong Kong has emerged as one of the leading destinations for single-family offices seeking to establish or expand operations in Asia. Its high-quality living standards, strategic geographical access to the dynamic markets of Mainland China and internationally recognised regulatory frameworks position the jurisdiction as an inherently attractive location for family office formation. In recent years, that attraction has been reinforced by a series of targeted legislative and regulatory developments spanning profits tax reform, residency incentives and structural innovation.

Australia: The Federal Court’s decision in ASIC v Bekier provides guidance on how directors’ duties under section 180(1) of the Corporations Act operate in practice. While ASIC succeeded against senior executives, it failed to establish that Star’s non‑executive directors breached their duty of care and diligence. The judgment clarifies when directors may rely on management, draws a clear line between management failures and board oversight, and highlights the high evidentiary burden ASIC must meet in civil penalty cases. It also offers timely guidance on the use of artificial intelligence in governance, confirming that while AI may assist directors, it cannot replace informed human judgment.

United Kingdom: The UK government has laid draft regulations introducing a new disclosure regime for certain contractual control rights over registered land in England and Wales. The regime is intended to increase transparency in the property market and support future development.

Global law firm Dentons has advised the founders of CreaSoft, a technology provider in the insurance and financial services sector, in connection with a strategic transaction involving the negotiation of a shareholders’ agreement among the shareholders of the newly created group and related documentation. The transaction was facilitated by M&A advisory firm Bonuvis.

Globální právní firma Dentons poskytla právní poradenství zakladatelům společnosti CreaSoft, technologického poskytovatele v oblasti pojišťovnictví a finančních služeb, v souvislosti se strategickou transakcí zahrnující vyjednání akcionářské dohody mezi akcionáři nově vytvořené skupiny a související dokumentace. Transakce byla zprostředkována poradenskou společností pro fúze a akvizice Bonuvis.

CEE: In this March 2026 edition, we examine key industry trends, significant issues, legislative developments, and how they translate into risks, challenges and opportunities for all stakeholders involved in the transition of the energy sector in the CEE region.