Hong Kong: The Hong Kong Arbitration Ordinance (Cap. 609) provides a mechanism by which a party to arbitration proceedings can challenge an arbitrator’s impartiality. In CNG v. G & Others [2025] HKCFI 3598, the court was asked to decide on such a challenge and, in doing so, revisited the applicable principles for the removal of an arbitrator based on doubts about their impartiality.

United Kingdom: As we head into the final quarter of 2025, it is apparent that this has become a year of reflection for the UK government on the state of the existing frameworks for litigation funding and group litigation and whether they currently achieve their intended goals and balance the interests of claimants (and their funders) and defendants.

The Global Board and Global Advisory Committee of Dentons, the world’s largest global law firm, have elected Susan Kelly as Non-Executive Chair of the Global Board, effective November 10, 2025.

Australia: The Federal Court’s decision in Magar v Khan [2025] FCA 874 marks a pivotal moment in Australian employment law, reinforcing the community’s intolerance for workplace sexual harassment and sex-based discrimination. In awarding a record-breaking A$305,000 award of damages to Ms Magar, the Court not only recognised the profound psychological and economic harm suffered but also sent a clear message to employers: passive compliance is no longer acceptable. This case note explores the factual background, legal principles and broader implications of the judgment, including enforcement of the positive duty under the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth), the legal risks of victimisation and the heightened responsibilities owed to vulnerable employees.

Australia: Dentons’ Charity Health Check provides a practical guide to assist with a high-level review of your compliance and operational issues. 

Australia: Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are becoming central to Australia’s clean energy future, helping integrate renewables and stabilise the grid. Financing these projects is complex due to fragmented revenue streams, technical risks, and evolving regulations. Yet market confidence is growing, driven by long-term contracts, robust legal frameworks, and targeted government support. Well-structured projects can attract conventional project finance, moving BESS from a high-risk investment to a scalable, bankable asset class. This article explores the financing landscape, key legal considerations, and public incentives shaping Australia’s BESS sector.

Belgium Co-Managing Partner Edward Borovikov, Partner Laurens Engelen, Associate Aurore Ancion and Professional Support Lawyer Semen Medvedkov from Dentons’ International Trade team in Brussels have contributed the EU chapter in the latest edition of the Chambers Sanctions Guide 2025.

On August 29, 2025, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled 7-4 against the tariffs imposed pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), upholding a prior decision by the US Court of International Trade (CIT). The current tariffs will remain in effect until October 2025, allowing the Trump Administration time to appeal the decision to the US Supreme Court.

France: In a ruling handed down on May 8, 2025 (Case C-581/23, known as Beevers Kaas), the Court of Justice of the European Union (hereinafter the "CJEU") clarified the conditions under which a supplier may validly grant territorial exclusivity to a distributor and make it enforceable against its other buyers.

Indonesia: OJK has issued new AI Governance Guidelines for Indonesian Banking to ensure responsible and risk-aware adoption of AI. This article explores the key governance and risk management measures banks need to adopt.

In part two of our Franchising M&A series, host Danny Wakeling, Partner and National Co-Lead of the M&A Group is joined by Helen Fotinos, a Partner in Dentons’ Toronto Corporate Group; Global Head, Franchising and Distribution; and National Lead of our Retail Group to explore the challenges and opportunities of buying or selling a franchise system.

New Zealand: The Government has announced a targeted exemption to New Zealand’s foreign buyer ban. Holders of Active Investor Plus (AIP) residency visas (and certain earlier investor visas) will soon be able to purchase or build one residential property valued at NZ$5 million or more. To read more, click here.

France: Dilutive financing instruments play a pivotal role in the venture capital ecosystem. For investors, understanding their variety, underlying mechanics, benefits and risks is essential to structuring effective deals, aligning stakeholder interests and maximizing value creation. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the principal dilutive financing instruments used in early-stage funding rounds, highlighting their distinctive features, strategic applications and the challenges they present to investors.

We are delighted to share that Debby Lim, Senior Partner and Co-Head of our Restructuring, Insolvency and Bankruptcy practice, has been awarded the Woman of the Year in Restructuring (Asia) by the International Women’s Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC).

Global law firm Dentons has advised technology company othermo on the sale of a 25.01 percent stake to GWH Wohnungsgesellschaft mbH Hessen.

Australia: The Victorian Government, through VicGrid, has released the State’s first long-term transmission roadmap - the final 2025 Victorian Transmission Plan (VTP). Covering the period to 2040, the VTP outlines six Renewable Energy Zones (REZs), seven priority transmission programs, and a new framework for integrating renewable generation as coal-fired power retires.

Caribbean: Dentons has successfully concluded its 2025 Legal Internship Programme, which spanned from June 16 to August 8 and engaged five dynamic legal interns across its Barbados and Guyana offices.

The UK’s new Failure to Prevent Fraud offence comes into force today, but many businesses remain underprepared to comply with their legal obligations, according to global law firm Dentons. Discussions with industry and informal research conducted by Dentons from February through to June 2025 showed companies have been slow to take the necessary steps to get ready for FTP compliance.

Hong Kong: In a recent judgment handed down on 13 August 2025, the Hong Kong District Court considered six employees' compensation claims brought by a secondary-school teacher (Mr Chan) against his employer and revisited the issue of whether psychiatric trauma, caused by words spoken between an employer and an employee, could be considered a "personal injury by accident" under section 5(1) of the Employees' Compensation Ordinance (Cap. 282) (ECO).

Nigeria: Oil and gas industry (“Industry”) has continued to witness significant transformation driven by the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 (“PIA” or the “Act"). With crude oil reserves standing at 37.28 billion barrels and gas reserves estimated at 210.54 trillion cubic feet (tcf) as of January 1, 2025 , the Industry remains a key driver of Nigeria’s economic growth and a viable destination for investments.