25th May 2021: The European Union launched the General Data Protection Regulation three years ago today. Much has been achieved but many of the most complex data challenges remain. The main aims of the GDPR were to empower people to help them to gain more control over their personal data...

On 6 April 2015, the CDM Regulations are changing. The Changes are likely to affect the majority of UK businesses, who at one time or another will be involved in the very broad definition of “construction” works – whether by procuring, overseeing, inputting or carrying out those works. Activities as...

On 21 September 2016, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced that it will not be launching a market study into the use of Big Data in retail general insurance. Big Data refers to extremely large sets of information on, for example, consumers and their behaviour, which has been gathered from...

Is a royalty payment clause in a licence agreement enforceable even after the patent had been deemed invalid? Yes, says the Advocate General (AG) in his opinion of 17 March 2016 in Genentech v Hoechst . The European Court of Justice’s answer to this question is pending. Background to the...

The much-anticipated opinion by European data protection regulators on Privacy Shield has thrown fresh doubt on its viability as a successor to Safe Harbor – in its current form at least. For businesses, this will do nothing to alleviate the uncertainty they have been under since Safe Harbor was declared...

On Monday 11 April, we reported that the Council of the European Union had adopted its position at first reading on the GDPR. On 14 April 2016, the European Parliament took the final step in the legislative process, by formally adopting the latest version of the GDPR. This, according to...

According to Transparency International, France is lagging behind other countries on international anti-bribery standards. In the 2015 Corruption Perceptions Index France only ranked 23rd; far behind other European countries such as Denmark, Germany, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. However, in launching a new bill on transparency, the fight against...

The first antitrust class action, brought by two consumer associations, has been watched closely in Italy. However, it came to an end recently, before getting to trial, when the Supreme Court overturned the underlying infringement decision, causing the claimants to abandon their damages case. This case demonstrates the importance of...

Welcome to the first of our updates on countering bribery and corruption in the Life Sciences and Healthcare sector, examining the regulatory regimes from across Europe. Germany: Proposal to prohibit gifts to healthcare professionals The Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection in Germany has made a second attempt to...