Ashurst Legal Outlook Podcast

Supply chain risk is nothing new for boards. What’s changed is the sheer speed and scale of this risk – and the board’s elevated accountability for it. In this episode, we look at why geopolitical scenario modelling is now core business planning.

Tony Damian and Amelia Morgan are joined by veteran M&A practitioner John O'Sullivan ("JO'S") to unpack the board's role in takeovers. JO'S shares candid insights on preparing for bids, the value of a strong share price, advice for bidders, and why the Takeovers Panel remains a vital Australian institution.

Australian M&A partners Tony Damian and Amelia Morgan explore pre-bid exclusivity, including 'hard' and 'soft' exclusivity, Takeovers Panel guidance, and recent market examples.

Our continuing series takes an unflinching look at a vexed issue: how much water is required to keep the world’s data centres running. To illustrate this, we put the UK in the spotlight to consider the nation’s rules, regulations, and innovations designed to minimise water consumption in future.

Last year, two Division 855 decisions reshaped the meaning of “real property” for CGT purposes, narrowing the Commissioner’s reach and raising the stakes for infrastructure and resources deals.

AI is nothing new but everything changed when ChatGPT landed. Now that agentic AI is moving at speed through every economy, it’s incumbent on boards to ensure their organisations can, if not outpace change, then at least try to keep up with it. In this episode, we trace AI’s trajectory – from leaps in technology to regulatory dilemmas – and we flag up issues and actions for directors.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is better equipped and more determined than ever to address tax avoidance and evasion. In this episode, we explore what companies need to know when an enquiry notice arrives and how to respond transparently and promptly, without letting things spiral out of control.

The construction phase of wind projects can be fraught with time, cost and quality issues. In this episode, we speak with two industry insiders about some of the common pinch points in the construction of a wind project and explore steps that help minimise the likelihood of contractor/developer disputes occurring.

A year of reviews, high-stakes litigation and shifting certainty programs across Australian tax law has left taxpayers recalibrating for 2026. What should businesses expect next?

Following the Government's recent call for the CMA to help drive economic growth, what developments can we expect to see in UK merger control?

With more than 500 operational data centres, Germany could be described as the European capital of data centres. But it’s the fit-out and flexibility that will make or break Germany’s data centres aspirations. In this episode, we explore the market in detail and highlight the issues that investors need to know.

As offshore wind projects get larger and timelines stretch over a decade, capacity reservation and early works agreements are becoming essential tools for keeping projects bankable, buildable and on schedule.

Ashurst’s Simon Williams speaks with Thomas Hyun, Director of Cryptocurrency Compliance at Forensic Risk, on TradFi–DeFi collaborations, real‑world partnerships, compliance considerations, and what’s next