Disputes

Recent Articles

•  

  17/04/2025

  United Kingdom

  No more faux five-stars: The DMCC Act bans fake reviews

  New rules banning fake online reviews came into force on 6 April, breach of which could lead to hefty penalties of up to 10% of annual global turnover.Most of the consumer law provisions of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (the “DMCC Act”) are now in force, and on 4 April 2025 the CMA published guidance on many of the provisions, including those relating to fake reviews: Fake reviews: CMA208 - GOV.UKA key change that the DMCC Act makes to the previous legislation (the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations) is that the DMCC Act includes  prohibitions...

  Read more
•  

  16/04/2025

  Switzerland

  EFTA and Thailand sign new Free Trade Agreement with Investment Promotion Chapter

  The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the Kingdom of Thailand recently unveiled a new Free Trade Agreement (FTA), highlighting their strategic partnership. The FTA includes an Investment Chapter aimed at promoting foreign investments from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.On 23 January 2025, the member states of EFTA, which include Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, signed a new FTA with Thailand in Davos, Switzerland. Negotiations for the FTA began in 2005, and its entry into force is still pending. The comprehensive FTA covers trade in goods and services,...

  Read more
•  

  15/04/2025

  United Kingdom

  Good news for taxpayers in relation to claims for overpaid tax: Christian Peter Candy v HMRC [2025] UKFTT 00416 (TC)

  IntroductionAn interesting procedural decision has been released in relation to overpayment relief claims. Although the appeal concerns a claim for repayment of stamp duty land tax (“SDLT”), it should be of wider interest. The decision confirms that overpayment relief claims are intended to provide a final statutory remedy where other remedies have been exhausted. This will be positive news for taxpayers looking to make claims for overpaid tax.BackgroundMr Candy had an initial liability to SDLT (in the sum of £1,920,000) triggered by substantial performance of a contracted-out...

  Read more
•  

  14/04/2025

  England and Wales

  Securities litigation: Court refuses to strike out "common reliance" and "dishonest delay" claims

  In a significant development for securities litigation, the High Court has refused to strike out claims based on "common reliance" (or "price/market reliance") and "dishonest delay" in Various Claimants v Standard Chartered plc [2025] EWHC 698 (Ch). This decision marks a notable departure from last year's ruling in another securities litigation decision (you can find our analysis of that decision here). Background and applicationThe case involves claims brought by 217 claimants (representing approximately 1,391 funds) claiming around £1.5 billion from Standard Chartered PLC. The claimants...

  Read more
•  

  14/04/2025

  United Kingdom

  Power projects: the autonomous nature and commercial importance of on-demand bonds

  In Power Projects Sanayi Insaat Ticaret Limited Sirketi v Star Assurance Company Ltd [2024] EWHC 2798 (Comm), the English Commercial Court has reinforced the pivotal role of on-demand performance bonds in international commerce, particularly within the power industry. The Commercial Court’s ruling underscores the autonomous nature of on-demand bonds, which require payment upon demand without further proof or investigation, barring clear evidence of fraud. In turn, this underscores the benefits of a carefully drafted performance bond that emphasises the stringent obligations on, and limited...

  Read more
•  

  14/04/2025

  Hong Kong

  New Ordinance regarding Remote Hearing comes into effect on 28 March 2025

  Since the onset of Covid-19, our lifestyles and work routines have undergone significant changes. In response to the pandemic, measures were introduced since 2020 to enable parties to attend hearings remotely. This situation has also prompted the digitization and the integration of technology within the Courts, so that there would be more flexible means of disposing court proceedings, where appropriate.After two rounds of consultation in February 2021 and June 2022, the Courts (Remote Hearing) Ordinance (Cap. 654) finally came into effect on 28 March 2025. This new Ordinance seeks to provide a...

  Read more