Fresh Perspectives | Edition #57
Our latest thinking on the legal and trending issues that matter to your business
1. The reemergence of SPACs
SPACs are back. But this time, the market is approaching them differently.
Over 125 SPAC IPOs have completed in 2026, driven by geopolitical uncertainty, inflation and a still-challenging environment for growth-stage companies considering traditional IPOs. The difference from 2021: investors are far more disciplined on valuations, post-transaction liquidity and public company readiness.
Our blog covers what companies evaluating a deSPAC need to know right now.
2. Unfair contract terms: the CMA publishes updated guidance
Transparency is now a standalone obligation under the CMA's updated unfair contract terms guidance. A term can attract scrutiny simply for being ambiguous, even where its substance is not technically unfair.
The guidance also introduces new higher-risk "Grey List" examples covering unilateral charges, reduced refunds and blanket deposit retention.
With investigations already under way, the time to review your consumer contracts is now. Our blog sets out the key risk areas.
3. The AI race: China's open-source play for global AI adoption
The AI Drop #16
The real AI race isn't just about who builds the most powerful model. It's about who gets the world to trust and adopt their infrastructure.
In the latest episode of The AI Drop, host Anna Gressel sits down with Beth George to unpack what China's latest AI advances, including Kimi K3, signal for the global competition ahead.
They dig into China's open-source strategy, the limits of export controls as policy tools and why accessibility, reliability and safety may be the real differentiators, alongside the growing risks from robotics, AI agents and cybersecurity.
🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or the web
4. Beyond or within reach: CJEU Grand Chamber sets new limits on access to emails and personal devices
Personal devices are not fair game for competition authorities, at least not without independent oversight first.
The CJEU Grand Chamber has drawn a clear line: while national competition authorities can seize business emails during unannounced inspections without prior court approval, accessing personal devices requires prior authorisation from a court or independent body. Devices can be taken and sealed, but not examined until that review is complete.
Companies facing dawn raids need to understand where these boundaries now sit. Our blog has the full analysis.
FDIC proposes sweeping changes to bank resolution planning requirements
U.S. bank resolution planning requirements are set for their most significant overhaul in years.
The FDIC is proposing to raise the coverage threshold from $50bn to $100bn in total assets, eliminating around 16 institutions from scope entirely. For those that remain, interim supplements are out and filing cycles extend to three years. The aggregate compliance cost reduction is estimated at $67.8m.
The details of implementation matter. Our blog walks you through what changes, who is affected and what firms should be doing now.
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