Across a series of bitesize podcasts and summary PDF report, we feature partners from our global team highlighting the key themes we believe will significantly affect businesses in the area of competition in 2022.

2022 provides a practical demonstration of the appetite for ESG-led change that governments, major corporates and financial institutions all have, and how far this will feed into smaller businesses and everyday life. In this publication we explore key global ESG themes we believe will shape the legal outlook for businesses in 2022.

2021 was a year of record-breaking tech growth – one of record global tech investment, deal-making, and unicorns. While this momentum carried through to the first quarter of 2022, as the months pass, geopolitical tensions, macroeconomic turbulence, and regulatory change are impacting the tech sector.

Explore our fully updated review of corporate criminal liability which assesses the risks corporates face across 22 jurisdictions.

Our cross-border guide for company directors aims to inform and help individual directors and international businesses in 25 jurisdictions. With contributions from lawyers across our global network, this version has been updated and now also covers the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Despite the economic disruption caused by the pandemic and a global trend towards greater scrutiny of foreign investment, deal values for cross-border M&A are at an all-time high. Navigating the traps for the unwary has never been more important. Our Cross-border Guide to Private M&A 2021 covers 26 countries, from Australia to Vietnam, and identifies key legal issues for potential purchasers when looking to make acquisitions outside their home jurisdiction.

Over recent years we have seen an increase in both the volume and value of Public M&A with the total global value of deals in 2019 reaching US$1.65tn. Despite a slower start in 2020, Q3 has seen cross-border public M&A back up to the same levels as Q3 2019 with many deals being announced largely backed by private equity, a trend which looks likely to continue. We have also seen changing regulations in different jurisdictions making the cross-border transaction environment increasingly complex.

As enforcement agencies increasingly cooperate to tackle bribery and corruption across the world, we have seen an uptick in large-scale investigations and correspondingly large penalties imposed on companies engaging in unlawful behaviour. Our comprehensive review of anti-bribery and corruption law and enforcement covers 22 jurisdictions across the globe and will be of particular interest to businesses with international operations. 

GCs share practical tips and strategies on embedding corporate values and responsible business conduct, integrating ESG factors into decision-making processes, conducting human rights due diligence, using grievance mechanisms and using sustainability principles to navigate through crises.

The 2022 edition of our annual publication, Issues for Boards, General Counsel and Company Secretaries and Issues for Financial Sponsors gives practical pointers on some of the governance issues that are concerning many businesses at the moment.