Welcome to season 4 of the Linklaters Learning Hub (LLH): our training programme brings together young professionals from Linklaters and our clients. The LLH offers a unique opportunity for young Linklaters lawyers and their client peers to learn side by side, grow their professional network and share skills and knowledge in an informal and relaxed setting.
The one-hour training webinars will focus on the fundamentals of key legal fields and essential business skills, will cover the basic principles of a selected legal topic, and include practical take-aways that you can implement in your day-to-day work. Participants can attend the full programme or only those sessions that best match their needs.
Would you like to receive an invitation to these sessions? Please click here to let us know!
Throughout our LLH series, we have explored a wide range of topics. If you were unable to attend the sessions or simply wish to revisit them, please feel free to explore the videos below.
Tax on securities accounts 2.0
The Belgian Federal Parliament recently adopted a law introducing a (revised) annual tax on securities accounts. This tax on securities account 2.0 has a very broad scope and gives rise to many practical questions. In this session, our speakers provided a general overview and insights on selected topical issues, such as the notion of (holding) taxable securities in practice, the application of the anti-abuse provisions in the hands of both the financial intermediaries and the account holder, the compatibility of the Tax and the anti-abuse rules with Constitutional and European fundamental rights and much more.
Deep dive into key clauses of (international) contracts
“Parties’ obligations”; “force majeure and hardship”; “indemnity”; “termination”; “non-compete”; “dispute resolution and governing law”; etc. These clauses may seem familiar, but they create a number of pitfalls and raise some points for attention, all the more so in an international context and in light of recent legal developments, such as the adoption of the B2B legislation and Brexit. During this session, our speakers will shed light on these issues and share practical do’s and don’ts to keep in mind when drafting or reviewing (international) contracts.
Speak Up - Europe blows the whistle: what you need to know about (the future of) whistleblowing
This session covered the current legislative framework on whistleblowing in Belgium and the impact of the EU Whistleblowing Directive, as well as the key elements to be taken into consideration when implementing a whistleblowing policy, including GDPR considerations and sanction and protection mechanisms that may be triggered.
Growing regulatory considerations for M&A in Funds, Private Equity and Real Estate: Merger Control, FDI and Foreign Subsidies
M&A deals in the Funds, PE and Real Estate sectors increasingly encounter specific challenges and prospects with respect to global merger control, foreign investment and, potentially, foreign subsidies regulations in Europe. In particular due to the large-scale roll-out of country-specific foreign investment regimes across Europe, the regulatory landscape for investments in healthcare and infrastructure sectors is increasingly complex. During this session, our antitrust & foreign investment lawyers will provide insights and market experience on the key issues and their implications for Funds, PE and Real Estate clients.
Crystal clear drafting
Drafting is a crucial part of every job. It’s also a significant differentiator: who wants to go through the pain of reading a poorly drafted memo? Mastering the skill of writing a clear memo not only avoids painful mistakes, it also makes us stand out amongst our peers. In this session we found out how a great legal memo looks like!
Uncovering the B2B protection regime against unfair contractual terms
This session focused on the far-reaching scope of the B2B protection regime on contractual clauses and the legal uncertainty deriving from this much debated legislation.
Private equity funds, what do they do and how do they work?
In this session we looked at the type of transactions private equity funds are typically involved in, the different phases of an investment lifecycle (from acquisition, to add-ons and exit), how a private equity deal differs from a standard M&A transaction, why management (re-)investment is important, and the merits of W&I insurance in a PE transaction. In addition we looked into how private equity funds finance their acquisitions and how this impacts the acquired companies.
The EU and its decision-making process — why should you care?
During this session, we give you first-hand insights into the works of the EU institutions. Who are the main EU actors and how do they work in practice? What are the most known and less known processes for adopting legislation? How do the EU decision-makers adopt legislation? And, most importantly, how you can use this information in order to anticipate and follow measures that might impact your companies?
Dealing with companies in financial difficulty: key legal issues in the current Covid-19 crisis
The Covid-19 crisis puts tremendous pressure on the liquidity position of otherwise financially sound companies. In this session, the speakers will highlight a number of key legal issues that legal teams will have to manage to help their companies navigating the current crisis and using the legislative tools at their disposal.
Getting your deal through: competition law needn’t be a pain
Most countries around the world have a competition law regime. It is important to think about this early on in any deal process, no matter how big or small your deal is and regardless of whether your deal will have any impact on competition. Indeed, merger control can impact deal valuation, transaction structure, timing, costs and the transaction agreements. Antitrust law constrains what you can write in an SPA and which information you can share when negotiating your deal. But not to worry, after this session you will know everything you need to know to keep your deal on course.