The value of a broader approach to cybersecurity at the enterprise level was a key point recently underscored by Elizabeth Denham, head of the UK's data protection authority, the Information Commissioner's Office ("ICO").

In this edition, we feature several emerging trends which are of key interest to our corporate clients in all industries. We focus on M&A disputes, claims against parent companies for the actions of their subsidiaries and the latest developments in relation to legal professional privilege. Click here for more.

The UK and the EU have agreed on a “large part” of a draft withdrawal agreement (“Withdrawal Agreement”), which broadly sets out the terms of a transition period prior to the UK’s departure from the EU. However, the terms of a future trading relationship between the UK and the EU following the end of the transition period remain to be agreed. Click here for more.

Since April 2015, the trustees of occupational pension schemes providing defined contribution (DC) benefits have been required to prepare an annual governance statement signed by their Chair.

Yesterday, the UK’s National Crime Agency (the “NCA”) announced that it had successfully obtained two unexplained wealth orders (“UWOs”) through an application to the High Court. These are the first UWOs issued since their introduction to UK law on 31 January 2018 under the Criminal Finances Act 2017.

Different applications for electricity storage are being explored within global markets. Many markets are at a cross-roads brought about by the convergence of innovation, digitisation, reducing technology costs, increased penetrations of intermittent renewable generation and accompanying regulatory change.

In March of this year the Court of Appeal (“CoA”) handed down the long awaited decision in the case outlined below. This provided clarity to the IVA (Individual Voluntary Arrangements) industry on the issue of trusts within a duly completed IVA and the purpose of a certificate of completion provided to debtor. What comfort can debtors actually take from this document in respect of their liabilities, their assets and how they can know whether their IVA is actually “complete”?

Of interest to all schemes providing defined benefits, is the publication by the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) of its final levy determination for the 2018/19 levy year, which starts on April 1, 2018. The 2018/19 levy year is the first year of the third levy triennium (the three-year period running from 2018/19 to 2020/21). The published policy statement outlines responses to its draft levy rules which were issued for consultation in September 2017, together with the final determination and associated updated guidance appendices.

The potential for large scale efficiency gains makes blockchain technology something that businesses across all industries cannot ignore. In the lead article we look at how blockchain technology can be applied to the aviation industry to realise these gains. We illustrate this through developing an example blockchain for aircraft parts. Click here for more.

Essential Pensions News covers the latest pensions developments each month. HMRC announces postponement of withdrawal of VAT exemption for DB pension fund management services provided by insurers In a development which will principally affect DB schemes,we reported in our October 2017 update on the publication by HMRC of an unexpected Revenue and Customs Brief 3 which announced that there would be a change to the policy relating to the VAT treatment of services provided by insurers to pension funds without special investment fund (SIF) status.