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A boost for UK financial services

The U.K. Financial Services and Markets Act 2023

European Union, United Kingdom, Banking, Capital Markets, Compliance Management, Insolvency & Restructuring, Public, Trade & Customs, A&O Shearman, Corporate governance, Fintech, Due diligence, Carbon neutrality, Cryptocurrency, Anti-money laundering, Financial Conduct Authority (UK), European Commission, HM Treasury (UK), House of Lords, Bank of England, European Securities and Markets Authority, Prudential Regulation Authority (UK), MiFID, Solvency II Directive (2009/138/EU), Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (UK), Banking Act 2009 (UK), UK Supreme Court
UK proposals for cryptoasset regulation

The U.K. government has published its much-anticipated proposals for regulating the cryptoasset industry. These proposals, currently in the form of a consultation, will see many (but not all) cryptoasset-related activities being brought within the regulatory perimeter for financial services in the U.K.

European Union, United Kingdom, Banking, Capital Markets, Insolvency & Restructuring, IT & Data Protection, White Collar Crime, A&O Shearman, Blockchain, Crowdfunding, Bitcoin, Due diligence, Cryptocurrency, Financial Services Compensation Scheme, Distributed ledger, ESG, Cybersecurity, Anti-money laundering, Central counterparties, Decentralised finance, Financial Conduct Authority (UK), House of Lords, FTX, MiFID, Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (UK), Markets in Cryptoassets Regulation (EU)
Timely amendments to UAE Bankruptcy Law introduced to cover emergency situations

Background

On 24 October 2020, the UAE Cabinet announced its decision to amend Federal Law No. 9 of 2016 (the "Bankruptcy Law") by adding certain provisions to allow for business continuity during emergency situations, including pandemics and natural disasters. This is a timely amendment to the Bankruptcy Law and has been introduced in response to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

United Arab Emirates, Insolvency & Restructuring, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Coronavirus
Amendments to the insolvency regime in the Qatar Financial Centre

Important revisions to the insolvency legislation in the Qatar Financial Centre ("QFC") came into effect on 22 December 2013.

Qatar, Insolvency & Restructuring, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP
Dubai government releases details of a tailor-made restructuring process

At the same time as announcing that the Nakheel sukuk due for repayment on 14 December would be repaid in full, the Dubai government stated that it would pass a reorganisation law for the Dubai World group in case that group is unable to achieve an acceptable restructuring of its remaining obligations. The details of that new law have now been released in the form of Dubai Decree No. 57 for 2009 (the Decree).

The Decree is significant in two respects:

United Arab Emirates, Insolvency & Restructuring, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Injunction, Debt, Common law, Best practice, Dubai International Financial Centre, Civil Procedure Rules (UK), High Court judge (England and Wales)
Dubai World - government releases details of a tailor-made restructuring process

At the same time as announcing that the Nakheel sukuk due for repayment on 14 December would be repaid in full, the Dubai government stated that it would pass a reorganisation law for the Dubai World group in case that group is unable to achieve an acceptable restructuring of its remaining obligations. The details of that new law have now been released in the form of Dubai Decree No. 57 for 2009 (the Decree).

The Decree is significant in two respects:

United Arab Emirates, Insolvency & Restructuring, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Debt, Common law, Best practice, Promulgation, Dubai International Financial Centre, High Court judge (England and Wales)