Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Podcasts

In the latest episode of On Just Terms, HSF Kramer partners Jason Betts and Rebecca Maslen-Stannage are joined by The Honourable Michelle Rowland MP, Attorney-General of Australia, for a wide-ranging discussion on the government's legal priorities. The Attorney-General shares insights on Privacy Act reform, the government's position on copyright and AI and why there is no text and data mining exception, scams and consumer protection, class actions and access to justice, and the critical importance of effective enforcement capability. This is a substantive discussion on the role of law in serving the public interest, and what lies ahead on Australia's legal agenda.

2026 Federal Budget - CGT Discount Replaced, Negative Gearing Curtailed, and Discretionary Trusts Hit with Minimum Tax Late on Budget night Toby Eggleston, Ryan Leslie and Nick Heggart discuss Treasurer Chalmers’ budget, focused on reshaping personal tax, especially capital gains and discretionary trusts, under “intergenerational equity.” Corporate measures are smaller, including re-announced non-resident CGT changes with intended retrospectivity to 2006 and limited transitional relief for renewables to 30 June 2030, expanded VCLP/ESVCLP investment caps, and R&D offset tweaks forecast to reduce tax by $1.5b. Small business changes include making the instant asset write-off permanent, a refundable loss offset for startups from 1 July 2028, and a permanent loss carry-back for companies under $1b turnover. Major personal reforms include phasing out the 50% CGT discount from 1 July 2027 (replaced by cost-base indexation and a 30% minimum CGT tax), taxing pre-CGT assets, limiting negative gearing for post-budget residential purchases (except new builds), and imposing a 30% minimum tax on discretionary trusts from 1 July 2028 with complex impacts, especially for “bucket companies,” plus proposed restructuring rollovers amid stamp duty issues. 00:10 Budget Night Kick-off 00:41 Corporate Tax Overview 01:53 Non-Resident CGT Reboot 03:14 Venture Capital and R&D 05:16 Small Business Reliefs 06:20 Loss Carry-back Returns 08:44 Big Shift to Personal Tax 08:47 CGT Discount Ends 10:52 Tech and Startup Fallout 15:01 Negative Gearing Overhaul 16:51 Discretionary Trusts Seismic 21:37 Late Night Wrap Up

This podcast focuses on the pharmaceutical industry and, in particular, M&A activity in the sector and the recent surge in licensing deals involving Chinese biotechs. There are a lot of interesting topics related to the pharmaceutical sector which we could discuss but today we will be covering the following: 1) First, we will begin with an overview of M&A deal activity in the sector; 2) we will then discuss the key legal trends being seen by our deal teams, 3) finally, we will conclude with a discussion on a hot topic in the industry right now, the rise of China's biotechs on the global stage. Speakers: Csilla Cao, Siqi Geng 这一期我们会重点讨论制药行业，特别是制药行业并购活动的情况，以及这段时间明显升温的中国生物科技公司对外授权交易。制药行业其实有很多值得讨论的话题，我们这期节目将主要聚焦三个方面：1) 首先，我们会对制药行业的并购交易情况做一个整体介绍；2)再讨论我们交易团队在实际交易中观察到的一些关键法律趋势；3) 最后，我们将重点谈一谈目前行业的一个热门话题，中国生物科技公司在全球舞台的崛起。 Speakers: 曹文旖，耿思琪

It has been a busy time for the Prudential Regulation Authority ("PRA") Enforcement team. In two firsts for the PRA, its decision against U K Insurance Ltd saw the first reported use of the Early Account Scheme leading to a settlement discount of 50%, and the decision against Bank of London Group Limited and Oplyse Holdings Limited involved the first breach of Fundamental Rule 1 by a firm. In this episode of the FSR Brief, Jon Ford, Michael Tan and Emma Bridgeman discuss these recent cases by the PRA and what they signal to firms about the PRA's approach when it comes to early settlement and integrity findings. For more on the Early Account Scheme, read our blog post on the UK Insurance Limited case: https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/fsrandcorpcrime/2026-posts/weighing-up-the-pras-early-account-scheme-insights-from-the-first-case-concluded-using-the-process

This is the second episode of "Cross-examining AI", HSF Kramer's podcast series on disputes and AI where we unpack the key developments in AI that are shaping litigation. In this episode we give an update on privilege and AI in the US, find out why not to use ChatGPT to develop a corporate strategy, and finally discuss how AI is being used in the world of international arbitration. This episode is hosted by Camilla Macpherson, a knowledge lawyer in our disputes team. Camilla is joined by Alan R. Friedman, a counsel in our New York disputes team, Nick Tonckens, an associate in our New York disputes team and Liz Kantor, a knowledge counsel in our global arbitration team. Below you can find links to our blog posts on the developments and cases covered in this podcast. • Civil Justice Council publishes consultation on use of AI for preparing court documents https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/litigation/2026-02/civil-justice-council-publishes-consultation-on-use-of-ai-for-preparing-court-documents • New York court finds client chats with generative AI tool Claude are not privileged https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/litigation/2026-02/new-york-court-finds-client-chats-with-generative-ai-tool-claude-are-not-privileged • US courts find privilege applies to use of public AI tools by self-represented litigants https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/litigation/2026-04/us-courts-find-privilege-applies-to-use-of-public-ai-tools-by-self-represented-litigants • Delaware Court of Chancery reinstates seller CEO and extends earnout payment window, as buyer’s ChatGPT strategy fails https://www.hsfkramer.com/insights/2026-04/delaware-court-of-chancery-reinstates-seller-ceo-and-extends-earnout-payment-window-as-buyers-chatgpt-strategy-fails • AI-volution in Arbitration: the new Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) Guidelines https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/arbitration/2025-03/ai-volution-in-arbitration-the-new-chartered-institute-of-arbitrators-guidelines

In this episode of On Just Terms, Jason Betts and Melissa Gladstone continue their conversation with Stuart Price, CEO of CASL, focusing on the practical realities of litigation funding. The discussion examines how funders balance commercial returns with fairness to group members, manage competing stakeholder interests, and respond to evolving market dynamics, including contingency fees, legal finance models and emerging technologies shaping the future of complex litigation.

In this edition of our banking litigation podcast, we consider some recent cases that will be most relevant to in-house lawyers at banks and financial institutions. This episode is hosted by John Corrie, a partner in our banking litigation team, who is joined by Ceri Morgan and special guest Frances Furnivall. Speakers: John Corrie (Partner), Ceri Morgan (Knowledge Counsel), Frances Furnivall (Senior Associate). You can find out more about the cases covered in this podcast on our blog at the following links: Supreme Court confirms suspension of payment obligations under letters of credit due to UK Russian sanctions regime https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/bankinglitigation/2026-03/supreme-court-confirms-suspension-of-payment-obligations-under-letters-of-credit-due-to-uk-russian-sanctions-regime High Court considers whether success fee payable to advisory firm in respect of "Equivalent Transaction" in de-SPAC merger https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/bankinglitigation/2026-03/high-court-considers-whether-success-fee-payable-to-advisory-firm-in-respect-of-equivalent-transaction-in-de-spac-merger High Court considers summary judgment application on whether success fee payable by private equity fund to placement agent https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/bankinglitigation/2026-04/commercial-court-considers-summary-judgment-application-on-whether-success-fee-payable-by-private-equity-fund-to-placement-agent High Court upholds broker’s entitlement to US$2.25m success fee under tripartite mandate despite limited involvement in funding process https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/bankinglitigation/2026-03/high-court-upholds-brokers-entitlement-to-usd-2-25-m-success-fee-under-tripartite-mandate-despite-limited-involvement-in-funding-process Banking Litigation Podcast Episode 54: Hopcraft Special Edition https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/bankinglitigation/2025-08/banking-litigation-podcast-episode-54-hopcraft-special-edition High Court finds legal advice privilege is not limited to lawyer/client communications but extends to "intra-client" communications https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/litigation/2026-04/high-court-finds-legal-advice-privilege-is-not-limited-to-lawyer-client-communications-but-extends-to-intra-client-communications Upper Tribunal observes that uploading confidential documents into open-source AI tools waives client confidentiality and legal privilege https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/litigation/2026-03/upper-tribunal-observes-that-uploading-confidential-documents-into-open-source-ai-tools-waives-client-confidentiality-and-legal-privilege New York court finds client chats with generative AI tool Claude are not privileged https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/litigation/2026-02/new-york-court-finds-client-chats-with-generative-ai-tool-claude-are-not-privileged US courts find privilege applies to use of public AI tools by self-represented litigants https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/litigation/2026-04/us-courts-find-privilege-applies-to-use-of-public-ai-tools-by-self-represented-litigants Supreme Court holds that no statutory limitation period applies to unfair prejudice petitions https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/litigation/2026-03/supreme-court-holds-that-no-statutory-limitation-period-applies-to-unfair-prejudice-petitions

This is the 36th episode of our series of commercial litigation update podcasts. In this episode we discuss class actions, AI, a number of privilege cases including one of the most important decisions in that area in the past few years, and an interesting decision on service of proceedings. This episode is hosted by Maura McIntosh, a knowledge counsel in our commercial litigation team, who is joined by Julian Copeman, a disputes partner, and Tracey Lattimer, a knowledge lawyer in our disputes team. Below you can find links to our blog posts on the developments and cases covered in this podcast. • Law Commission to consider introduction of opt-out consumer class actions regime https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/litigation/2026-04/law-commission-to-consider-introduction-of-opt-out-consumer-class-actions-regime • Cross-examining AI – Episode 1: Civil Justice Council AI consultation and latest developments in AI and privilege https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/litigation/2026-03/cross-examining-ai-episode-1-civil-justice-council-ai-consultation-and-latest-developments-in-ai-and-privilege • US courts find privilege applies to use of public AI tools by self-represented litigants https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/litigation/2026-04/us-courts-find-privilege-applies-to-use-of-public-ai-tools-by-self-represented-litigants • Upper Tribunal finds privilege applied to whether Boris Johnson sought legal advice on the lawfulness of the Covid-19 lockdown https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/litigation/2026-04/upper-tribunal-finds-privilege-applied-to-whether-boris-johnson-sought-legal-advice-on-the-lawfulness-of-the-covid-19-lockdown • High Court finds company could not assert privilege against former director over legal advice she had seen at the time https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/litigation/2026-03/high-court-finds-company-could-not-assert-privilege-against-former-director-over-legal-advice-she-had-seen-at-the-time • High Court finds legal advice privilege is not limited to lawyer/client communications but extends to "intra-client" communications https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/litigation/2026-04/high-court-finds-legal-advice-privilege-is-not-limited-to-lawyer-client-communications-but-extends-to-intra-client-communications • Court of Appeal finds English courts lack jurisdiction over sanctioned individual who is not permitted to enter the UK https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/litigation/2026-03/court-of-appeal-finds-english-courts-lack-jurisdiction-over-sanctioned-individual-who-is-not-permitted-to-enter-the-uk See podcast episode transcript here: https://marketing.hsfkramer.com/20/36058/landing-pages/commercial-litigation-podcast-ep36-transcript.pdf

Liz Kantor and Vanessa Naish, co‑editors of Inside Arbitration for the past decade and hosts of the Inside Arbitration podcast series, present a special anniversary edition marking ten years of this flagship publication. They are joined by our Global Co‑Heads of Arbitration, Andrew Cannon and Simon Chapman KC, for a thoughtful and wide‑ranging discussion reflecting on a decade of change and development within the arbitration landscape. In this commemorative episode, Liz and Vanessa speak with Andrew and Simon about the origins of Inside Arbitration, the major trends that have shaped international arbitration over the last ten years, and the developments set to influence its future trajectory. From procedural innovation and increasing regionalisation to the growing impact of geopolitics, ESG considerations, and the evolution of investment treaty arbitration, the conversation provides a candid and compelling insight into how the practice has progressed and where it is heading next. Listeners can also look forward to an energetic quick‑fire round to close the episode, during which Simon and Andrew offer rapid, practical insights on seats, sectors, strategy, drafting pitfalls, and career advice for aspiring practitioners.