The Freshfields Podcast

Afleveringen

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  No Worse Off #25: From burnout to buy-out: the Bulb Energy story 03.08.2026 27min

  In this special joint episode with Sequoia's Infra a Penny podcast, key figures from the insolvency - SIMCo’s Steve Cook, Interpath's Richard Heis, and Freshfields' Jamie Murray Jones - join host Lindsay Hingston to tell the inside story: from the unique challenges of the energy special administration regime, to a creative asset realisation strategy that delivered for customers, creditors and government alike. Stay tuned for more insights into the world of restructuring and thank you for listening to "No Worse Off." In partnership with SIMCo
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  No Worse Off #24: Minority protection in English LME 27.07.2026 16min

  In this episode, Lindsay Hingston and Alex Thomson dive into one of the most fiercely debated questions in European liability management: how far does the minority protection principle go? By reference to the expert opinion of Lord Neuberger and Dame Gloster — submitted as evidence in the ongoing Selecta litigation in New York — the team unpacks a fundamental disagreement between two of England's most eminent legal minds about the nature and reach of this principle under English law. With live cases keeping the issue firmly in play, this episode sets out what may become the bookends of the debate when it next reaches the English courts. Stay tuned for more insights into the world of restructuring and thank you for listening to "No Worse Off."
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  Essential Antitrust – The Italian Voice #2: La dura legge del goal 17.07.2026 25min

  Chi fa l'arbitro quando la partita riguarda la concorrenza? In questo episodio di Essential Antitrust – The Italian Voice guardiamo allo sport da una prospettiva diversa, esplorando il ruolo del diritto antitrust in un settore sempre più rilevante dal punto di vista economico. Dal caso Superlega alla recente sentenza ROGON, passando per il pattinaggio, il calcio europeo, le regole sugli agenti sportivi e i trasferimenti dei calciatori: analizziamo alcune delle decisioni che stanno ridefinendo i rapporti tra federazioni, club, atleti e organizzatori di competizioni, per capire come l’antitrust scende in campo quando si parla di sport.
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  'EUnpacked' #5: The EU ETS Revision – what’s next for Europe’s carbon market? 02.07.2026 21min

  Tune in to the latest episode of our EUnpacked podcast series, where we unpack the forthcoming revision of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) – the EU’s flagship climate policy and one of its most consequential regulatory frameworks for business. With the European Commission’s legislative proposal which has just been postponed for publication on 17 July. The debate is intensifying around key issues including the future pace of emissions reductions, reforms to free allocation, the role of carbon removals and international credits, and the possible extension of the system to new sectors. In this episode, Freshfields' EU Regulatory & Public Affairs Senior Consultant Karl Thies is joined by James Chapman, Partner in the firm's Energy and Infrastructure practice, and Stefan Schröder, Partner in the firm's Energy Regulatory practice, to discuss what the revision could mean for companies' investment decisions, competitiveness, and decarbonisation strategies in the years ahead.
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  No Worse Off #23: Restructuring in the Netherlands 24.06.2026 32min

  In our latest episode of "No Worse Off," host Lindsay Hingston is joined by Amsterdam partner Michael Broeders and senior associate Huub Boekhorst for a deep dive into the Dutch restructuring market. The Netherlands is one of Europe's most versatile restructuring jurisdictions - and this episode explains why. How does the WHOA compare to Chapter 11 and the UK scheme? How powerful is Dutch share pledge enforcement? Is the Dutch regime more receptive to LME transactions than elsewhere? They provide answers to all this and more, by reference to the leading cases including McDermott and Selecta. Stay tuned for more insights into the world of restructuring and thank you for listening to "No Worse Off.
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  Well-Caffeinated: What the Retail Moment Means for Private Capital 03.06.2026 41min

  In this episode of Well-Caffeinated, host Tim Clark is joined by four Freshfields colleagues to examine one of the most significant trends impacting Private Capital today: the increasing focus on “retail” sources of capital for Private Capital investment strategies. Melissa Hodgman, David Nicolardi, Andrew Gladstein and Jeremy Barr unpack what it means for a Private Capital managers to add a retail component to its investor pool.
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  Essential Antitrust #51: Inside the new EU Merger Guidelines with Daniele Calisti: policy, economics and practice 28.05.2026 41min

  Twelve months ago, Daniele Calisti, Head of Unit for Merger Policy and Case Support at the European Commission, joined us to discuss the launch of the Commission's public consultation on the revision of the EU Merger Guidelines. Now, with a draft text on the table, host Jenn Mellott welcomes him back — alongside economist David Foster of Frontier Economics and Brussels partner Thomas Janssens — to get the insider’s perspective on the most significant rewrite of EU merger control in over twenty years. The conversation goes beyond the published text to explore the Commission's own thinking on the revamped efficiencies and "theory of benefit" framework, the new dynamic theories of harm, the differentiated evidential standard, resilience as a parameter of competition, and the Innovation Shield for acquisitions of small innovative companies. Whether you're a friend of the podcast or a new listener, you'll find everything you need in this episode to navigate the reform with confidence. With the consultation closing on 26 June and the Commission already applying the new principles informally, this episode delivers the insight your deal team needs — directly from the source.
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  Essential Antitrust - The Italian Voice #1: Il posto fisso (obbligato) 26.05.2026 20min

  In questo episodio, analizziamo come il mercato del lavoro sia diventato un nuovo campo d’azione anche per l’enforcement antitrust in Europa e in Italia. Dalle recenti linee guida della Commissione Europea che contemplano anche gli accordi c.d. no-poach e wage-fixing, fino alle prime sanzioni in diversi Paesi del mondo, esploriamo come le pratiche che limitano la mobilità dei lavoratori stiano entrando nel mirino delle autorità della concorrenza.  
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  Global Shareholder Activism Insights #1: The Rise of the First-Time Activist 11.05.2026 24min

  Activists are not monolithic and it is critical that companies today understand how activist types and styles impact engagement and campaigns. In this inaugural episode, Julian Pritchard and Leza Bieber are joined by Lauren Odell, Partner at Gladstone Place Partners to examine the nuances of engaging with first-time activists. Moving beyond established funds, our experts analyze new entrants and the unique incentives driving their pursuit of market recognition. We explore why boards should treat every campaign with equal rigor and offer a specialized advisory lens on engaging with unconventional strategies designed to capture shareholder attention and bypass traditional communication channels.
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  Essential Antitrust #50: New safe harbours, sharper teeth - the EU's new merger playbook 01.05.2026 25min

  The European Commission's draft merger guidelines land at a moment of real geopolitical flux — and its changes cut both ways. Scale, resilience, innovation and supply chain security are now embedded in the competitive assessment as key factors, and a new "theory of benefit" framework enables parties to argue efficiencies in novel and more comprehensive ways. At the same time, the Commission has equipped itself with a significantly expanded enforcement toolkit — from entrenchment and dynamic foreclosure to labour market effects and minority shareholdings. In this episode of the Essential Antitrust podcast, Freshfields partners Jenn Mellott, Andreas von Bonin and Paul van den Berg discuss what has actually changed in practice: how the new innovation shield works for start-up acquisitions, where the new theories of harm create risk that deal teams need to plan for from day one, and what the expanded efficiencies framework means for how you build and present your deal to the Commission.
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  No Worse Off #22: Welcome to Hot Topics: charting global restructuring, one jurisdiction at a time 27.04.2026 24min

  In our latest episode of "No Worse Off," we launch an exciting new series: Hot Topics. Host Lindsay Hingston is joined by Ken Baird, Freshfields' global head of restructuring, and senior associate Jamie Murray-Jones to introduce this fresh approach to exploring the world of restructuring. This inaugural episode sets the scene for the series, which will take listeners across our international network, zooming into a different jurisdiction in each episode.  They discuss the intersection of international trends and techniques with local dynamics, and how this shapes the approach to cross-border restructurings.   Stay tuned for more insights into the world of restructuring and thank you for listening to "No Worse Off."
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  Introducing the AI Drop 21.04.2026

  Join host Anna Gressel to unlock the future of artificial intelligence with The AI Drop, a podcast dedicated to delivering cutting-edge insights on how AI is transforming industries worldwide. Each episode features expert interviews and actionable strategies to help you harness AI, drive business value, and navigate evolving legal challenges. Fresh drops every week so you never miss a beat.   🎧 Episode 1 available now on all major podcast platforms:   Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Web  
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  Well-Caffeinated: Private Capital at the AI Inflection Point: What to Look for in 2026 and Beyond 12.03.2026 38min

  In this episode, Sanjay Murti discusses all things AI with partners Anna Gressel, Eva Mak and Tim Clark, covering topics such as the commercialization of AI agents, AI governance, AI on the investment committee and AI as an accelerant for retailization. The panel also shares its reactions to Matt Shumer’s viral post, ’Something Big Is Happening,’ which explored the implications of AI development. The panelists conclude with the one thing each of them is particularly focused on when it comes to AI on the road ahead.
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  No Worse Off #21: Asset-Backed Finance under stress 06.03.2026 19min

  In our latest episode of “No Worse Off,” host Emma Gateaud is joined by Mus van Hien, Head of Private Markets Capital Solutions at M&G Investments, and Freshfields partner Andy Heathcote, from our structured finance practice. Together, they explore Asset-Backed Finance and how it is used , as well as how distress and enforcement can play out in such structures. They examine the recent fraud cases of First Brands and Tricolor and also bring their experience of investor protections and talk through enforcement issues in such structures. Stay tuned for more insights into the world of restructuring and thank you for listening to "No Worse Off".  
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  ESG trends to watch in 2026: Part 2: How AI, climate transition planning, supply chains and environmental rules are evolving 02.03.2026 19min

  Part 2 explores AI’s expanding ESG implications, uncertainty in climate transition planning, evolving supply‑chain obligations and the ongoing complexity of environmental and product‑specific rules, despite efforts to simplify regulatory frameworks. Recorded as at 29 January. 
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  ESG trends to watch in 2026: Part 1: ESG litigation risk in a fragmented regulatory world 02.03.2026 16min

  Part 1 explores how geopolitical divergence and shifting regulatory approaches are reshaping ESG risk in 2026. It highlights a more complex litigation landscape, growing use of novel arguments including attribution science and increasing claims linked to climate impacts, supply chains, human rights and allegations of greenwashing. Recorded as at 30 January.
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  Essential Antitrust #49: Clarity in Antitrust: inside the 10 key themes shaping 2026 21.01.2026 29min

  Antitrust is increasingly impacted by geopolitical priorities, with regulators using competition policy to advance national security, industrial resilience, and economic goals. Companies operating across major jurisdictions face diverging enforcement philosophies, requiring careful alignment of deal narratives with local policy objectives. At the same time, merger control is undergoing significant procedural and substantive changes: authorities expect deeper upfront analysis, broader disclosure, and robust evidence supporting innovation, consumer benefits, and supply chain stability.
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  Essential Antitrust #48: Antitrust meets AI: How regulators approach AI-driven pricing and predictive analytics 07.01.2026 21min

  AI-driven pricing and analytics tools are transforming markets, but they’re also drawing intense scrutiny from antitrust authorities worldwide. In our latest Essential Antitrust episode, Freshfields experts Maria Dreher-Lorje, Nicholas Frey, Heather Lamberg and Jenn Mellott explore how regulators in the US, UK, and EU are responding to algorithmic pricing and what this means for global businesses. From US litigation concerning algorithmic price fixing to the EU’s case focus and the CMA’s new investigatory powers, the legal landscape is evolving fast. Authorities are not only investigating AI-driven conduct but also deploying AI tools themselves to detect collusion. Uncertainty around enforcement standards—per se vs. rule of reason—makes proactive compliance essential. Listen now to understand the risks, the questions regulators are asking, and practical steps to protect your business.
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  Well-Caffeinated: What’s Past is Prologue — Assessing the Changed Legal Landscape from Year 1 of the Second Trump Administration and Looking Ahead at What Year 2 May Bring 17.12.2025 28min

  As 2025 draws to a close, and sitting on the precipice of a new year, it seems like a good time for us to assess where the second Trump Administration has taken us so far and where we may be headed.  Listen to Tim Clark’s interview of Jennifer Loeb, Austin Evers and David Nicolardi regarding what we got right about Trump 2.0; what surprised us; and what to expect from the administration in the coming year.
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  No Worse Off #20: 2025 in Review 17.12.2025 21min

  To close the year, in this episode of “No Worse Off” hosts Emma Gateaud, Lindsay Hingston and Alex Thomson look back at the key developments in the restructuring market in 2025.  In a monthly run-down they spotlight new trends in liability management and out-of-court solutions, and pivotal court decisions that have reshaped the UK restructuring plan.  The team also highlights headline bankruptcy cases, the Supreme Court’s motor finance ruling and a landmark decision in Wirecard.Stay tuned for more insights into the world of restructuring and thank you for listening to "No Worse Off."