Australian Update - Resistance to Australian Securities Exchange Corporate Governance Council’s Diversity Reforms Signals Decline in Environment, Social and Governance Commitment - The recent decision by the Australian...more
4/15/2025
/ Australia ,
Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
European Commission ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Greenwashing ,
Paris Agreement ,
Popular ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Renewable Energy ,
Sustainability
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has proposed reforms to strengthen core prudential standards and guidance on governance, currently set out in SPS 510 Governance, SPS 520 Fit and Proper, and SPS 521...more
Australian Update - ASIC's Key Issues Outlook for 2025 - On 24 January 2025, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) released its key issues outlook for 2025 which provides insights for Australian...more
3/26/2025
/ ASIC ,
Australia ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Greenwashing ,
Investment ,
Manufacturers ,
Popular ,
Renewable Energy ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices
Underfunded From Inception - The operator of CSLR has released the latest actuarial report commissioned on the scheme and the initial estimates of projected levies for 2025 / 26 (3rd levy period), triggering widespread...more
Australian - Update Mandatory Climate-Related Financial Disclosures Come Into Effect - The first phase of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Market Infrastructure and Other Measures) Bill 2024 (Cth) (Bill) commenced on...more
2/24/2025
/ ASIC ,
Australia ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Markets ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Modern Slavery Act ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainability
2024 was a year of meaningful regulatory change for asset managers globally. The regulatory activity was wide ranging and without a particular unifying theme. In fact, the wide, and in cases diverging focuses of key global...more
2/12/2025
/ Asset Management ,
Australia ,
Capital Markets ,
Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Fiduciary Duty ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Foreign Investment ,
Hong Kong ,
Investment Firms ,
Investment Funds ,
Investment Management ,
Investors ,
Japan ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Securities ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Regulation ,
Singapore ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Finance
Australian Update - Australia Commits AU$75 million to Singapore's FAST-P Clean Energy Transition Initiative - On 3 December 2024, the Australian Government approved an AU$75 million equity investment in the Singapore...more
12/27/2024
/ Australia ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Cyber Threats ,
Cybersecurity ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Green Finance ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Singapore ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
Tax Credits
Introduction - When directors and officers of reporting entities are assessing how to prepare for complying with the new sustainability reporting obligations, it is tempting to look to the Australian Securities and...more
12/19/2024
/ ASIC ,
Asset Management ,
Australia ,
Compliance ,
Enforcement Priorities ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Greenwashing ,
Misleading Statements ,
Recordkeeping Requirements ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices
Australian Update - Appointment of the Inaugural Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner - On 11 November 2023, the Attorney-General announced the appointment of Chris Evans as the inaugural Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner...more
12/16/2024
/ Annual Reports ,
Anti-Slavery Commissioner ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
ASIC ,
Australia ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Licensees ,
Popular ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
Sustainable Finance
On 25 September 2024, the Federal Court ordered a large superannuation trustee (Trustee) to pay the highest penalty imposed for greenwashing conduct yet–AU$12.9 million. This comes off the back of the Federal Court in early...more
The Attorney-General has introduced the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Bill 2024 (the Bill) to address regulatory “gaps” in Australia’s existing Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism...more
11/5/2024
/ Anti-Money Laundering ,
Anti-Terrorism Financing ,
Asset Management ,
Australia ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Digital Assets ,
Foreign Investment ,
Popular ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Risk Assessment ,
Risk Management ,
Terrorist Financing
When assessing how to comply with the new reporting obligations, reporting entities should recognise the differences in the enforcement approach that ASIC will take in relation to mandatory climate reporting compared with the...more
Australian Update - Climate-Related Disclosures Legislation Passed - The Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Market Infrastructure and Other Measures) Bill 2024 (Cth) passed Parliament on 9 September 2024 and received Royal...more
10/4/2024
/ ASIC ,
Australia ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Greenwashing ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Finance
Earlier this year, Australia enacted the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Combatting Foreign Bribery) Act 2024 (the Act) in an attempt to strengthen the country’s anti-bribery and corruption regime. The Act, which overhauls...more
Australian Update - Guide to Sustainable Collaborations – ACCC - On 8 July 2024, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) published a draft guide on Sustainability collaborations and Australian competition law...more
On 22 August 2024, the Senate passed the Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Market Infrastructure and Other Measures) Bill 2024 (the Bill), which requires certain organisations to make mandatory climate-related financial...more
Australian Update - Proposed Code of Practice to Reduce Modern Slavery Through Lending, Investment and Asset Management - The New South Wales (NSW) Anti-Slavery Commissioner (Commissioner) recently released its discussion...more
8/20/2024
/ Agribusiness ,
Anti-Slavery Commissioner ,
ASIC ,
Australia ,
Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Forced Labor ,
Greenwashing ,
Investors ,
Popular ,
Sustainable Finance
INTRODUCTION -
Asset managers (i.e., investment advisers) offering funds in more than one country are accustomed to adapting to different regulatory requirements. However, the challenges presented by the global regulation...more
7/16/2024
/ Asset Management ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Green Finance ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Investment Adviser ,
Investment Funds ,
Investment Management ,
Private Funds ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Standards ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Finance
Australian Update - Australia and EU Enter Into Critical and Strategic Minerals Partnership - On 28 May 2024, Australia and the European Union (EU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for a bilateral partnership to...more
7/5/2024
/ Amended Regulation ,
Australia ,
Climate Change ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Greenwashing ,
Minerals ,
Natural Gas ,
Natural Resources ,
Oil & Gas ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
Sustainable Finance
Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” was one of the highest grossing music tours of all time with approximate proceeds exceeding US$1 billion. While this is a monumental feat, Taylor Swift also gained negative attention during the tour...more
6/26/2024
/ ASIC ,
Australia ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Carbon Off-Set Credits ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Net Zero ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices
On 27 March 2024, the Australian Government published the first reading draft of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Market Infrastructure and Other Measures) Bill 2024 (New Bill), which superseded the previous exposure...more
AUSTRALIAN UPDATE - Updated Bill to Introduce Climate-Related Financial Reporting Regime - Background - The Australian Government released the first reading draft of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Market...more
5/29/2024
/ ASIC ,
Australia ,
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Energy Projects ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Markets ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Greenwashing ,
Investors ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Finance
Australian Update - Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Enforcement Priorities for 2024-2025 - The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has announced its enforcement and compliance priorities for...more
4/26/2024
/ ASIC ,
Australia ,
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) ,
Climate Change ,
Competition ,
Compliance ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Enforcement ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Green Bonds ,
Greenwashing ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Small Business ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Finance
Australia welcomes new business and foreign investment by providing a strong economy, a stable political environment and a skilled and talented workforce. Our comprehensive guide to Doing Business in Australia has been...more
4/19/2024
/ ASIC ,
Australia ,
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) ,
Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) ,
Board of Directors ,
Business Development ,
Business Entities ,
Capital Gains Tax ,
Competition ,
Copyright ,
Corporate Governance ,
Data Breach ,
Data Privacy ,
Digital Assets ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
FinTech ,
Foreign Corporations ,
Foreign Investment ,
Foreign Ownership ,
Franchises ,
Franchisors ,
Immigration ,
Income Taxes ,
Insolvency ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
Investment Funds ,
Investors ,
Joint Venture ,
Limited Partnerships ,
Modern Slavery Act ,
National Security ,
Notice Requirements ,
Partnerships ,
Patents ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Risk Mitigation ,
Securities ,
Sole Proprietorship ,
Supply Chain ,
Tax Rates ,
Thin Capitalization ,
Trademarks ,
Trusts ,
Venture Capital
Australian Update - Australian Securities and Investments Commission Continues Greenwashing Enforcement Efforts - On 28 February 2024, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) reported that an outsourced...more
4/2/2024
/ ASIC ,
Australia ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Greenwashing ,
Investment ,
Minerals ,
Misleading Statements ,
Natural Resources ,
Popular ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainability