A&O Shearman global insights

The Fuse Podcast: Stablecoins

In the evolving landscape of digital finance, global financial institutions and businesses are increasingly recognizing the potential for blockchain technology to enhance the payments ecosystem. Stablecoins are becoming a key component in this transformation, enabling corporates to benefit from faster trade settlements and simpler, cheaper and safer cross-border payments.

So what are the benefits of stablecoins? How can they enable greater control over payments and liquidity management?

On this edition of The Fuse Podcast by A&O Shearman, we are joined by:

• Nick Philpott, Co-Founder and Head of Partnerships at Zodia Markets, a regulated digital asset exchange that offers institutional-grade access to crypto-assets and stablecoins.
• Iain Monk, the Digital Asset Strategy Lead at Clearbank, the UK's first new, full service clearing bank in more than 250 years.
• Nick Bradbury, a Partner in our Financial Services Regulatory team whose areas of focus include digital and crypto assets, and the uses of distributed ledger technology and tokenization.

Our guests will share their insights on how stablecoins offer a compelling proposition for UK corporates and institutions offering stability, efficiency and programmability in the crypto-asset space, and how stablecoins can change the way transactions take place in the financial markets.   

The Fuse Podcast: Geolegal risk

In an era marked by rapid technological advances and volatile geopolitical landscapes, understanding and managing risk has become paramount for business leaders and in-house counsel.

In this second episode of The Fuse Podcast, we explore the concept of geolegal risk, a term coined to describe the intersection of geopolitics, technology, and law, encapsulating the dynamic and often unpredictable challenges that organizations face today.

The podcast delves into the multifaceted nature of geolegal risk, highlighting how global events and technological innovations can have profound legal implications. 

To discuss the concept and what it means for both business and GC, we are joined by:

• Sean West, co-founder of Hence Technologies, who offers a unique perspective on how legal tech can help organizations navigate the complexities of global events.
• Andy Bird, CEO of international education group Pearson, and formerly the president and chairman of Walt Disney International, who shares his firsthand experiences in managing risk and adapting to technological and geopolitical changes.

Our guests will share their valuable insights and practical advice for anyone looking to understand and manage geolegal risk in today's turbulent times. How can organizations prepare for and respond to major geopolitical events, and what skills, technologies and strategies are necessary for leaders to navigate this complex and ever-changing environment?

Navigating the complexities of modern workplace investigations

Workplace investigations have evolved into intricate processes that demand careful attention and strategic planning. Savvy employees are not only aware of their rights but are also more likely to scrutinise the integrity and fairness of investigative procedures. This heightened scrutiny means that every phase of the investigation is potentially vulnerable to challenge, especially if the outcome does not go the way anticipated by one of the individuals. In this podcast*, Sarah Henchoz, the Global Head of Employment Litigation, shares her insights and best practice tips on managing investigations, including the thorny topics of confidentiality, privacy and legal privilege.