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Briefing Notes
M&A
BT Acquires TalkTalk and Wholesale Arm PlatformX Communications Out of Administration as Government Weighs In
BT bought TalkTalk out of administration debt-free, government is already watching.
Capital Markets
UK 30-Year Gilt Yield Tops 6% for First Time This Century as Global Bond Rout Drives FTSE 100's Worst Day Since May
Century-high gilt yields tighten fiscal space ahead of the Budget and raise refinancing costs for every leveraged borrower in the market.
International
UK Business Secretary Weighs Chinese EV Tariffs as Imports Hit Record and EU Threatens to Exclude Britain from 'Made in Europe' Scheme
The EU's 'Made in Europe' scheme is effectively forcing the UK to choose between protecting domestic carmakers and maintaining access to its largest export market.
Banking & Finance
Former Chancellor Hunt Warns Bank Tax Hike Would Destroy Jobs as UK Budget Jitters Drive Banking Stocks Lower
UK banks face a double hit: century-high gilt yields compressing margins and a potential Budget tax hike, both arriving simultaneously.
Energy & Tech
Energy UK Calls for Immediate Government Intervention as North Sea Strike Threat and Rising Wholesale Prices Point to Second Energy Crisis
Two simultaneous shocks, a North Sea supply threat and a January price spike, are forcing the government's hand on emergency energy intervention.
Disputes
Court of Appeal Overturns High Court Ruling That Solicitor Dishonestly Assisted in £7m Company Fraud, Setting Aside 'Blind Eye' Finding
Falk LJ's ruling means claimants cannot shortcut the two-stage dishonesty test: no actual suspicion proved, no liability for blind-eye knowledge.
AI & Law
Demand for 'AI Lawyer' Roles is Booming at City Firms but Experts Question Whether the Specialism Will Last Without a Stronger Regulatory Framework
Without a statutory anchor equivalent to GDPR, AI law risks fragmenting across practice groups rather than consolidating into a durable specialism.
Banking & Finance
Linklaters Advises Pool of Banks on Fassi's €450m Debut High-Yield Notes and New Revolving Credit Facility
Debut high-yield deals test market appetite, floating rate notes shift interest-rate risk to the issuer.