Ashurst Legal Outlook Podcast

Ashurst
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The commercial world is always changing and the legal landscape never stands still. Keeping pace with all those changes, and knowing how they affect your organisation, is a big responsibility and a challenging task. Ashurst Legal Outlook will keep you at the forefront of the most pressing legal issues, offering insights from legal experts across our international network.

  1. 1D AGO

    Industrious Conversations: Managing employee social media influencers

    In this episode, we lift the lid on a fascinating and fast-changing employment issue: the rise of online creators and social media influencers within the workforce, and the legal challenges this presents for employers. Ashurst partners Trent Sebbens and Rebecca Cope explore the rise of online influencers within the workforce—and what this means for employers. Millions of Australians spend hours on social media every week. And for some, the lines are blurring between personal online activity and professional obligations. In this episode, Trent and Rebecca provide some clarity for employers around issues like enforcement of confidentiality , invasions of privacy, and court-related risks. As well as discussing landmark Australian, UK and US legal cases relating to employees and social media activity, Trent and Rebecca suggest prudent steps that employers can take (including training staff on expectations, identifying who among their workforce is a social media influencer, maintaining a robust social media policy, and more). To listen to this and subscribe to future Industrious Conversations episodes, search for “Ashurst Legal Outlook” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast player. To find out more about the full range of Ashurst podcasts, visit ashurst.com/podcasts. The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    17 min

  2. SEP 23

    Ashurst Data Bytes 5: How the UK's Data (Use and Access) Act Digital ID provisions could revolutionise our lives

    In the penultimate episode of this season of Data Bytes, we look at how digital identity provisions will reshape the world as we know it. Physical ID cards may soon be a thing of the past, and that could have huge implications for society and businesses. Host Rhiannon Webster is joined by Ashurst colleague Fiona Ghosh to explain how digital IDs are swiftly changing how we live and work. Together, they discuss how the Data (Use and Access) Act creates a regulatory framework for digital identity to operate under government oversight. Rhiannon offers an overview of the Act’s provisions including the statutory trust framework, supplementary codes and a new register of digital verification service providers. She also discusses the profound security implications of digital ID and potential multi-regulation scenarios where financial services firms might have to report breaches to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) and the new Office for Digital Identity And Attributes. Fiona points out that, “the main impact of digital ID will be the enablement for citizens to access services in multidisciplinary ways”. For example, citizens will be able to choose how to access their benefits or records – physically or electronically. And she raises questions around resilience when businesses move to the cloud and the level of expectation (and trust) that citizens now place in digital wallets and ID.To listen to this and subscribe to future Data Bytes episodes, search for “Ashurst Legal Outlook” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast player. To explore more from Ashurst’s podcast library, visit ashurst.com/podcasts. The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    20 min

  3. AUG 21

    Industrious Conversations: Managing redundancy processes in Australia in 2025

    Quantum leaps in technology, as well as rising cost pressures, are prompting many leaders to take a fresh look at how their organisations are structured and resourced. However, restructures and redeployment are notoriously tricky processes to manage well. In this episode, we reflect on lessons learned from the High Court’s recent Helensburgh Coal vs Bartley decision. Ashurst Employment partners Peter McNulty and Julia Sutherland explain why and how Australia’s employment laws require a more nuanced approach to restructuring than in years gone by. Together, they tackle everything from redeployment and penalties for late payment of entitlements to contractor arrangements and employee consultation. They also discuss health and safety matters, including psychosocial risk, and they emphasise the importance of robust, documented plans. To listen to this and subscribe to future episodes, search for “Ashurst Legal Outlook” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast player. To find out more about the full range of Ashurst podcasts, visit ashurst.com/podcasts. The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    13 min

  4. AUG 20

    Data centres – here today, here tomorrow: India outlook

    Our globetrotting podcast mini-series pays a visit to India, to take in the data centre landscape there. In less than 25 minutes, we highlight the market dynamics, trends, policymaking, infrastructure, and incentives that investors need to be across in this fast-growing market. There’s a lot of excitement around India’s data centre in market and with good reason. India already has around 1.2 gigawatts of live IT load capacity. In 2025 alone, the nation has already added roughly 250 megawatts and experts predict capacity will rise to 1.8 gigawatts by 2027, before reaching 4.5 - 5 gigawatts by 2030. In this episode, podcast host Ruth Harris is joined by Ashurst colleague Kalpana Unadkat to explain what is driving India’s extraordinary surge in data demand, how the government is responding, the types of facilities being built, and who the movers and shakers are among investors. Along the way, Kalpana offers an assessment of how mature the market is, and picks out some notable joint ventures and occupiers. She also reflects on the trends that will shape data centre activity in the years ahead. To listen to this and subscribe to future episodes about data centres, search for “Ashurst Legal Outlook” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast player. To read more about data centres, head to Ashurst's data centre insights hub. To find out more about the full range of Ashurst podcasts, visit ashurst.com/podcasts. The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    24 min

  5. AUG 19

    Ashurst Data Bytes 4: How the UK's Data (Use and Access) Act will change marketing practices, cookie use and the PECR fining regime

    In this episode, we explain how the Data (Use and Access) Act changes marketing practices and the use of cookies in the UK. Host Rhiannon Webster is joined by Ashurst colleagues Nicolas Quoy and Shehana Cameron-Perera to discuss how the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 amends Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) and changes marketing practices and uses of cookies. Shehana provides a snapshot of the amendments to PECR and what these mean for marketing practices. She also runs through the list of what cookies are categorised in PECR as being "strictly necessary cookies” and explains that, for analytics and appearance cookies, there are additional exceptions from obtaining consent. Nicolas draws some constructive comparisons between French and UK marketing and cookies practices and regulatory approaches and describes the EU’s enforcement approach which attracts substantially higher fines. Whilst the Data (Use and Access) Act appears to bring the UK in line with France from a cookie perspective, there are probably still differentiations across Europe which will require a country-by-country approach when looking at cookie compliance. Rhiannon explains how the Data (Use and Access) Act has aligned enforcement powers under PECR to the UK GDPR, and how this might inform compliance efforts and impact the ICO's approach to fining, particularly for marketing infringements. To listen to this and subscribe to future Data Bytes episodes, search for “Ashurst Legal Outlook” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast player. To explore more from Ashurst’s podcast library, visit ashurst.com/podcasts. The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    19 min

  6. JUL 31

    Ashurst Data Bytes 3: AI Implications in the UK's Data (Use and Access) Act

    In this episode we delve further into the UK’s Data (Use and Access) Act – this time exploring how the Act will impact organisations developing and deploying artificial intelligence (AI). Ashurst partner Rhiannon Webster has assembled an expert team to unpack what the Data (Use and Access) Act means for AI, including data protection and IP-related matters. This includes Rhiannon’s Digital Economy team colleagues Will Barrow and Tom Brookes alongside Ashurst IP expert Aaron Cole. Together, they explain what’s changed and what lies ahead for organisations developing and deploying AI. Aaron lays out the copyright policy options the government is weighing up in the coming months, and highlights pertinent court cases over how copyright protected materials are used by AI platforms. Tom summarises data protection changes relating to automated decision-making and AI. He explains why this could prompt organisations to expand the way they use such AI tools, and what the impacts might be of rules splintering between the EU and UK. Tom also describes the more permissive environment for taking automated decisions using personal data, which has implications for HR and Finance leaders in particular. To listen to this and subscribe to future Data Bytes episodes, search for “Ashurst Legal Outlook” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast player. To explore more from Ashurst’s podcast library, visit ashurst.com/podcasts. The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    18 min

  7. JUL 31

    Industrious Conversations: Supporting neurodivergent employees in workplace investigations

    In this episode in our Industrious Conversations series, Partner Tamara Lutvey is joined by Mackenzie Small, Relationship Manager at the Australian Disability Network, to explore how organisations can better accommodate neurodivergent employees in workplace investigations. Drawing on Mackenzie’s extensive experience in disability inclusion and workplace strategy, they unpack why traditional investigation models often overlook the needs of neurodivergent participants and what simple, practical steps employers can take to change that. Tamara and Mackenzie discuss key issues like preparing participants for interviews, designing inclusive meeting environments and framing questions with clarity. The conversation also covers the importance of process flexibility and why offering adjustments should be standard practice for all participants. To listen to this and subscribe to future episodes, search for “Ashurst Legal Outlook” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast player. To explore more from Ashurst’s podcast library, visit ashurst.com/podcasts. The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    22 min

  8. JUL 24

    Ashurst Data Bytes 2: How UK's Data (Use and Access) Act and the EU Data Act are approaching smart data schemes

    In this episode we take a closer look at how the UK’s new Data (Use and Access) Act will regulate non-personal data, in particular through the framework for smart data schemes. Ashurst colleagues Rhiannon Webster and Dr Alexander Duisberg join the podcast from London and Munich respectively to discuss the Data (Use and Access) Act’s framework for smart data schemes. “Smart data schemes are seen by the UK government as a way to increase competition and create greater opportunities for innovation, save time for consumers, reduce costs, and increase the quality of services,” explains Rhiannon. “They also look to improve the security of data sharing and increase the trust in data sharing mechanisms.” Together, Alex and Rhiannon describe the contrasting approaches of UK and EU regulators and what can be learned from these. This includes a comparison of the key provisions and limitations of the UK’s Data (Use and Access) Act and the EU Data Act – from trade secrets and data usage to innovation and competition. And there’s discussion of what might be covered in secondary legislation in the UK and EU. Alex also outlines how proactive EU companies have prepared themselves for September’s implementation, going beyond compliance to enhance data strategy and pursue new business opportunities. To listen to this and subscribe to future episodes, search for “Ashurst Legal Outlook” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast player. To explore more from Ashurst’s podcast library, visit ashurst.com/podcasts. The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.       See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    22 min
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About

The commercial world is always changing and the legal landscape never stands still. Keeping pace with all those changes, and knowing how they affect your organisation, is a big responsibility and a challenging task. Ashurst Legal Outlook will keep you at the forefront of the most pressing legal issues, offering insights from legal experts across our international network.

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