Overview The European Commission has recently adopted its long-awaited proposal for a Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (the “Draft Directive”). The Draft Directive aims to address human rights and environmental rights impacts in global value chains and foster responsible corporate behaviour. In-scope companies will be required to identify actual and potential adverse environmental and human […]

Our environment and climate team, led by Alice Whittaker, was pleased to provide an independent review of Ireland’s forestry regulations to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine following recommendations from Project Woodland working groups. The review analyses the regulatory framework that underpins forestry in Ireland and makes recommendations that could lead to efficiencies. […]

Published in the Irish Independent, June 19 2022. Article written by Jonathan Keane. Head of blockchain and cryptocurrencies, Andrew Tzialli featured in Sunday’s Irish Independent discussing the recent volatility in the crypto and tech sector. Full article available here. (Behind paywall).    

We are pleased to introduce the second issue of M&A Insights. M&A Insights is a quarterly insight guide that looks at transactions in Ireland and the UK and the impact that the international market has on corporate transactions in these jurisdictions. This insight has been created in partnership with Experian, the global information services company […]

Messaging specialist, Webio, has announced it has raised $4 million in a Series A funding round. Founded in 2016, Webio assists clients in the financial services, insurance and other sectors to communicate with their customers on sensitive subjects such as credit, collections and payments. The company plans to double it’s headcount with this investment in […]

On 25 May 2022, Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee announced a proposal that would allow Gardaí to use facial recognition technology (FRT) when investigating criminal offences. The provision would operate as an amendment to the proposed Garda Síochána (Digital Recording) Bill, an act that the Minister hopes to introduce at the end of the month. […]

2022 marks the 10–year anniversary of Ireland’s Immigrant Investor Programme. In the recently published 2022 issue of the Ireland-China Business Magazine, our immigration team answer some key questions relating to the programme. Full article available here.  

Intro In our latest briefing on ‘MiCA’ the European Union’s proposed Regulation of Markets in Crypto-Assets, we noted some of the regulatory requirements for firms classified as a crypto-asset service providers (“CASPs”) or crypto-asset issuers under the new legislation. One such requirement under Title II, III, IV and V of the draft regulations is the […]

Healthcare communication platform Wellola has raised €1 million in funding from BVP. Irish-founded Wellola provides an online patient portal which supports healthcare organisations to securely share administrative and clinical data with patients. The platform offers appointment management and two-way messaging as well as symptom tracking and remote device connectivity. The company intends to use the […]

Welcome to the latest update from the Philip Lee Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals and Life Science group. This update covers a range of topics: General Regulatory – Ireland 1. Irish Government publishes Legislation Programme Spring 2022 2. Potential new EU law to help consumers take ‘collective action’ against firms 3. HPRA Provides updated guidance for submitting mock-ups […]