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NLJ this week: Policing business deals that could threaten national security

07 March 2025
Issue: 8107 / Categories: Legal News , National security , International
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The UK government has the power to review and potentially stop any business transactions that could threaten national security, courtesy of legislation that came into effect at the start of 2022. In this week’s NLJ, Ludovica Pizzetti, counsel, Arnold & Porter, looks at the operation to date of this legislation, the UK National Investment and Security Act 2021 (NSIA 2021).

Pizzetti sets out key trends that have emerged in relation to NSIA 2021 as well as anticipated developments in the year ahead. She notes that ‘the UK regime is, at least to a certain extent, country agnostic. There are several examples—including in the last 12 months—where UK acquirers have been subject to an in-depth review and cleared subject to conditions. Acquirers from other “friendly” nations such as the US, Canada, and various EU member states have also undergone close scrutiny and even been made subject to remedy decisions.’

Pizzetti also provides a brief overview of the ‘increasing array’ of US trade and investment regulation that may affect cross-Atlantic deals. 

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Freeths—Ruth Clare

Freeths—Ruth Clare

National real estate team bolstered by partner hire in Manchester

Farrer & Co—Claire Gordon

Farrer & Co—Claire Gordon

Partner appointed head of family team

mfg Solicitors—Neil Harrison

mfg Solicitors—Neil Harrison

Firm strengthens agriculture and rural affairs team with partner return

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The dangers of uncritical artificial intelligence (AI) use in legal practice are no longer hypothetical. In this week's NLJ, Dr Charanjit Singh of Holborn Chambers examines cases where lawyers relied on ‘hallucinated’ citations — entirely fictitious authorities generated by AI tools
The Solicitors Act 1974 may still underpin legal regulation, but its age is increasingly showing. Writing in NLJ this week, Victoria Morrison-Hughes of the Association of Costs Lawyers argues that the Act is ‘out of step with modern consumer law’ and actively deters fairness
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