A&O Shearman Europe insights

Chemicals sector volatility, restructuring, and the investment outlook

The chemicals sector is facing a perfect storm—chronic structural weaknesses colliding with acute market volatility. How are corporates and creditors responding? And what does the road ahead actually look like for investors and restructuring professionals navigating the turbulence? Senior knowledge lawyer Christopher Poel [https://www.aoshearman.com/en/people/christopher-poel] (London restructuring) is joined by James Webber [https://www.aoshearman.com/en/people/james--webber], London antitrust partner and chemical and industrials sector lead, and Karen McMaster [https://www.aoshearman.com/en/people/karen-mcmaster], London restructuring partner, to explore these questions. Together they unpack the latest trends and developments reshaping the sector, examine how long-term structural pressures are compounding the impact of recent market volatility, and explore how corporates and creditors are adapting their strategies in response. They also set out where market participants should be directing their attention when making short-, medium-, and long-term investment and restructuring decisions. Whether you're considering investing in the chemicals sector or making decisions within it, this episode gives you our views of the industry to help inform your choices.

Legal AI in action: Advanced delivery and responsible adoption

AI is no longer a future-state conversation in legal services. It's already reshaping how firms operate, deliver and create value. But what does responsible adoption actually look like in practice? How do you manage the cultural shift alongside the technological one?  Bénédicte Kurth [https://www.aoshearman.com/en/people/benedicte-kurth], Luxembourg head of knowledge at A&O Shearman, sits down with Angela Clist [https://www.aoshearman.com/en/people/angela-clist], our global head of Advanced Delivery and Solutions, to explore how AI and advanced delivery models are transforming the way legal work gets done.   Drawing on concrete examples, from AI-enabled large-scale document review to entity management solutions, they make the case that real value comes not from technology alone, but from the right combination of people, processes and tools working together. They also explore why markets like Luxembourg are well positioned to lead in responsible AI adoption.  They also dig into the mindset required to thrive in this environment, why experimentation matters, and why thoughtful change management is just as important as the technology itself.  Listeners will leave with a sharper understanding of where AI is already delivering measurable results in legal practice, and what firms and their clients need to prioritise to stay ahead.

M&A due diligence: Avoiding costly mistakes in complex deals

"Marry in haste, repent at leisure." The proverb predates modern M&A by centuries, but it could have been written for it.   Due diligence done badly means missed liabilities, mispriced deals and post-close surprises that can take years to unwind. So what does rigorous due diligence actually look like in practice? And how do you make the process less painful without cutting corners?  Victoria Woestmann [https://www.aoshearman.com/en/people/victoria-woestmann] and Matthieu Tourin [https://www.aoshearman.com/en/people/matthieu-tourin] walk through the due diligence process from both the buyer's and seller's perspective, exploring how findings shape purchase price, warranties, indemnities and SPA provisions, and sharing some of the more unexpected discoveries from their own careers.   They also examine how LegalTech and AI tools are beginning to transform the process, improving speed, coordination and outcomes in complex, cross-border transactions.

UK prospectus reform: IPOs, public offers and the new regime

The UK's prospectus regime has been fundamentally overhauled, and the implications for issuers, investment banks and investors are significant.   The Public Offers and Admissions to Trading Regulations 2024 supersede the on-shored EU Prospectus Regulation from January 19, 2026. It separates admissions to a regulated market from wider public offers for the first time, giving the FCA new powers to set content and approval standards while introducing more flexible, proportionate disclosure requirements.   What does the new framework mean in practice? And how should market participants navigate IPOs, public offers and further issuances under the new rules?  This episode summarises the key changes from an equity perspective, covering the new Prospectus Rules sourcebook, the recasting of when a public offer is permitted, the broadened routes to reach retail investors, and the modernisation of exemptions.   Listeners will gain a clear, practical understanding of the new regime and what it means for faster capital raising, retail participation and robust investor protection.

Agentic AI: Cyber risk, data security and AI agent threats

Episode 3: AI agents expand what organisations can do, and what attackers can target. AI-enabled phishing, deepfakes, prompt injection, model theft, expanded attack surfaces, nation-state agentic attacks: the threat landscape is evolving faster than most organisations' defences.   How do you build AI agent infrastructure that is genuinely secure? What does regulatory compliance look like in this context? And how do you turn risk management into a trust-building advantage?  Alex Shandro [https://www.aoshearman.com/en/people/alex-shandro] and Anna Rudawski [https://www.aoshearman.com/en/people/anna-rudawski] close this three-part series by examining how AI agents elevate cybersecurity and privacy risks — and what organisations need to do about it. They cover governance frameworks, practical controls and the regulatory expectations businesses must meet, offering a clear-eyed view of how to accelerate AI adoption without compromising security.  Listeners will leave with a concrete understanding of the threat landscape facing AI agent deployments — and the governance and technical controls needed to manage it.  Agentic AI explores the legal, regulatory and commercial implications of AI agents in business. In each episode, our specialists decode the risks, regulatory frameworks and practical steps organisations need to deploy AI agents with confidence. The series is designed for legal, compliance, risk and technology leaders navigating the fast-moving frontier of autonomous AI.