Recent Insights

It's not just the rate of change. Our World in Transition hub focuses on the potential for transformation in energy, ESG, finance, globalization and US policy.  

Following a busy 2022, a range of factors will likely influence activist campaigns during 2023 

A guide to navigating the rules for investing in countries that require foreign direct investment approval.

Although the issuances of sustainability-linked bonds declined by more than a third in 2022, government focus on delivering net-zero carbon emissions and companies and investors prioritizing ESG bode well for long-term SLBs prospects

Debt Explorer | Private debt managers seized the opportunity to win market share in 2022 as leveraged loan and high yield bond activity slowed—moving into 2023, private debt players remain open for business, but mainly on their terms

Debt Explorer | Although ESG and green debt activity in Asia may have slowed somewhat in 2022, it is now an established feature of the market

Small modular reactors can play an integral part in the energy transition and offer a solution without many of the drawbacks of its larger predecessors. Yet, there are challenges to overcome.

M&A Explorer | The ongoing and rapid digitalization of economic and social activity in the region make data centers and fiber networks some of the most highly sought-after assets

M&A Explorer | The industry’s deal rally in Q4 2022 sets the stage for a strong year ahead

M&A Explorer | French deal volume in 2022 remained at historic levels, even while deal values dipped in the final quarter of the year

White & Case Antitrust/Competition Differentiator known for predicting legal trends before they enter the mainstream, while also analyzing whether or not that trend is relevant to your business.

Debt Explorer | Economic headwinds proved challenging for leveraged finance markets in Asia-Pacific in 2022, but rising issuance beyond the core Chinese market cushioned the impact of global macro dislocation. 

Debt Explorer | The US leveraged finance market ended 2022 in the red, as inflation and rising interest rates put the brakes on issuance  

M&A Explorer | The need for timely and sustainable delivery is buoying demand for everything from logistics outsourcing to drone drop-off services

M&A Explorer | Corporate deals in the region proved to be more resilient than private equity (PE) as financing costs rose, with exits showing weakness

European leveraged finance markets paused for breath in 2022, due to rising interest rates, volatile geopolitics and a tightening of financial markets across the board—but what can we expect in 2023?

M&A Explorer | One of Southeast Asia's most promising economies is becoming an increasingly compelling destination for deals

M&A Explorer | M&A deal value falls by more than a third as dealmakers around the world hit the brakes in a volatile year

Despite a strong start to the year, deal activity in the US faced new challenges in 2022 as headwinds gathered.

Lenders, borrowers and advisers are hopeful that Spain’s 2022 overhaul of its restructuring and insolvency regime will improve the country’s restructuring landscape

Activity within Brazil’s energy sector—particularly renewables—along with international interest in telco and software have been key deal drivers

White & Case's Global Antitrust Merger StatPak (WAMS) is a resource providing information on merger control filing activity by competition authorities around the world. The WAMS survey currently includes filing data from 87 of the most active merger control jurisdictions in the world.

M&A Explorer | Private equity (PE) deal activity shrinks as buyer and vendor pricing expectations widen and rising interest rates drive significant tightening in acquisition finance markets

M&A Explorer | Dealmaking in the pharma, medical and biotech (PMB) subsectors was driven by both old and new market trends in 2022

Geopolitical risks and inflationary pressures may have overtaken ESG as the top concerns for the mining & metals sector, but there is little expectation that ESG factors will diminish for investors and firms in 2023.

Australia, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey See Significant Surge in Merger Filing Activity; US and EU Merger Filing Activity is Down Compared to 2021's Record Levels, But Still Above Historical Levels

The possibility of climate markets has finally materialized into the draft stage at COP27, but many crucial decisions that would allow for carbon trading to begin in earnest were deferred to COP28.

Prudent African investors—and investors within Africa—can ensure that their foreign investments are protected from wrongful conduct that the state and its organs can inflict.

For African economies living on the edge, can the Middle East provide the much-needed boost to the under-serviced Muslim population in Africa?

Projects that protect and restore the environment improve carbon storage and strengthen the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, says Dan Collison, Chief Executive of Farm Africa.

Embarking on a period of unprecedented growth and opportunity

Strong diplomatic and economic ties have long existed between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and North Africa but there are other levers at play for deepening economic relations.

The sector's ability to adapt to changing circumstances underlines positivity and upbeat sentiment about the future—particularly in the longer term

Debt Explorer | High yield bond issuance in the US and Europe feels the pinch in a challenging macro-economic environment, but green shoots emerge in Asia as real estate sector dislocation bottoms out and markets stabilize

The 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP27) brings together countries to address global climate change issues.

Key legal developments in 2022 and their implications for Taiwan.

With a new operational resilience framework in force in the UK and similar reforms proposed in the EU and the US, we examine how the regimes compare and their practical impact on financial services firms.

As the world emerges from the turmoil caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the financial services sector is going through a time of considerable change. This section highlights some developments to be aware of in key regulatory hot topics.

As lawmakers look to reform aspects of wholesale markets regulation, the UK may be poised to drift closer to the US.

The Financial Regulatory Observer spotlights selected topics currently driving regulatory and technological changes in the financial industry.