From Travers Smith

On 23 June 2026, HMRC published a consultation titled Modernising the taxation of distributions and repayments of capital from companies.The consultation proposes fundamental reform to the rules governing how payments from companies to their shareholders are taxed. Although the primary focus is on individual shareholders and trusts, the consultation will also impact corporates. It has the potential to be one of the more consequential consultations on UK tax law in decades.In this episode of our Tax Focus podcast, the third in a mini-series, Maddy Gowlett and Thomas Margesson discuss the potential impact of the proposals on the private capital industry and listed companies.

In the fifth episode of our Frontline series, Sarah-Jane Denton, a Director in our Operational Risk & Environment team, joins Jon Reddington to discuss the importance of human rights due diligence in the context of defence, how sustainability frameworks and responsible investment policies are helping the flow of capital into defence, the practical challenges this creates, and what robust human rights due diligence looks like in practice.

In the fourth episode of our Frontline series, Michael O'Brien Kelly, a Partner in our Funds team, joins Jon Reddington to discuss the place of defence investment in the fundraising process.

In the third episode of our Frontline series, Michael Ross, a Director in our Technology & Commercial Transactions team, joins Sian Keall to discuss the current regulatory landscape for defence procurement in the UK, as well as some of the key practical and legal considerations for businesses looking to contract with the UK Ministry of Defence.

On 23 June 2026, HMRC published a consultation titled Modernising the taxation of distributions and repayments of capital from companies.The consultation proposes fundamental reform to the rules governing how payments from companies to their shareholders are taxed. Although the primary focus is on individual shareholders and trusts, the consultation will also impact corporates. It has the potential to be one of the more consequential consultations on UK tax law in decades.In this episode of our Tax Focus podcast, the second in a mini-series, Maddy Gowlett and Hannah Manning discuss the proposals to reform demergers and the loans to participators regime.Read more about this subject.

In the second episode of our Frontline series, Finance Partner Ryan Ayrton joins Jon Reddington to discuss the current landscape for financing defence deals and what this means for borrowers and lenders looking to do business on the global stage within the current geopolitical climate.

On 23 June 2026, HMRC published a consultation titled Modernising the taxation of distributions and repayments of capital from companies.On 23 June 2026, HMRC published a consultation titled Modernising the taxation of distributions and repayments of capital from companies.The consultation proposes fundamental reform to the rules governing how payments from companies to their shareholders are taxed. Although the primary focus is on individual shareholders and trusts, the consultation will also impact corporates. It has the potential to be one of the more consequential consultations on UK tax law in decades.In this episode of our Tax Focus podcast, the first of a mini-series, Maddy Gowlett and Hannah Manning discuss the background to the consultation, the principles involved, and some of the possible practical implications.

In the first episode of our Frontline series, Ingrid Hodgskiss, a Partner in our Competition team, joins Siân Keall to discuss the UK's National Security & Investment Act ("NSIA"). The NSIA is the UK's version of a foreign direct investment regime and came into force four and a half years ago. Ingrid and Siân discuss the impact of the NSIA on defence sector deal making in the current geopolitical climate.

Travers Smith is proud to act for Jason Jones in his appeal to the Privy Council challenging Trinidadian laws that criminalise same-sex intimacy. In this podcast, Caroline Edwards (Partner) and James Hulmes (Senior Counsel) discuss the case and its significance with Jason.

In this episode, Travers Smith partner Huw Jenkin and senior associate Ophelia Chan explore the growing role of AI in international arbitration and how it compares to its more established use in English litigation. They discuss the current state of AI adoption across both forums, from technology-assisted review (TAR) in disclosure to the emerging use of generative AI tools, alongside the key risks and opportunities these developments present. The episode also covers arbitration-specific concerns such as confidentiality, potential challenges to awards, and multilingual bias, before offering practical guidance on best practices, including the use of AI protocols and procedural directions. With major institutions such as the ICC and LCIA in the process of updating their rules, this is a fast-moving space with significant implications for how disputes are run and how costs are managed.