Published on 7 September 2018 in Client Alerts

A UN working Group issues draft binding international instrument on Business and Human Rights

In June 2014, the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva adopted a resolution drafted by Ecuador and South Africa to establish an open-ended intergovernmental working group to elaborate an international legally binding instrument on Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises with respect to human rights.  Chaired by Ecuador, the intergovernmental working group (IGWG) has met three times (July 2015, October 2016 and October 2017).   Elements for a draft  legally binding instrument were issued by the Chair in September 2017, and a Zero Draft instrument and optional protocol were presented in July 2018 (a summary of the Zero Draft is available here).  A fourth IGWG session will be held in Geneva in October 2018.

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Canada and Saudi Arabia Signed MoUs to Deepen Bilateral Relationship

From 8 to 10 July 2026, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud met in Jeddah to discuss bilateral relations and regional developments. The visit yielded the signing of 13 new Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) and commercial agreements across trade, investment, energy, mining and natural resources, technology, education, health, people-to-people ties, and defence.

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United Kingdom and Switzerland conclude negotiations on an enhanced free trade agreement

On 13 July 2026, the United Kingdom and the Swiss Confederation announced the conclusion of negotiations on an enhanced free trade agreement (“FTA”). This followed ten rounds of negotiations to modernise the two States’ bilateral framework which were launched in 2023.  The Parties have indicated that they anticipate the final technical edits to be finalised

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Robert G Voltera Speaks at Asia International Arbitration Centre London Roundtable

On 17 July 2026, Volterra Fietta partner Robert G Volterra spoke at the Asia International Arbitration Centre London Roundtable on “Artificial Justice: Deciphering AI-Generated Fairness in Arbitration”.  Robert discussed the growing use of AI in legal practice and dispute resolution, focusing on the limits of current AI tools and the risks associated with their use.

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Two Critical Chokepoints and Their Lessons for Global Energy Markets

The Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb are two of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints.  From October 2023, the Houthi movement launched a sustained campaign of drone and missile strikes against commercial vessels transiting the Bab al-Mandeb, the narrow strait connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.  This prompted major shipping

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