The Freshfields Podcast

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110

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Aug 2026

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About the show

We are a global law firm with a long-standing track record of successfully supporting the world’s leading national and multinational corporations, financial institutions and governments on ground-breaking and business-critical mandates.

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September 2, 2026Episode 30325 min

No Worse Off #26: Finding Your Voice

In this special episode, we step away from the technical content to talk about something every professional grapples with: finding your voice. Lindsay is joined by senior associate Sally and first-year apprentice Evie to share candid reflections on building confidence, communicating with impact, and developing a professional presence early in your career - from imposter syndrome and mentorship to finding safe spaces to speak up, handling the "fear of the question," and letting your professional USP shine through. Whether you're a junior lawyer, an apprentice, or simply looking to make more of an impact, this episode is a reassuring reminder that you don't need to have it all figured out - or be the loudest in the room - to be heard. Stay tuned for more insights into the world of restructuring and thank you for listening to "No Worse Off."

August 26, 2026Episode 30226 min

Well-Caffeinated: Not Just a Speed Bump — Identifying and Managing Conflicts of Interest in Private Funds

In this episode of Well-Caffeinated, host Tim Clark is joined by David Nicolardi, a Private Funds and Secondaries partner in Freshfields' Washington, DC office, to examine one of the first principles of fund management: identifying and managing conflicts of interest. The conversation explores how regulators think about conflicts and investment adviser fiduciary duties, drawing on David's experience in the SEC's Division of Investment Management. Tim and David unpack why treating conflicts as mere “speed bumps” to rush past is a dangerous mindset, and why thoughtful identification and management are fundamental to an adviser's fiduciary duty. Tim and David also cover the two pillars of managing conflicts – disclosure and mitigation – and the standard of “full and fair” disclosure, informed consent and when formal approval from investors or an LP advisory committee is required.

August 3, 2026Episode 30127 min

No Worse Off #25: From burnout to buy-out: the Bulb Energy story

In this special joint episode with Sequoia's Infra a Penny podcast, key figures from the insolvency - SIMCo’s Steve Cook, Interpath's Richard Heis, and Freshfields' Jamie Murray Jones - join host Lindsay Hingston to tell the inside story: from the unique challenges of the energy special administration regime, to a creative asset realisation strategy that delivered for customers, creditors and government alike. Stay tuned for more insights into the world of restructuring and thank you for listening to "No Worse Off." In partnership with SIMCo

July 27, 2026Episode 30016 min

No Worse Off #24: Minority protection in English LME

In this episode, Lindsay Hingston and Alex Thomson dive into one of the most fiercely debated questions in European liability management: how far does the minority protection principle go? By reference to the expert opinion of Lord Neuberger and Dame Gloster — submitted as evidence in the ongoing Selecta litigation in New York — the team unpacks a fundamental disagreement between two of England's most eminent legal minds about the nature and reach of this principle under English law. With live cases keeping the issue firmly in play, this episode sets out what may become the bookends of the debate when it next reaches the English courts. Stay tuned for more insights into the world of restructuring and thank you for listening to "No Worse Off."

July 17, 2026Episode 29925 min

Essential Antitrust – The Italian Voice #2: La dura legge del goal

Chi fa l'arbitro quando la partita riguarda la concorrenza? In questo episodio di Essential Antitrust – The Italian Voice guardiamo allo sport da una prospettiva diversa, esplorando il ruolo del diritto antitrust in un settore sempre più rilevante dal punto di vista economico. Dal caso Superlega alla recente sentenza ROGON, passando per il pattinaggio, il calcio europeo, le regole sugli agenti sportivi e i trasferimenti dei calciatori: analizziamo alcune delle decisioni che stanno ridefinendo i rapporti tra federazioni, club, atleti e organizzatori di competizioni, per capire come l’antitrust scende in campo quando si parla di sport.

July 2, 2026Episode 29821 min

'EUnpacked' #5: The EU ETS Revision – what’s next for Europe’s carbon market?

Tune in to the latest episode of our EUnpacked podcast series, where we unpack the forthcoming revision of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) – the EU’s flagship climate policy and one of its most consequential regulatory frameworks for business. With the European Commission’s legislative proposal which has just been postponed for publication on 17 July. The debate is intensifying around key issues including the future pace of emissions reductions, reforms to free allocation, the role of carbon removals and international credits, and the possible extension of the system to new sectors. In this episode, Freshfields' EU Regulatory & Public Affairs Senior Consultant Karl Thies is joined by James Chapman, Partner in the firm's Energy and Infrastructure practice, and Stefan Schröder, Partner in the firm's Energy Regulatory practice, to discuss what the revision could mean for companies' investment decisions, competitiveness, and decarbonisation strategies in the years ahead.

June 24, 2026Episode 29732 min

No Worse Off #23: Restructuring in the Netherlands

In our latest episode of "No Worse Off," host Lindsay Hingston is joined by Amsterdam partner Michael Broeders and senior associate Huub Boekhorst for a deep dive into the Dutch restructuring market. The Netherlands is one of Europe's most versatile restructuring jurisdictions - and this episode explains why. How does the WHOA compare to Chapter 11 and the UK scheme? How powerful is Dutch share pledge enforcement? Is the Dutch regime more receptive to LME transactions than elsewhere? They provide answers to all this and more, by reference to the leading cases including McDermott and Selecta. Stay tuned for more insights into the world of restructuring and thank you for listening to "No Worse Off.

June 3, 2026Episode 29641 min

Well-Caffeinated: What the Retail Moment Means for Private Capital

In this episode of Well-Caffeinated, host Tim Clark is joined by four Freshfields colleagues to examine one of the most significant trends impacting Private Capital today: the increasing focus on “retail” sources of capital for Private Capital investment strategies. Melissa Hodgman, David Nicolardi, Andrew Gladstein and Jeremy Barr unpack what it means for a Private Capital managers to add a retail component to its investor pool. The conversation covers the differences between the types of private funds traditionally managed by Private Capital managers and so-called retail funds, such as interval funds, tender offer funds and business development companies (BDCs); the different regulatory regimes applicable to retail funds as compared to traditional closed-end Private Capital products; and the risks associated with managing retail investors in open-ended funds versus institutional investors in closed end products. The panel addresses the areas of sharpest regulatory focus — valuation, liquidity, conflicts of interest, fees and distributions — before closing with practical guidance on how Private Capital managers should think about structuring their compliance programs and managing regulatory, litigation and reputational risks throughout the life cycle of a retail vehicle. For additional context and resources related to today’s discussion, visit the referenced article on the retailization of Private Capital authored by the podcast panel.

May 28, 2026Episode 29541 min

Essential Antitrust #51: Inside the new EU Merger Guidelines with Daniele Calisti: policy, economics and practice

Twelve months ago, Daniele Calisti, Head of Unit for Merger Policy and Case Support at the European Commission, joined us to discuss the launch of the Commission's public consultation on the revision of the EU Merger Guidelines. Now, with a draft text on the table, host Jenn Mellott welcomes him back — alongside economist David Foster of Frontier Economics and Brussels partner Thomas Janssens — to get the insider’s perspective on the most significant rewrite of EU merger control in over twenty years. The conversation goes beyond the published text to explore the Commission's own thinking on the revamped efficiencies and "theory of benefit" framework, the new dynamic theories of harm, the differentiated evidential standard, resilience as a parameter of competition, and the Innovation Shield for acquisitions of small innovative companies. Whether you're a friend of the podcast or a new listener, you'll find everything you need in this episode to navigate the reform with confidence. With the consultation closing on 26 June and the Commission already applying the new principles informally, this episode delivers the insight your deal team needs — directly from the source.

May 26, 2026Episode 29320 min

Essential Antitrust - The Italian Voice #1: Il posto fisso (obbligato)

In questo episodio, analizziamo come il mercato del lavoro sia diventato un nuovo campo d’azione anche per l’enforcement antitrust in Europa e in Italia. Dalle recenti linee guida della Commissione Europea che contemplano anche gli accordi c.d. no-poach e wage-fixing, fino alle prime sanzioni in diversi Paesi del mondo, esploriamo come le pratiche che limitano la mobilità dei lavoratori stiano entrando nel mirino delle autorità della concorrenza.