Talking. Sustainability.: Recent Episodes
Travers Smith
Welcome to our series of podcasts from Travers Smith on ESG and sustainability. Episodes will cover topics ranging from COP26 to the current global water crisis.
In the second episode of our series focussing on Good Tax Governance, Hannah Manning from our tax team discusses the new corporate criminal offence of failure to prevent fraud (FTP).
Over the last few years, businesses have become well acquainted with the strict liability offences around bribery and failure to prevent the facilitation of tax evasion. HMRC's introduction of this new criminal offence in tackling financial crime has some interesting new features that make it easier for the actions of individuals within a company to be attributed to the company itself.
Hannah discusses the new FTP offence, its relevance in a tax context, and how it interacts with the existing Corporate Criminal Offence of failure to prevent the facilitation of tax evasion (CCO). Most importantly, Hannah will explore the steps that should be taken when dealing with both CCO and FTP.
In the first of our series focussing on Good Tax Governance,
Kulsoom Hadi from our Incentives and Remuneration team discusses the use of
umbrella companies. While umbrella companies can provide administrative
benefits for businesses when managing a flexible workforce, the UK tax
authorities are live to the risk of avoidance and expect end users to have
appropriate oversight of how the umbrella companies in their supply chain
manage their tax compliance. Kulsoom discusses the current compliance landscape
and the practical impact for businesses engaging staff through umbrella
companies.
In Part 2 of our discussion with Seb Akbik from PRI on Tax, ESG and Sustainability we explore some of the theoretical tensions and practical difficulties which can arise in establishing "good tax governance"; the differing approaches which organisations have adopted; and some examples of steps which businesses could take to develop good tax governance.
We recently sat down with Sebastien Akbik from UNPRI to discuss how tax fits in to ESG and sustainability, and what good tax governance actually means.
In this podcast, Associates Aimee Hutchinson and Callum Burgess from the Travers Smith Tax team return to the topic of base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) and take a look at the second pillar of the OECD's corporate tax reform plan. Aimee and Callum discuss the plan, which aims to incorporate a global minimum corporate tax rate of 15%, in the context of the current global drive for sustainability (including sustainable taxation) and explore how Pillar 2 could be a force for change in that context.
In the latest episode of our Talking. Sustainability. podcast series, Incentives & Remuneration Knowledge Counsel Kulsoom Hadi discusses the idea of connecting ESG targets to employee incentives.
Read more about Tax and ESG.
In our latest Talking. Sustainability. podcast, Tax Senior Associate Laura Jackson and Associate Callum Burgess discuss the importance of updating business risk assessments and procedures in relation to the corporate criminal offence of the failure to prevent the facilitation of tax evasion. Laura and Callum assess how recent developments, such as Brexit and Covid-19, have altered the risk profile of some businesses and how businesses can ensure that their reasonable prevention procedures are as robust as possible in the event of an enquiry from HMRC.
In the latest episode of our Talking.Sustainability. podcast series, Tax Partner Madeline Gowlett and Associate Rob Smith discuss the concept of "ethical taxation" and the key issues for businesses to consider.
In the second episode of our Talking. Sustainability. podcasts on "substance", Tax Associate Tom Margesson and Tax Knowledge Counsel Laura Hodgson discuss a recent policy proposal: the EU's draft Directive targeting the misuse of 'shell entities' (also referred to as 'ATAD III'). In this episode, Tom and Laura explore which entities are within the scope of the rules; how EU entities can demonstrate a minimum level of substance; and what businesses can do now to prepare for the rules.
In our latest Talking. Sustainability. podcast, Tax Associate Tom Margesson and Tax Knowledge Counsel Laura Hodgson discuss the meaning of "substance", why it is important for taxpayers and how you can demonstrate it in practice. They also provide some thoughts on the future of substance and where it may be heading next.
Last month, Travers Smith's Director of Pro Bono, Sam Cottman, sat down with Charity: Water founder and New York Times bestselling author, Scott Harrison, to discuss the incredible work that our client Charity: Water does. Scott also discussed his fascinating journey from New York nightclub promoter to ending the global water crisis.
In this podcast, Incentives & Remuneration Knowledge Counsel https://www.traverssmith.com/people/kulsoom-hadi/ (Kulsoom Hadi) and Tax Associate https://www.traverssmith.com/people/aimee-hutchinson/ (Aimee Hutchinson) discuss the use of ESG performance conditions and how the Travers Smith team became involved in drafting ESG conditions for long-term incentive plan (LTIP) awards as part of the https://chancerylaneproject.org/ (Chancery Lane Project.)
Welcome to the third episode in a series of short podcasts in the build up to COP26. In this episode, Head of Operational Risk & Environment https://www.traverssmith.com/people/doug-bryden/ (Doug Bryden) and Consultant https://www.traverssmith.com/people/sarah-jane-denton/ (Sarah-Jane Denton) take a look at the final preparations ahead of the conference and discuss the political issues which will be on the agenda. Watch the https://www.traverssmith.com/knowledge/knowledge-container/cop26-video-series-episode-3-final-preparations/ (video version) of this episode.
Welcome to the second episode in a series of short podcasts in the build up to COP26. In this episode, Risk & Operational Regulatory Senior Counsel https://www.traverssmith.com/people/john-buttanshaw/ (John Buttanshaw) and Senior Associate https://www.traverssmith.com/people/laura-smyth/ (Laura Smyth) take a look at the transport industry and the road to net zero - an area which is sure to be a major issue on the agenda at COP26. Watch the https://www.traverssmith.com/knowledge/knowledge-container/cop26-video-series-episode-2-transport-and-the-road-to-net-zero/ (video version) of this episode.
Welcome to the first episode in a series of short podcasts in the build up to COP26. In this episode, Risk & Operational Regulatory Associates https://www.traverssmith.com/people/harrie-narain/ (Harrie Narain) and https://www.traverssmith.com/people/alexandra-macbean/ (Alex MacBean) outline what COP26 is, why it is important and discuss some of the main issues we anticipate will be the subject of detailed negotiation at the conference. Watch the https://www.traverssmith.com/knowledge/knowledge-container/cop26-video-series-episode-1-what-is-it-and-why-is-it-important/ (video version) of this episode.