In this episode, we break down a looming jet fuel crisis hitting European aviation, with airports warning supplies could run dry within weeks. We explain how disruption in the Strait of Hormuz is driving prices to double, and why this is triggering legal work across energy and commodities contracts, force majeure disputes, EU passenger compensation claims, insurance coverage, and potential airline restructurings.
We then turn to OpenAI pausing its flagship UK data centre project, and unpack what is really going on beneath the headlines. This is not just about energy costs. It is about regulatory uncertainty, particularly around UK copyright law and whether AI companies can train on protected content. A perfect example of how IP law, government policy, and foreign investment collide, and why firms advising on TMT, data, and public law are right in the middle of it.
Our deal of the week looks at Bill Ackman’s €55 billion move for Universal Music Group, using a SPAC-style vehicle to shift the company’s listing from Amsterdam to New York. We explain the strategy behind the deal, from unlocking US investor demand to restructuring capital through debt and share cancellations. On the legal side, Pershing Square is being advised by Sullivan & Cromwell, White & Case, and Stibbe, making this a great one to reference in interviews.
For our case of the week, we dive into the £3 billion collective action against Apple over iCloud storage, which has now been certified by the Competition Appeal Tribunal. We break down how collective actions work in the UK, why litigation funding is central to these claims, and what Apple’s defence looks like. Which is represented by Willkie Farr & Gallagher, while Apple is being advised by Covington, with leading competition barristers involved.
We finish with five stories you should have on your radar, including failed US Iran talks, the surge of Chinese EVs in the UK market, UniCredit’s stalled takeover of Commerzbank, shifting US employment trends, and OpenAI’s vision for how AI could reshape tax systems.
If you want to stand out in interviews, this is exactly the kind of joined-up thinking law firms are looking for.
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