Herbert Smith Freehills launches new report on current UK corporate governance issues and developments

Herbert Smith Freehills has today launched a new report delving into the most significant and topical corporate governance issues and developments set to impact UK organisations over the coming years

Called 'HSF Governance Insights 2024: striving for good governance in uncertain times,' the new report asks whether the latest governance reform proposals will achieve their ambition of improving the UK business landscape. It also raises questions about issues surrounding investor engagement, reporting style and the future role of regulators.

In this, inaugural, edition lawyers from Herbert Smith Freehills' corporate governance advisory practice focus on a range of topics, including:

• think for yourself: an interview with Richard Moriarty, CEO of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), which offers an insight into the FRC's current work programme and what the future holds for the organisation;
• seeing the wood for the trees: asking whether UK plc has reached the point of peak reporting and whether investors are being provided with decision-useful information;
• understanding is a two-way street: to determine the true role of the AGM, challenging the extent to which it remains a vehicle for shareholder engagement; and
• electing to change: providing a consideration of the corporate governance proposals contained in the political parties' manifestos.

Gareth Sykes, partner and UK head of corporate governance advisory, comments: "On a near daily basis it seems that we are seeing new legislation, regulation or guidance being proposed, developed or implemented.  It means that, with the level of regulation at an all-time high, businesses and governance professionals have an increasingly difficult task of navigating the intricacies of the corporate governance ecosystem and keeping up to speed with current and future developments in this area."

To access the new report, please click here.