1. Have there been any recent developments regarding WAEMU's merger control regime and are any updates/developments expected in the coming year? Are there any other ‘hot’ merger control issues in WAEMU? The West African Economic and Monetary Union (Union Economique et Monétaire Ouest Africaine) (WAEMU) is a regional body constituted by eight member states (Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinée Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo), and which has its own merger control regime regulated by Directive 02/2002/CM/UEMOA (WAEMU Regulations). WAEMU has exclusive jurisdiction over merger control within its member states. The majority of its member states have national regulators who are empowered to monitor competition in the internal market, report any anti-competitive conduct, and transfer any filing seeking a negative clearance or individual exception to the WAEMU Competition Commission (WAEMU Commission). There have not been any developments in the WAEMU merger control regime, nor are there any developments expected in the coming year. There are also no ‘hot’ merger control issues in WAEMU at present. 2. Under WAEMU merger control law, is the control test

Commencement and revocation There is optional wording in this revocation clause so that the revocation is limited only to Wills made relating to UK property. This is consistent with subsequent clauses which can limit the scope of this Will to UK property only if desired. The effect of including this optional wording is that any testamentary dispositions made in respect of foreign property remain extant. This wording is highlighted as optional and may not be desired in the event the Will is being prepared for a testator who has no foreign property and will not acquire any, or has foreign property and wishes to revoke any testamentary dispositions made in respect of that property (note that domestic law requirements as to the validity of this revocation will need to be considered and checked). Variation 1—expectation of intended marriage or civil partnership: As a general rule, a Will is revoked by the subsequent marriage of the testator. However, a Will made on or after 1 January 1983 from which it appears that at the time it was made the testator

Key features of the Will and attorney maker The Will and attorney maker (WAM) is a Will-based product (as opposed to a ‘clause-based’ or ‘build-your-own Will’ product) and is designed to automate the following eight Wills by asking relevant interview questions: • (1) to spouse absolutely, then to children absolutely • (2) fully discretionary • (3) to spouse on flexible life interest trust, remainder to children absolutely • (4) to spouse absolutely, then on discretionary trust • (5) nil rate band legacy on discretionary trust, residue to spouse on flexible life interest trust, remainder to own children absolutely • (6) legacy of business property on discretionary trust, residue to spouse absolutely, then to children absolutely • (7) individual unmarried with no children • (8) unmarried, divorced separated with children and no partner Explanatory notes and letters of wishes for chattels can also be generated to accompany each Will and the WAM allows you to create mirror versions of all these documents for a spouse and civil partner. For a Will based on a different

Law360: The Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign group, challenging the government’s 2024 decision to deny compensation for historical government failings to properly set out legislative changes to women's state pension age, have acknowledged that they scored a win after the government agreed to reconsider its decision within three months now taking into account all evidence that has since become available, not just the material previously seen by the government when its made its original decision.

the worst possible outcome at trial if the matter does not settle. This is a term which a mediator may ask the parties to consider as a method of focussing on the mediation

The Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee (WEC), Rt Hon Caroline Nokes, has written to the Minister for Women and Equalities, Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch, to set out the key themes and conclusions of its inquiry into the rights of older people. In the letter, Nokes calls for reform of the Public Sector Equality Duty which she says is currently ‘far too weak’ to ensure transparency, accountability, and genuine progress in tackling ageism. Proposals for reform include, the impacts of exceptionally allowing objective justification of direct age discrimination and the case for instead adopting specific exceptions, where necessary; strengthening the Public Sector Equality Duty’s specific duties in England by adopting positive duties that require progress towards equality in areas including access to healthcare, housing, and digital inclusion; adoption of a strengthened ‘reasonable steps’ duty in relation to employers eliminating age discrimination; and options to amend the Equality Act 2010 to explicitly recognise intersectional discrimination.

The Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) has launched an inquiry into disabled workers' and jobseekers' access to flexible working arrangements across different groups of disabled people and sectors. Despite there being a cultural shift since the COVID-19 pandemic towards greater acceptance of flexible working, there has been no substantial impact on the employment rate of disabled people and the disability employment gap. The inquiry will consider the effectiveness of current law, including employers' reasonable adjustment duties under the Equality Act 2010 and changes in the Employment Rights Act 2025 intended to widen flexible working arrangements. The Committee is accepting submissions until 26 June 2026.

The Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) has launched a new inquiry to examine the issues surrounding gendered Islamophobia in the UK. The inquiry, set to conclude on 21 March 2025, aims to understand the specific challenges faced by Muslim women and girls, including barriers to reporting Islamophobia and potential methods to combat it. The WEC will explore the intersectional aspects of gendered Islamophobia, its impact on individuals and communities, and the possibility of intra-community harassment. Additionally, the inquiry will consider potential legislative measures to address Islamophobia and evaluate the role of various institutions, including schools, workplaces, and community organisations, in tackling the issue and supporting Muslim women and girls.

The Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) has initiated a call for written evidence on statutory paternity and shared parental leave, as part of its broader ‘Equality at work’ inquiry and in line with Labour Manifesto promises to enhance family-friendly rights at work. This move comes in anticipation of the government's proposed review of the parental leave system. The WEC aims to gather insights on the effectiveness of current schemes, their equality and labour market impacts, reasons for low take-up, and potential alternatives. The committee is particularly interested in addressing inequalities in the utilisation of shared parental leave across various demographic factors. Submissions are invited until 31 January 2025, with the findings intended to inform and influence the government's forthcoming review of parental leave policies.

The Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) has published a follow-up report examining progress on recommendations from its January 2024 inquiry into misogyny in the music industry. The original inquiry found endemic discrimination and harassment of women in the sector. The committee heard evidence that 32% of women musicians experienced sexual harassment, with higher rates among disabled and LGBT+ performers. The latest report has found minimal industry changes and highlights the misuse of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) as a major concern.  The report also expresses support for the creation of the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA), and urges the government invest in CIISA financially and ideologically.

The Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) has published a report evaluating the UK’s parental leave system. It identifies key shortcomings, including low statutory parental pay, limited paternity leave, and complex eligibility criteria for shared parental leave (SPL). The report finds that the statutory pay rate—significantly below the National Living Wage—creates financial hardship and discourages uptake, particularly among fathers and other parents. The WEC recommends a series of reforms. While acknowledging the direct fiscal impact, it argues that the wider  social and economic benefits, such as those achieved through increasing mothers’ labour market attachment and career progression and narrowing the household gender pay gap, would justify the investment. The government has two months to respond.

In a newly published report, the Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) say that a period of paid leave 'should be available to all women and partners who experience a pre-24-week pregnancy loss. The committee intends to table amendments to the government’s flagship Employment Rights Bill in the name of WEC’s Chair Labour MP Sarah Owen and called on Ministers to support or adopt them.