Horizon Scanning by Slaughter and May

Accelerating action: Insights from the UN Business and Human Rights Forum 2025

The 14th UN Forum on Business and Human Rights brought together businesses, human rights professionals and rightsholders from across the world to discuss how businesses can step up amidst global challenges. Moira Thompson Oliver and Rosie Duthie discuss key takeaways from the forum: the growing role of AI in human rights, rising expectations of investors, and why integrating environment and human rights strategies is key to resilience.

COP30 Unpacked: From pledges to pipelines - What COP30 means for energy and infrastructure

Welcome to the second episode in our three-part COP30 podcast series, where we move beyond headlines to ask what this “COP of implementation” really means on the ground.

In this episode, Samay Shah, Daniel Mewton, and Aaron Wu explore how COP30’s decisions are beginning to flow from negotiation rooms into project pipelines. They unpack why COP30 is being called the “COP of implementation”, and what that means for energy and infrastructure projects, while also delving into the global mutirão decision, the push to triple adaptation finance, and the growing role of trade measures, sustainable fuels, and just transition principles.

Join us as we discuss how these developments might reshape investment strategies, project pipelines, and risk management across sectors: from oil and gas and renewables to data centres, grids, and critical minerals.

Digital transformation – what happens when projects go wrong?

In this Digital Horizon Scanning podcast, Kristina Locmele, Ella Williams, and Richard McDonnell discuss what happens when digital transformation projects go wrong. The conversation covers the causes and impact of tech failures, regulatory responses and practical advice for crisis management and building resilience into technology contracts.

If you are interested in finding more Slaughter and May tech and digital content, you can subscribe to our digital blog, The Lens and our Digital Horizon Scanning series . Additionally, subscribe to our Horizon Scanning podcast show to be kept up to date when new episodes or series become available.

COP30 Unpacked: NDCs, greenwashing and nature’s role in climate action

Welcome to episode one of our three-part COP30 podcast series where we will be discussing the key topics from the climate change conference.

In this opening instalment, Harry Hecht, Moira Thompson Oliver and Samantha Brady, unpack hot topics ranging from the rise of new reporting frameworks, just transition developments and biodiversity initiatives, and how these give rise to both risks and opportunities for business.

Join us as we explore how these developments could shape transition planning, supply chain resilience, and corporate reporting.

2025 UK Autumn Budget Update

In this Horizon Scanning podcast recorded one day after the budget, Simon Nicholls and Mike Lane take stock of the "smorgasbord" of changes and look forward to what might play out over the months ahead.

Managing Cyber Supply Chain Risk

Supply chain cyber breaches are on the rise, with attackers increasingly targeting suppliers as a route into larger organisations.

In this podcast episode, Richard Jeens, Laura Houston and Alex Buchanan discuss the growing threat of supply chain attacks, why they’re so challenging to manage, and what organisations can do to protect themselves.

The Interaction of Data Privacy and AI

As AI technologies become more embedded in business operations—from recruitment tools to facial recognition and generative AI—privacy teams are under increasing pressure to balance innovation with compliance. Rebecca Cousin and Cindy Knott discuss how organisations are navigating this tension, particularly in light of recent legislative and regulatory developments.

EU Council Presidency: Denmark in the Chair

In this podcast Jan Putnis, and Sabine Dittrich are joined by Tim Johan Christensen, Managing Counsel at Gorrissen Federspiel. Tim is currently seconded to Slaughter and May. Together they discuss our expectations for the Danish EU Council Presidency which started in July 2025 and will end in December 2025.

In this episode they explore:

• Key areas of focus during Denmark’s Presidency
• Key developments for market risk and payment services
• Selected initiatives under the EU’s Savings and Investment Union