Photo of James Taylor

James Taylor is a partner in the Banking & Finance practice of the London office. James’ practice focuses on public and private offerings of debt and equity-linked securities, advising issuers and underwriters on the standalone issue and offering of retail and wholesale medium term notes, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, warrants, convertible and exchangeable bonds and covered bonds, as well as the establishment and update of platforms for the issuance of multiple types of securities, the structuring of liability management transactions and the provision of ongoing advice on securities laws, corporate governance and stock exchange requirements related to them.

View full profile on MayerBrown.com.

Our Convertible Bonds: An Issuer’s Guide is available to download.  The guide has been updated to include a discussion relating to European and US issuers. 

The convertible bond market has been active as companies refinance converts issued during the pandemic.  Driven by a high interest rate environment and ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty, companies issued over $86

Over the past few years, we have seen growing interest in Commercial Paper (CP) programmes with a sustainable focus.

Traditionally used by corporations, financial institutions, sovereigns, and other issuers for short-term liquidity needs, CP is now being adapted to align with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives.

The International Capital Market Association (ICMA) has recognised

Christmas is coming early to the ESG bond market as the new EU Green Bond Standard applies from 21 December 2024.

The new standard is conceptually similar to existing ICMA use of proceeds standards but quite different in the detail.

Under the standard, net proceeds, subject to certain exceptions, must be allocated to EU taxonomy-aligned

The Basel III standards comprise a package of reforms that were largely agreed by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (“BCBS”) in December 2017 and set out in the BCBS standard “Basel III: Finalising post-crisis reforms” (BCBS 424).

To implement these standards, the European Commission has amended the Capital Requirements Regulation (Regulation (EU) 575/2013, as

On 14 May 2024, the European Securities and Markets Authority (“ESMA“) published its final report on “Guidelines on funds’ names using ESG or sustainability-related terms” (the “Guidelines“). The Guidelines aim to provide fund managers with clear and measurable criteria to assess their ability to use ESG and/or sustainability-related terms

On 23 April 2024, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA“) published its “Finalised non‑handbook guidance on the Anti‑Greenwashing Rule (FG/24/3)” (the “Guidance“). The FCA has published the Guidance to help in-scope firms understand and comply with the anti-greenwashing rule, which will come into effect on 31 May 2024.

Background

The anti-greenwashing rule is