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The Central Bank of Colombia has replaced the previous External Regulatory Circulars (DCIN-36 of July 19 2001, DCIN-05 of January 10 2002, and DCIN-10 of February 15 2002) with a new External Regulatory Circular: DCIN-23 of May 9 2002. This will come into force on June 4 2002. The principal changes introduced by the new Circular are the following:

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has released its judgment in a case involving the triggering provisions in change-of-control agreements between a company and its senior executives – commonly known as golden parachutes.

Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance and Linklaters have become the first foreign firms to win approval to open second offices in China. Although all three firms had already acquired second offices through European mergers, none of them had licences in their own names. In line with China's World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments, the Ministry of Justice had promised to relax its geographic restrictions on law firm offices. Before signing up to the WTO, China issued licences to foreign firms on a quota basis, good for five years in most cases. Even with a licence, firms could open only one office, forcing most into a decision between Shanghai and Beijing. Others, including Deacons and Stephenson Harwood & Lo, opened in Guangzhou, just across the border from Hong Kong, in Guangdong province.

National governments have long held special rights allowing them to block takeovers of state-favoured companies. But new rulings from the European Court of Justice could make such holdings illegal. By Vincent Brophy of Linklaters

Politicians are pointing to deregulation of the trading in energy derivatives as the failure behind the California energy crisis. Not true, says Philip McBride Johnson of Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom

In May of this year HMV enlivened the otherwise moribund UK equity market with its flotation. Before the company’s admission a rationalization of its complex multi-tiered capital structure was required. By James Cole of Shearman & Sterling

By handing down three decisions on voting-right limitations for privatized companies, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has made a sophisticated judgment of special voting rights in the proceedings brought by the EU Commission.

Various mergers, particularly in the media and food retailing markets, have caught the public eye over the past few years and drawn attention to various weak points in Austria's cartel and competition laws. The Austrian Parliament has responded by passing amendments to both the Cartel Act and the Competition Act and these will take effect on July 1 2002. According to the legislator, the new regulations are expected to enhance the attractiveness of Austria to both national and international investors.

Intellectual property in literary, dramatic or musical works in India is protected under the Copyright Act, 1957. With the development of the entertainment industry and competition between entertainment channels for a larger share of the Indian market, copyright issues have assumed greater significance in the entertainment industry. Although, no copyright exists for ideas, concepts or themes that are sufficiently developed so they could be realized as a television programme, are capable of being the subject of confidential information. Protection available to such ideas or concepts under the Copyright Act may vary depending on whether or not the concept as developed and evolved is the result of the work done by the person who conceived the original idea by applying some novel thoughts which distinguishes it from simple ideas.

In January 2002 the Mexican Federal Congress passed legislation making substantial changes to the country's tax structure and introducing new rules for foreign or non-Mexican residents. This new legislation removes the many different withholding rates applicable to non-residents that in the past had led to tax avoidance, by reconsidering the nature of the income in question. The new legislation introduces a sole 25% withholding rate for most types of taxable income on a gross basis and reduces to 35% the tax imposed on non-residents that elect to be taxed on a net income basis. For 2003, 2004 and 2005, this rate will be reduced to 34%, 33% and 32% respectively. Although significant amendments were introduced by this new legislation, this article will only cover two of the most widely applied rules, the sale or disposition of shares and interest.