mARCH 2012 56 Legal Focus www.lawyer-monthly.com

This month’s Legal Focus is as in-depth as ever, covering a wide range of major practice areas and issues, from Construction and Patent Litigation to Foreign Investment in India and Aviation law. This feature reflects the news of the legal world, and there has certainly been plenty keeping the world’s legal news rooms busy over recent weeks. Many of the stories below are explored further within the following interviews and features with expert lawyers from across the world, as well as related issues from their specific jurisdictions and comment on the other legal implications that many of these major stories uncover. we hope you enjoy this edition of Legal Focus.

Piracy: Reports show continuation of pirate cinema

problem Reports show a severe problem; 81% of films not watched in Russian cinemas are pirated; over half of the software used by Brazilians is illegal; and 55% of music downloaded in India is obtained illegally. The software industry estimates more than $50 billion in losses each year; the movie industry estimates annual losses of $6.1 billion; and the music industry says its annual losses to piracy are $5 billion.

Aviation – Chinese airlines refuse

to comply with ETS legislation January 1st 2012 saw the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), come into force. The Scheme charges airlines a tax on flights according to their carbon emissions. Many have contested the tax, with China now confirming that its members will not comply with the ETS, saying: "The China Air Transport Association (CATA), on behalf of Chinese airlines, is strongly against the EU's improper practice of unilaterally forcing international airlines into its ETS."

Foreign Investment: India - Indian Supreme Court Vodafone decision will boost foreign investment

The Indian Supreme court ruled in favour of Vodafone in a landmark case that could have landed the company with a $2.9 billion tax bill, a decision which analysts have said would encourage foreign investment in India, and will allow the company to pursue its plans for its initial public offering in India.

Also, in Legal Focus…

In addition, this month’s Legal Focus takes a look at employment issues in M&A deals, patent litigation, IP issues within M&A deals, employment in China, banking and finance and insolvency and restructuring.

UK Mining Industry - Mining firm fined for fatal health and safety breaches

UK Coal Mining Ltd has been ordered to pay £1.2 million in fines and costs for safety failings that cost the lives of four mineworkers in separate incidents at two collieries. The company was sentenced for four breaches of Section 2(1) and three breaches of Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 in connection to the deaths.

Construction: UAE – Saudi Government signs lucrative

high speed rail contract The government of Saudi Arabia has signed a 8.22 billion contract with a Saudi-Spanish consortium to develop phase II of the Haramain High Speed Rail project in Saudi Arabia.Terra Nex Financial Engineering AG, in association with Best Select Group of Funds, along with Oman's Sheikh Hilal al Maawali, intend to build a $2 billion solar-energy project in the Sultanate of Oman.