Covid-19

Coronavirus is bringing health threats to life and disruption to business and society on an unprecedented scale. Events are moving quickly and the timeline for the pandemic remains uncertain. With a team drawn from the worlds of public policy and business, Global Counsel have moved swiftly to support clients as they navigate this turbulent environment, what it means for their people, supply chains, and businesses processes. As governments develop their economic response to the pandemic, we are analysing policy developments around the globe and helping clients understand and influence them.

If you would like to learn more about our approach and how we are helping companies and investors respond to the challenges which the pandemic is posing please contact us here.

Trade and Manufacturing icon

The policy case for a Trade in Healthcare Agreement

Trade & Manufacturing

Daniel Capparelli
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In the wake of the covid-19 pandemic, strengthening global health security has emerged as a core theme of multilateral policymaking. Covid-19 has embedded health security – including our ability to deliver emergency medical countermeasures rapidly on a global scale - firmly in our concept of global security. 

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How exposed is the global health system to geopolitical tensions?

Health and Life Sciences

Mark Loughridge
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The COVID-19 pandemic has shone a light on the fragility of the public health systems that we take for granted. As the virulence of the pandemic begins to abate across much of the world, how exposed – or prepared – are counties for the impact of war, economic sanctions, political isolation and new migratory patterns on existing health structures and systems? 

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The politics and policy of Omicron in the UK

Health and Life Sciences

Alex Dawson
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Since Omicron was first located just over a week ago – first reported to be found in South Africa, although reports have suggested that the variant was present in the Netherlands earlier than this – several countries have stepped up and responded quickly to reduce international travel and reintroduce domestic restrictions.

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ABPI Vision Paper: UK medicines regulatory policy and global influence in a post-pandemic world

Health and Life Sciences

Stephen Adams
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GC was pleased to act as technical advisors to the ABPI in producing a strategic vision for the future of UK life sciences regulation. As the UK and the World grapple with the ongoing pandemic there are opportunities to take advantage of new scientific advances and new ways of working. Developing a robust, forward-looking and streamlined approach to regulation is one…

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Beyond the great vaccine divide: how African leaders are tackling vaccine hesitancy to capitalise on new supplies

General Policy

Ed King
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The IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook highlights how the “great vaccine divide” continues to impede Africa’s recovery. Undelivered donation pledges, the launch of boosters, India’s export ban and an overreliance on the global vaccination initiative COVAX culminated in half of the continent vaccinating less than 2% of their population. This is well below the World Health…

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Road to recovery dashboard

General Policy

Ed King
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Global Counsel’s recovery dashboard takes the pulse of the global economy. It shows how hot or cold the current recovery is in historical perspective with regards to industrial production, trade, confidence and growth. The dashboard also draws on high frequency data to show the current state of disruption and rebound in G20 economies. In addition, it relies on latest…

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Summer archive: An "On the ground" view of managing covid-19

General Policy

Erin Caddell
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This summer, we are revisiting episodes from the Global Counsel podcast archive, looking at what they can tell us about topical developments in public policy and regulation ahead of the autumn. From COP26 to the education system in the US, the GC team offers timeless insight into global and national trends to look out for across sectors and around the world.

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General Politics

Reshaping the EU: policy agenda for 2021-2024

General Politics

Tom White
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Over the last month, we have brought together our team of experts and prominent policymakers to discuss and debate the key challenges for the EU’s policy agenda for the next three years. It is hard to capture the breadth and range of issues and ideas we covered across the four events, and you will find links to all of them below if you would like to watch them. We…

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Net zero and health: how public health also depends on fighting climate change

Sustainability

Ermenegilda Boccabella
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Ermenegilda Boccabella, Energy & Climate Adviser; and Dr Harpreet Sood, Health Adviser and practicing clinician, look at the impact of climate change on human health.

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General Politics

Will the EU digital covid certificate really save the summer?

General Politics

Ana Martínez
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On June 14th, the EU digital covid certificate was signed into law. The regulation will apply for 12 months as of July 1st. This was an unusually rapid agreement by Brussels’ standards, reflecting the crucial importance of allowing tourism to restart safely for those member states that depend on it.  

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The G7 Summit: Building Back Better

General Policy

Jon Garvie
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Summits are high-stakes affairs, particularly for their hosts. The format of relatively free and unsupported interaction between leaders leaves more to chance than the final, carefully drafted communiques suggest. The strength or weakness of relationships comes to the fore. The ability of the chair to forge a path through the competing egos and interests matters. 

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The G7 UK Summit: what you need to know

General Policy

Denzil Davidson
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Jon Garvie, Practice lead for Policy; Denzil Davidson, Adviser; and Charley Roberts, Associate, Climate and Sustainability unpack the G7 leader’s summit, which will take place from Friday to Sunday in Carbis Bay, Cornwall.

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Could an intellectual property waiver boost Africa's vaccine rollout?

Trade & Manufacturing

Isabelle Trick
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Elly Darkin, Associate in the Trade & Manufacturing Practice, and Isabelle Trick, Senior Associate in the Global Macro Practice, discuss vaccine rollout in Africa and whether a temporary intellectual property waiver for vaccines will help or hinder efforts to vaccinate Africa and the wider developing world.

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General Politics

Reshaping the EU post-covid with Jean Pisani-Ferry, Bronwen Maddox and Peter Mandelson

General Politics

Peter Mandelson
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How different will the world look after covid? Are we heading back to business as usual, or are we looking forward to more bumps in the road?

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Investing trends in a post-covid era

Financial Services

Ying Staton
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Global Counsel convened a webinar, bringing together senior investment professionals across three continents to reflect on the critical issues shaping investment post-covid. The session was chaired by Ying Staton, GC’s advisor in Singapore and our previous Head of Asia, and featured:

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General Politics

Navigating Russian and Chinese “vaccine diplomacy” in the CEE and Western Balkans

General Politics

Alexander Smotrov
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The covid-19 vaccine rollout in Central and Eastern Europe, including the Western Balkans, has not been immune to politicisation. Vaccination is seen as a powerful tool to accelerate post-covid economic recovery alongside stimulus packages, but with Russia and China getting involved, some compare it to the debate on national security concerns about critical infrastructure…

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General Politics

Southeast Asia in 2021: three political themes to watch

General Politics

Brigitta Kinadi
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In politics, this year is superficially set to be relatively uneventful for Southeast Asia, since there are no major national elections formally scheduled. However, domestic political uncertainties in key markets present a challenge for both political stability and social cohesion and could, as is the case in Malaysia, result in early elections. On the international stage…

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Unpacking the UK Budget

General Policy

Stephen Adams
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On a call for the Global Counsel network, Stephen Adams, Senior Director, Alex Dawson, UK Politics and Policy Practice Lead and Rebecca Park, Financial Services Practice Lead examine the newly-announced UK Budget for 2021 and what it means for businesses and investors. They focus on key questions on the future of covid support schemes like furlough and business loans,…

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