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THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

The precautions being put in place globally to address the spread of Coronavirus (COVID 19) include recommending or requiring many people to work from home. This has raised the question of how to execute documents in these circumstances and whether it is possible to legally execute documents by electronic signature. The appropriate method of execution will depend on the applicable fact pattern. Relevant factors include the governing law of the document, the type of document that is to be signed, the form of electronic signature used and any cross-border implications to be considered. This briefing provides a summary table of how certain jurisdictions view three different types of execution - email execution, jpeg signatures and e-signature platforms.

Artificial intelligence is being extensively used across sectors and around the world, but without comprehensive legal frameworks and appropriate governance and compliance programmes in place, regulators are starting to fill the gap. 

As the world confronts the Coronavirus crisis, many employers in the UK and globally are keen to embrace new technology as part of their response to the pandemic. There are a variety of tech-based tools that may be developed or adapted with the aim of ensuring a safe workplace for employees amid the new challenges posed by the spread of Coronavirus. To the extent that these may impinge on the privacy or other rights of workers, their adoption and implementation requires particular thought and care. In this briefing (and the Appendix) we set out some of the considerations and practical steps for employers.