South Korea Enforces "K-Pop Prevention of Unfair Practices" Standard Contracts
On January 1, 2026, South Korea enforced new standard contracts for the K-Pop industry, aiming to eradicate exploitative "slave contract" practices. The reforms, introduced by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, mandate strict financial transparency, requiring agencies to provide detailed settlement reports to prevent debt manipulation. Significant protections for minors were also implemented, explicitly banning agencies from forcing trainees to abandon their education or work excessive hours. Furthermore, the contracts impose a duty of care on agencies to provide mental health support, including counseling, thereby expanding legal liability for artist well-being. These changes follow investigations by the Korea Fair Trade Commission and represent a shift towards a more regulated, rights-based entertainment sector.
Source: Respawn
Singapore International Commercial Court Upholds GreenX Metals Award Against Poland
On January 9, 2026, the Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC) delivered a judgment in GreenX Metals v Poland SGHC(I) 1, upholding an arbitration award in favor of the Australian miner GreenX. Poland had sought to annul the award based on EU law precedents (Achmea and Komstroy), which declare intra-EU investment arbitration invalid. The SICC rejected this, ruling that the arbitration was governed by international law, not EU internal law. The Court affirmed that Poland’s treaty obligations under the Energy Charter Treaty remained binding and that EU jurisprudence could not retrospectively invalidate the tribunal's jurisdiction in a non-EU seat. This ruling reinforces the enforceability of non-EU arbitral awards and upholds the sanctity of international treaties over regional legal shifts.
Source: Paul Weiss
European Commission Proposes Cybersecurity Act 2 (CSA2)
On January 20, 2026, the European Commission proposed the "Cybersecurity Act 2" (CSA2), a regulation to replace the 2019 framework and strengthen EU cyber resilience. The proposal introduces a horizontal legal framework for ICT supply chain security, mandating the assessment of "non-technical risks"—such as foreign state influence—alongside technical vulnerabilities. This allows the EU to restrict high-risk vendors from critical infrastructure. CSA2 also reforms the European Cybersecurity Certification Framework, empowering the Commission to mandate certifications for "Key ICT Assets" and expanding the role of ENISA in setting standards. The regulation aligns with the NIS2 Directive to create a unified, security-by-design approach across the Digital Single Market.
Source: Covington
UK Supreme Court Clarifies Termination Rights in Providence Building Services v Hexagon
The UK Supreme Court’s January 2026 judgment in Providence Building Services v Hexagon Housing Association UKSC 1 clarified termination rights under JCT construction contracts. The Court ruled that a contractor cannot terminate for "repeated default" (such as repeated late payment) if the employer successfully remedied the initial default within the contractual cure period. The decision overturned a Court of Appeal ruling, holding that the right to terminate for repetition is linked to an accrued right to terminate for the first breach. Since the employer had cured the first breach, the subsequent delay did not trigger immediate termination. This restores commercial certainty and prevents "trigger-happy" terminations based on rectified errors.
Source: HSF Kramer
US Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments on Transgender Athletes in Little v. Hecox and West Virginia v. B.P.J.
On January 13, 2026, the US Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Little v. Hecox and West Virginia v. B.P.J., challenging state laws that ban transgender athletes from female sports. The core legal dispute involves Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause. The states argue that biological sex distinctions are necessary to preserve fair competition for female athletes. Conversely, plaintiffs contend that categorical bans constitute unlawful sex discrimination under the Bostock precedent, as they exclude transgender girls who may have no physiological advantage due to medical transition. The Court's decision will determine if states can enforce strict biological categories in athletics or if such bans violate federal civil rights.
Source: The Catholic World
Chile Launches "NovaAndino Litio" Joint Venture
In January 2026, the Codelco-SQM joint venture, "NovaAndino Litio," began operations in Chile’s Salar de Atacama following regulatory approval. The partnership implements Chile’s National Lithium Strategy, mandating state majority ownership in strategic projects. The legal agreement grants SQM operational control until 2030, after which the state-owned Codelco assumes majority control until 2060. The deal includes strict environmental compliance measures and follows mandatory indigenous consultations, establishing a new legal model for resource nationalism that balances state sovereignty, private investment, and community rights.
Source: Benchmark
South Africa Constitutional Court Rules in VVC v JRM on Customary Marriage Property Rights
On January 21, 2026, South Africa’s Constitutional Court ruled in VVC v JRM ZACC 2 regarding the property rights of couples converting customary marriages to civil ones. The Court held that spouses cannot alter their matrimonial property regime (typically community of property) simply by signing an antenuptial contract when registering a civil marriage. Instead, they must follow the formal judicial process required by the Matrimonial Property Act to change regimes. This judgment interprets the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act to ensure that proprietary rights established in customary unions are not easily extinguished, protecting vulnerable spouses from losing their share of the joint estate without judicial oversight.
Source: Business Tech
Nigeria Federal High Court Removes Labour Party Chairman in Labour Party v INEC
On January 21, 2026, the Federal High Court in Abuja removed Julius Abure as Chairman of the Labour Party, ordering INEC to recognize the Caretaker Committee led by Senator Nenadi Usman. Justice Peter Lifu ruled that Abure’s tenure had expired and that his removal was necessary to enforce the party’s constitution and a 2025 Supreme Court verdict. The court rejected the argument that the dispute was non-justiciable, asserting jurisdiction to prevent "judicial insubordination." The judgment legally empowers the Usman faction to lead the party pending a new convention, though an appeal has already been lodged.
Source: NAN news
Australia Expands Mandatory Climate Reporting to "Group 2" Entities
On January 1, 2026, Australia expanded its mandatory climate reporting laws to include "Group 2" entities. Companies meeting thresholds of $200m revenue, $500m assets, or 250 employees must now file annual Sustainability Reports complying with AASB standards. The law mandates disclosure of Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. This expansion formalizes climate risk as a statutory financial obligation, subjecting directors to potential ASIC penalties for non-compliance and fundamentally integrating ESG into Australian corporate law duties.
Source: Landers & Rogers