NOVEMBER 2026 ISSUE – OUT NOW

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Rebuilding corporate strategy for a fragmented world

November 2026 | COVER STORY

Businesses must develop operating models capable of balancing cost competitiveness with sufficient flexibility to withstand disruption. The precise balance will vary between industries and organisations, but many companies increasingly view these additional costs as an acceptable price for greater resilience.

Wider aperture: data quality in dealmaking

November 2026 | FEATURE

In an M&A context, the consequences of poor data quality can be particularly costly. Dealmakers rely on extensive quantitative and qualitative information to assess value, identify risks and shape future integration strategies.

Shifting dynamics: private credit versus banks

November 2026 | FEATURE

Traditional banks, particularly in the US, often face constraints that make financing more difficult for middle-market companies. Private lenders have greater flexibility to assess borrowers on a case-by-case basis, structure bespoke loans, tailor covenants and make relationship-driven lending decisions.

Managing AI governance across global operations

November 2026 | FEATURE

As AI becomes more deeply embedded in core business activities, responsibility for its governance is moving beyond technology teams and into the boardroom. Boards and senior executives must develop a sufficient understanding of AI to assess how it is being deployed, where material risks exist and whether appropriate controls are in place.

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Responsible business

November 2026 | WORLDWATCH

The responsible business agenda is evolving from voluntary corporate social responsibility into a formal discipline rooted in reporting, governance and accountability. Meanwhile, geopolitical uncertainty, competitiveness pressures and regulatory fragmentation are prompting organisations to focus resources more strategically. FW moderates a discussion between Jill Shaw at A&L Goodbody LLP, Scott Janoe at Baker Botts L.L.P, Timothy Goh at Hogan Lovells Cadwalader Lee & Lee, and Sonia Struthers at McCarthy Tétrault LLP.

Q&A: Financial services resilience: technology, third parties and systemic risk

November 2026 | SPECIAL REPORT

Financial institutions that cannot demonstrate a credible contingency plan for a key provider’s failure may face heightened scrutiny, regardless of how strong their internal controls otherwise are. FW discusses financial services resilience through the lens of technology, third parties and systemic risk, with Allen Applbaum, Michael Costa and Luke Tenery at StoneTurn.

Innovation, resilience and regulation in financial services

November 2026 | SPECIAL REPORT

The growing importance of operational resilience continues to shape boardroom agendas across the financial sector. Recent disruptions affecting critical market infrastructure and payment systems have reinforced concerns regarding concentration risk, third party technology dependencies and interconnected digital ecosystems.

Unseen activist: continuous shareholder surveillance in small and mid-cap healthcare

November 2026 | SPOTLIGHT

Regular stock surveillance gives management and boards an early-warning system: insight into who is buying, who is selling, how ownership is shifting and where pressure points may be building before they become public.

AI, deepfakes and financial crime

November 2026 | TALKINGPOINT

Voice cloning and deepfake videos are among the most effective fraud techniques today because they exploit trust and urgency rather than weaknesses in security systems. FW discusses AI, deepfakes and financial crime with Steven Taylor at BDO USA, P.C.

Navigating global tax reporting complexity

November 2026 | TALKINGPOINT

Technology, automation and data governance now play a central, rather than ancillary, role in enabling organisations to manage the scale and complexity of modern cross-border tax reporting obligations. FW discusses global tax reporting complexity with Romain Tiffon and Marie Bentley at ATOZ Tax Advisers.

Transfer pricing and the AI value chain

November 2026 | TALKINGPOINT

As AI becomes fully embedded in business as usual operations, transfer pricing frameworks must evolve at a similar pace. FW discusses transfer pricing and the AI value chain with Paul McSavage, Samit Shah, Keith To, Pascal Luquet and Charles Marais at Grant Thornton.

International trade and sanctions

November 2026 | BRIEFING ROOM

While the imposition of sanctions means that certain enterprises can no longer engage in previously permitted transactions, they do not change the underlying economics of the commercial activity. FW discusses international trade and sanctions with Jan Dunin-Wasowicz at Bennink Dunin-Wasowicz, Patrick Murphy at Clyde & Co LLP, Adam M. Smith at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, and Daniel Martin at Holman Fenwick Willan.

Retail transformation and consumer adaptation

November 2026 | BRIEFING ROOM

The challenge is no longer simply offering the lowest price, but demonstrating why a product, service or brand is worth choosing in an increasingly crowded and price-sensitive market. FW discusses retail transformation and consumer adaptation with Chloe Forster at DLA Piper, Matthew Gregory at Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, and David Niemeyer at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates.