US hedge funds are being drawn to a growing European distressed debt market and, in the process, changing the way it functions, say Igino Beverini of Lazards and Bruno Cova of Paul Hastings

Critics fear that registering hedge fund managers won't safeguard investors or the economy. Ben Maiden reports

The rise of activist hedge funds in Asia has accelerated regional debates on corporate governance, good business and takeover defences, says Young-Joon Kim

Thiha Tun argues that, despite some additional disclosure, there is a real possibility hedge funds will begin listing in London

The KT&G saga is the first public battle in Asia waged by the activist hedge funds. In the US hedge funds have faced diminishing returns from their traditional arbitrage-focused activities and have begun to flex their financial muscle by taking strategic investment stakes in major corporates.

The first ordinary-share listing on Dubai's new stock exchange could trigger a wave of similar issues. James Rice investigates how international law firms are reacting to developments in the region

Protectionist business interests risk derailing Japan's merger reforms to allow foreign companies to make non-hostile acquisitions in the country. M&A adviser Nicholas Benes argues that meaningful change is essential if Japan is to raise its woeful levels of foreign investment.

Lee Dunst explains why companies that cooperate with US government investigations are falling foul of discovery rules.

As a new bankruptcy law comes into effect, Daniel Glosband explains how Chapter 15 brings the US closer to UN model law on cross-border cases

The European Commission is considering imposing more comprehensive price disclosure on the bond markets. Michael Evans assesses the UK regulator's attempt to set the agenda for the debate

A recent German ruling gives international lenders certainty that German courts will uphold English law jurisdiction clauses. By Sven Schulte-Hillen and Markus J Friedl