From South American oil to copper M&A and transatlantic tech deals, resources and infrastructure are shaping the next wave of global growth
Major UK-US Tech Deal on the Horizon Ahead of Trump State Visit
The UK and the US are set to sign a major tech deal during President Trump’s visit next week, according to Reuters. The partnership will focus on key technologies, including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, telecommunications, and quantum computing. Alongside this, BlackRock has plans to invest $700 million in British data centres as part of a string of deals to be announced, according to Sky News.
The deal reflects a race to secure supply chains in strategic technologies, particularly against the backdrop of Chinese state investment. For Britain, it is a chance to reinforce its post-Brexit role as a global tech hub, while for Washington, it represents a push to keep digital infrastructure within allied networks.
The two governments are also preparing linked agreements on nuclear power and small modular reactors, including projects designed to power data centres. These commitments highlight how AI’s growth is colliding with the need for reliable, low-carbon electricity.
For lawyers, this creates work across planning, energy and environmental law, as data centre projects face local opposition over land and power use. Commitments to nuclear power growth also raise questions around oversight under safety regimes and international treaties
Quickreads ⌚️
Major OpenAI Chip Deal
OpenAI is set to start mass production of its own AI chips with Broadcom, in a deal that sent shares in the US chip group up more than 9%, according to the Financial Times. The chip will ship next year, and will reduce the OpenAI’s reliance on chip giant Nvidia. $10 billion of orders have already been secured from a mystery customer, according to Broadcom’s chief executive. Nevertheless, Nvidia continues to dominate the AI hardware space.
Oil Boom in South America
BP just announced its biggest oil discovery in 25 years, the Bumerangue find, 400km off Rio de Janeiro. The discovery underscores South America’s growing role in global energy, with the region expected to boost crude output by one-third by 2030, outpacing growth in the Middle East and North America. Brazil is leading the charge, with international oil companies like Shell and Chevron ramping up operations, while Guyana continues its meteoric growth, fuelled by the discovery of the giant Stabroek Block.
With geopolitical turmoil in the Middle East and US shale fields maturing, the next phase of global oil growth may originate in South America.
Google-Apple deal survives major antitrust challenge
A U.S. court has allowed Google to maintain its multibillion-dollar deal with Apple that makes Google the default search engine on iPhones. Regulators had argued the agreement was anti-competitive, but the judge pointed to rising threats from AI-driven search tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT as evidence that the market is shifting.
Deal Breakdown 📈: Anglo American-Teck Merger
In September 2025, Anglo American and Teck Resources, British and Canadian mining companies respectively, announced a $50 billion merger to create “Anglo Teck,” the world’s fifth-largest copper producer. The all-share deal (when merging companies issue new shares to each other rather than money) gives Anglo investors 62.4 per cent and Teck shareholders 37.6 per cent, with Anglo also paying a $4.5 billion special dividend. The new company will be headquartered in Vancouver while keeping its primary London listing (a cross-border compromise designed to win Canadian political approval). The merger is expected to close in 2026.
Some Context
Both companies have shifted away from coal and other ‘legacy assets’ to concentrate on what they call “future-facing” metals. Copper, used in electric vehicles, renewable energy infrastructure and data centres, is at the heart of the strategy. Anglo gains access to Teck’s major projects in Chile and Canada, while Teck shareholders benefit from Anglo’s global scale and diversified balance sheet. The deal is framed as a long-term industrial partnership rather than a traditional takeover.
Geopolitical Significance
Given that this is a mining merger, the geopolitical implications are huge. Copper is now a strategic material for governments, critical for clean energy supply chains and tech industries. The Anglo–Teck deal therefore matters not only to investors but also to policymakers seeking reliable sources of critical minerals. With operations across Canada, Latin America and Africa, the combined company must also navigate cross-border environmental obligations, reflecting broader ESG pressures.
Legal and Regulatory Complexity
- Structuring a merger between a UK-listed company and Canadian-listed company requires creativity.
- Approval is needed from competition authorities in Canada, the US, China and South American jurisdictions such as Chile.
- Scrutiny is need under Canada’s Investment Canada Act.
- Analysts have noted that the relatively low break fee of $330 million could leave the deal open to challenges from other major mining companies. A break fee is a payment agreed in advance that one party, in this case Teck, would have to pay to the other if the deal fell through.
Data in the Deal – The Legal Tech Digest 💡
Lawhive Acquires Woodstock Legal: An AI-Law Firm First
AI platform Lawhive has bought Woodstock Legal Services, the first time an AI-native company has acquired a traditional UK firm. The deal targets the UK legal market, with Lawhive’s AI “colleague” Lawrence handling routine drafting and case management to speed up conveyancing. It marks a milestone in how AI and regulated practice are beginning to converge.
The Docket & Deal 
Leave a comment