Corporate Crime & Compliance UK

  • February 27, 2025

    SFO Abandons Canary Wharf Move To Bolster Operations

    The Serious Fraud Office has dropped plans to move its headquarters from central London to Canary Wharf to reinvest the money into its case work, including a recently created asset confiscation unit.

  • February 27, 2025

    FCA Abolishes Requirement For Consumer Duty Champions

    The Financial Conduct Authority said Thursday it has abolished the requirement for firms to have Consumer Duty board champions and will implement around 50 other growth proposals shortly.

  • February 27, 2025

    SRA Chief Exec To Retire Amid Torrid Times For Watchdog

    The solicitors' watchdog said Thursday that chief executive Paul Philip will retire after more than a decade in the job, amid a turbulent period for the watchdog that has sparked calls for changes at the top.

  • February 26, 2025

    Law Commission Unveils Plan To Overhaul Criminal Appeals

    The criminal appeals system in England and Wales needs to be reformed to allow the wrongfully convicted to successfully challenge their convictions, an independent legal body recommended on Thursday.

  • February 26, 2025

    Billionaire Claims HMRC Failed To Hold Lawful Tax Inquiry

    HM Revenue & Customs failed to lawfully notify the right people in its investigation of tax returns for two partnerships, counsel for a hedge fund billionaire told a London court Wednesday.

  • February 26, 2025

    Law Firm Denies Botching Advice On Failed Flat Purchases

    A law firm has denied giving negligent advice to investors regarding their failed purchases of flats in a property development, telling a London court that they helped ensure their own downfall by not exploring how risky the deals were.

  • February 26, 2025

    3 Fraud Reforms You Might Have Missed In The Crime Bill

    Buried in legislation designed to crack down on phone thieves and anti-social behavior in the government's new crime bill are a range of reforms intended to strengthen the hand of prosecutors as they fight economic crime.

  • February 26, 2025

    Ex-Pupils Pursue Group Claim Against Infected Blood School

    A senior judge apologized on Wednesday to former pupils of a school at the center of an infected blood scandal over the technical nature of a court hearing to decide whether a group litigation order can be granted in a claim for damages.

  • February 26, 2025

    Axiom Ince Crash Sparks Tougher SRA Action Against Firms

    The collapse of Axiom Ince Ltd. has "spurred" the solicitors' watchdog into taking more action against law firms over suspected dishonesty and financial misconduct, according to data published on Wednesday by accountants Hazlewoods LLP.

  • February 26, 2025

    Lawyer Suspended For Improper Use Of Client Account

    A City solicitor who was convicted in 2023 for tipping off a client about an anti-money laundering investigation by the Serious Fraud Office has been suspended by a tribunal for improper use of a client account.

  • February 25, 2025

    Ex-Allianz Exec Avoids Prison As Massive Fraud Case Wraps

    A Manhattan federal judge on Tuesday allowed a former fund executive from New Jersey to avoid prison for lying to clients of Allianz's U.S. unit, citing his cooperation as the government investigated a fraud that cost the German finance giant $6 billion.

  • February 25, 2025

    Austrian Bankers' Extradition Bogged Down Over Toilet Space

    An English court has temporarily barred the extradition of an Austrian banker to face money laundering charges in the U.S. over a Brazilian corruption scandal, saying on Tuesday it wanted assurances that his cell would meet minimum space requirements — excluding the toilet.

  • February 25, 2025

    BBC Admits Falling Short On Misconduct Claims Against DJ

    The BBC apologized on Tuesday for its failure to address a pattern of behavior by former radio DJ Tim Westwood after an investigation found that it had "missed opportunities" to act on concerns about his conduct, including evidence of bullying and misogynistic behavior.

  • February 25, 2025

    Apple Exploited App Market, Developers Say In £1.5B Trial

    Apple was accused Tuesday in a £1.5 billion ($1.9 billion) London competition trial of charging app developers excessively high commissions even when they willingly agreed to pay them, in closing arguments of the first U.K. class action trial against a Big Tech company.

  • February 25, 2025

    Liquidators Bid To Reinstate £102M Award In Hotel Fraud Case

    Britain's highest court was urged on Tuesday to find that a businessman should be ordered to pay £102 million ($129 million) in compensation after he helped a property investor spend secret profits generated from the sale of three London hotels.

  • February 25, 2025

    Audit Watchdog Tightens UK Accounting Guidance

    The audit watchdog published on Tuesday its finalized guidance to help companies asses whether it is a "going concern," which it said will broaden the scope of its advice to reflect reporting changes and high-profile corporate collapses.

  • February 24, 2025

    Investor Settles In $2.1B Danish Tax Fraud Case

    A U.S. investor who was among those accused by Denmark's tax agency of participating in a $2.1 billion tax fraud scheme related to fraudulently claiming refunds on tax withheld from stock dividends has reached a settlement, according to New York federal court documents filed Monday.

  • February 24, 2025

    Denmark Argues Misrepresentation Led To £1.4B Tax Refunds

    Denmark's tax authority told the High Court of Justice on Monday that it would not have paid out billions in refunds to a British trader and others accused of involvement in a fraudulent trading scheme had they not submitted forms purporting to show eligibility for tax refunds.

  • February 24, 2025

    Insider Traders Were 'Mini Cash Laundromat,' FCA Tells Jury

    An alleged insider dealing syndicate that included a former analyst at global asset management firm Janus Henderson operated a "mini-cash laundromat," the Financial Conduct Authority told a London court on Monday.

  • February 24, 2025

    FCA Advice Review Findings Staves Off Mass Redress Fears

    The Financial Conduct Authority said Monday in the vast majority of cases, financial advisers have carried out suitability reviews for their clients, in a finding which experts say makes fears of a "worst-case scenario" redress program less likely to materialize.

  • February 24, 2025

    Ex-WealthTek Partner Denies Defrauding Clients Out Of £64M

    A former partner at wealth management firm WealthTek LLP denied accusations by the Financial Conduct Authority that he defrauded clients out of more than £64 million ($80.8 million) when he appeared at a London criminal court on Monday.

  • February 24, 2025

    Ex-Reform UK Wales Chief Accused Of Taking Russian Bribes

    The former leader of Reform UK in Wales made an initial appearance at a London court on Monday over allegations that he received bribes in exchange for supporting Russian causes in speeches when he was a Member of the European Parliament. 

  • February 21, 2025

    UK Litigation Roundup: Here's What You Missed In London

    This past week in London has seen Russell Brand sued by publishing house Macmillan, administrators of London Capital & Finance sue the collapsed firm's former lawyers Buss Murton Law LLP, Tesco bring a competition claim against fish suppliers, and former Entain execs sue Addleshaw Goddard over privileged information. Here, Law360 looks at these and other new claims in the U.K.

  • February 21, 2025

    Off The Bench: White House Hosts PGA Tour-LIV Golf Summit

    In this week's Off The Bench, the two former rival pro golf tours join the president to discuss their long-delayed combination, several NBA teams support a bid for the U.S. Supreme Court to keep copyright claims in check, and prosecutors charge Chilean nationals with robbing the homes of high-profile athletes.

  • February 21, 2025

    Oil Co. Boss Claims $119M UAE Judgment Is Fraudulent

    An oil company boss has denied owing BNP Paribas more than 436 million United Arab Emirates dirham ($119 million) under an Emirati court judgment, claiming the case was "fraudulently concealed" to prevent him from defending it.

Expert Analysis

  • £43M Legal Bill Case Shows Courts' View On Exchange Rates

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    A recent Court of Appeal decision declined to change the currency used for payment of the Nigerian government's legal bill, aligning with British courts' consensus that they should not be concerned with how fluctuating exchange rates might benefit one party over another, says Francis Kendall at Kain Knight.

  • Examining The EU's New Payments Services Package

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    Following recent European Parliament elections, the spotlight is turning to the highly anticipated payments services package expected in September, marking a pivotal moment in the legislative process that will reshape the payment services ecosystem in the European Union, says Kristýna Tupá and Karolína Hlavinková at Schoenherr.

  • Examining The State Of Paccar Fixes After General Election

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    Following the U.K. Supreme Court's Paccar decision last year, which made many litigation funding agreements for opt-out collective actions in the Competition Appeal Tribunal unenforceable, the judiciary will likely take charge in implementing any fixes — but the general election has created uncertainty, says Ben Knowles at Clyde & Co.

  • EU Reports Signal Greenwashing Focus For Financial Sector

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    Reports from the European Supervisory Authorities on enforcement of sustainability information, plus related guidance issued by the European Securities and Markets Authority, represent a fundamental change in how businesses must operate to maintain integrity and public trust, say Amilcare Sada and Matteo Fanton at A&O Shearman.

  • GDPR 6 Years On: Key Points From EU Report

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    The European Commission’s recent report on the General Data Protection Regulation is clearly positive, concluding that it has brought benefits to both individuals and businesses, but stakeholders are still awaiting essential guidelines on scientific research and important business concerns remain, say Thibaut D'hulst and Malik Aouadi at Van Bael & Bellis.

  • Opinion

    Without Change, Fighting Fraud Is A Losing Battle For The UK

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    To successfully fight fraud cases in the U.K. — like the Russian Coms scam recently shut down by the National Crime Agency — it is clear there needs to be significant investment in recruiting and training expert investigators, and meaningful engagement between the country’s intelligence platforms, says Anthony Hanratty at Howard Kennedy.

  • Embedding Consumer Duty: 6 Areas Firms Should Prioritize

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    The Financial Conduct Authority has repeatedly emphasized that complying with the Consumer Duty is not a tick-box exercise but an ongoing responsibility, so firms need to show that the duty is at the heart of their practices by staying compliant in areas from cultural change to customer vulnerability, say Nicola Higgs and Becky Critchley at Latham.

  • 2 UK Rulings Highlight Persistent Push Payment Fraud Issues

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    Two recent High Court decisions, Larsson v. Revolut and Terna DOO v. Revolut, demonstrate that authorized push payment fraud continues to cause headaches for consumers and financial institutions alike, and with forthcoming mandatory reimbursement requirements, more APP fraud litigation can be expected, say lawyers at Charles Russell.

  • Open Questions 3 Years After 2nd Circ.'s Fugitive Ruling

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    The Second Circuit’s 2021 decision in U.S. v. Bescond, holding that a French resident indicted abroad did not meet the legal definition of a fugitive, deepened a circuit split on the fugitive disentitlement doctrine, and courts continue to grapple with the doctrine’s reach and applicability, say attorneys at Lankler Siffert.

  • What Labour Has In Mind For UK Data Protection Law Reform

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    The U.K.'s new Labour government is indicating that it will strengthen the country's cybersecurity regime, and introduce artificial intelligence legislation similar to that of the European Union, in an attempt to further reform data protection law and harness the power of data for economic growth, says Victoria Hordern at Taylor Wessing.

  • ECJ Cartel Damages Rulings Are Wins For Multinational Cos.

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    Two decisions from the European Court of Justice last month clarifying the limits of the single economic unit doctrine in cartel damages proceedings will help multinational companies anticipate and prepare for litigation within a narrower band of possible jurisdictions, say lawyers at Linklaters.

  • Takeaways From EU's 'Pay Or Consent' Advertising Probe

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    Anne-Gabrielle Haie and Charles Whiddington at Steptoe examine key points from the European Commission's recent investigation into Big Tech's use of "pay or consent" advertising models, as well as the European Data Protection Board’s opinion on how such models can comply with EU competition and data protection laws.

  • Why NCA's 1st Seizure Of Sanctioned Funds Is Significant

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    The National Crime Agency’s recently secured forfeiture of a Russian oligarch's sanctioned funds was a landmark achievement, and is particularly notable because it was made under the Proceeds of Crime Act, illustrating how U.K. authorities can coordinate their respective powers to confiscate assets, says Lindsey Cullen at WilmerHale.

  • UK Judgment Could Change Anti-Money Laundering Regimes

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    After the Court of Appeal of England and Wales' determination that criminal property remains criminal property in the hands of its purchaser even if purchased at market value, many businesses could face a new or heightened risk of prosecution for criminality in their supply chains and related money laundering offenses, say lawyers at Macfarlanes.

  • Takeaways From First EU Foreign Subsidy M&A Investigation

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    The European Commission's recent investigation into Emirates Telecommunications' proposed acquisition of PPF Telecom is the first in-depth investigation of an M&A deal under the Foreign Subsidies Regulation, demonstrating that the regulation can have real consequences in practice that companies must consider at the outset of large transactions, says Matthew Hall at McGuireWoods.

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