Financial Services UK

  • September 13, 2024

    Shell Companies Shuttered By Court For £1.6M COVID Fraud

    The High Court has shut down two connected companies that fraudulently received £1.6 million ($2.1 million) in COVID-19 support loans, a U.K. government agency said Friday.

  • September 13, 2024

    UK Consumer Credit Firms Face New Reporting Requirements

    The Financial Conduct Authority has proposed issuing a new reporting obligation for consumer credit firms as it seeks to prevent harm to consumers earlier and avoid another scandal such as the collapse of London Capital & Finance.

  • September 13, 2024

    Retraining Offer No Reason For NCA Investigator To Quit

    A National Crime Agency investigator who quit his job a day after he was offered the opportunity to regain his official accreditation has lost his claim that he was forced to resign.

  • September 12, 2024

    Employment Firm GQ Littler Hires Pro From Baker McKenzie

    GQ Littler has hired a long-serving employment lawyer at Baker McKenzie to its office in London to represent U.K. and international clients, particularly in the financial services, technology and media sectors.

  • September 12, 2024

    Pensions Watchdog To Focus More On Investment Strategies

    Britain's retirement savings watchdog has said it will be "stepping up" its focus on investment strategies to try to ensure pension schemes deliver the best possible results for savers.

  • September 12, 2024

    BNP Paribas Attempts To Prune London Banker's Claim

    BNP Paribas attempted to trim a manager's claim at a London employment tribunal on Thursday, arguing that the employee had taken a "kitchen sink approach" by adding excessive legal claims onto some of her allegations.

  • September 12, 2024

    UK Gov't Warned Over Pension Tax Changes In Budget

    A trade body for actuaries said on Thursday that the government should consult widely and take time to implement any reform to pension taxation as it joins a growing number of organizations urging caution over potential tax changes ahead of the upcoming Budget.

  • September 12, 2024

    Crypto-Scam Victim Can't Trace Lost £2M To Thai Exchange

    A judge at a London court ruled Thursday that a victim of crypto-fraud had failed to trace the stolen money to an exchange in Thailand, the first ruling to deal with the status and treatment of cryptocurrency in English law after a full trial.

  • September 12, 2024

    UK Watchdog Waters Down New Capital Rules For Banks

    The Prudential Regulation Authority published Thursday the second part of its rules on capital requirements for banks and has delayed their implementation by six months to the beginning of 2026.

  • September 12, 2024

    Austrian Bank Can't Recover Licence Axed Over AML Controls

    The European Union's highest court upheld on Thursday a decision by the bloc's central bank to strip an Austrian lender of its license over alleged anti-money laundering failures and regulatory breaches.

  • September 11, 2024

    Lloyd's Sued For $3.7M Over Cargo Ship Damaged In Ukraine

    An investment and wealth advisory business has sued Lloyd's of London's Belgian unit for over $3.7 million to cover its alleged losses after a cargo ship was damaged by a mine strike in Ukraine.

  • September 11, 2024

    EU Court Upholds Sanctions On Russian Clearinghouse

    Russia's securities clearinghouse has lost its appeal challenging sanctions imposed by the European Union in response to the invasion of Ukraine, after a Luxembourg court ruled Wednesday that the decisions were backed up by evidence.

  • September 11, 2024

    Watchdog Warns Small Banks To Improve Lending Controls

    The Bank of England's regulatory arm warned smaller banks and building societies in a letter Tuesday to improve their lending controls and affordability assessments.

  • September 11, 2024

    UK Gov't To Classify Cryptocurrency As Personal Property

    The U.K. government introduced a bill on Wednesday that classifies bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as personal property, a move that will give owners of digital assets certainty and protection under the law if it passes.

  • September 11, 2024

    Solaris Sues Binance For €144M After Debit Card Deal Axed

    Online banking group Solaris has sued Binance in London for €144 million ($159 million) it claims to be owed in guaranteed fees after the cryptocurrency exchange operator terminated an agreement for the provision of debit cards to customers of Binance companies. 

  • September 11, 2024

    Oligarchs Fridman, Aven Fail To Ax Sanctions Reporting Rules

    European Union measures that require oligarchs including Mikhail Fridman and Petr Aven to disclose their assets and cooperate in investigations are lawful and "necessary" for maintaining the bloc's sanctions regime, a European court ruled Wednesday, saying the rules were "unprecedented."

  • September 11, 2024

    Ex-PE Boss Denies Owing Fee For €150M Investment In Fund

    A former partner at private equity firm TPG has denied that he owes an asset adviser any fees for securing an alleged €150 million ($165 million) investment in his own fund.

  • September 11, 2024

    UK Pension Funding Surplus Dips £500M After BoE Rate Cut

    The funding surplus of U.K. pension plans fell by £500 million ($653 million), according to official figures, after the Bank of England cut interest rates in August.

  • September 11, 2024

    TV Property Developer Appears In Court On Fraud Charges

    A television property developer appeared at a London criminal court on Wednesday to face charges for the first time that he defrauded a U.S. rental company out of £2 million ($2.6 million).

  • September 11, 2024

    Latham Hires Senior Tax Pro From Travers Smith In London

    Latham & Watkins LLP said on Wednesday that it has recruited a former head of tax at Travers Smith LLP for its office in London, a blow for the U.K. law firm, which has been hit by the departure of a series of partners.

  • September 10, 2024

    TPG, Rosatom Seek To Bar Jailed Oligarch's $14B Fraud Claim

    Russia's state atomic energy corporation and private equity firm TPG Group on Tuesday urged a London judge to block an imprisoned oligarch's $14 billion fraud conspiracy claim over the alleged seizure of his port and transport businesses led by the Russian state.

  • September 10, 2024

    V&E Launches New Dublin Office In Aviation Finance Push

    Vinson & Elkins LLP has launched a new office in Ireland to provide New York and English law advice to clients on aviation leasing and financing matters.

  • September 10, 2024

    Crypto-Biz Loses 'Mara' TM Over Virtual Coin Services

    British officials have partially pulled the plug on an African technology company's trademark for "Mara," ruling that a rival business had already cornered the virtual coin market with a similar-looking name.

  • September 10, 2024

    Local Gov't Audit Deadlines 'Necessary Step,' Watchdog Says

    Legislation recently tabled in Parliament that introduces statutory deadlines for local authorities and their auditors to publish accounts is a "necessary step" to rebuild a system hampered by delays, Britain's accounting watchdog said Tuesday.

  • September 10, 2024

    White & Case Guides £100M Hedge Fund Deal For Spectator

    Hedge fund manager Paul Marshall has bought The Spectator for £100 million ($130 million), the 196-year-old news magazine said on Tuesday, a move that will keep the publishing institution independent and out of foreign control.

Expert Analysis

  • US And EU Poised For Closer Ties In Tech Financial Market

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    The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the European Commission are both concerned about the challenges posed by the increasing digitalization of financial products, such as the use of AI and new forms of credit, and by working together, the two regulators can share information and best practices, says Yulia Makarova at Cooley.

  • FCA Case Failures Highlight Value Of Robust Investigation

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    The recent U.K. upper tribunal judgment in Seiler, Whitestone and Raitzin v. The Financial Conduct Authority, criticizing the regulator for accepting a narrative advanced by the firm, makes clear that such admissions must not get in the way of a proper investigation to enable agencies to target the correct individuals, say Tom Bushnell and Olivia Dwan at Hickman & Rose.

  • UK Shares-Tax Proposals Offer Long-Awaited Modernization

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    The U.K. government's recent consultation on the introduction of a new tax on transactions in securities raises detailed legal and practical issues, but the prospect of a single digital stamp tax offering both streamlined legislation and administration will be welcomed, say Zoë Arnautov and Mark Sheiham at Simmons & Simmons.

  • Directors Should Beware Reinvigorated UK Insolvency Service

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    The recent lengthy disqualification of Carillion directors serves as a salutary lesson to executives on the level of third-party scrutiny to which their actions may be exposed, and a reminder that the directors’ fiduciary duty to creditors is paramount once a company is irretrievably insolvent, says Ben Drew at Fladgate.

  • The New Accountability Landscape For Financial Regulators

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    The preliminary-stage success of a group of U.K. lawmakers in a case against the Financial Conduct Authority highlights the significant hurdles for review of regulatory actions, but the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 creates additional visibility into the regulators' decision making, which may lead to an increase in judicial review activity, say attorneys at Cleary.

  • Director Responsibilities Amid Russian Asset Seizures

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    Following Russia's recent takeover of several companies, shareholders may argue that directors failed to properly guard the companies' assets and choose to bring derivative claims or unfair prejudice petitions, say lawyers at Collyer Bristow.

  • Investors Should Prepare For Possible EU Energy Treaty Exit

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    Following the European Commission’s recent call for the European Union and Euratom to withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty, investors in the energy sector should assess the legal structure of their existing investments and consider restructuring to ensure adequate protections, says Philipp Kurek at Kirkland.

  • EU Raw Materials Initiative Vital For Sustainable Value Chains

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    The European Commission’s recent steps toward developing partnerships with the U.S. and Argentina to ensure a secure supply of critical raw materials are a welcome recognition of the importance of mining to the European Union's sustainable transition, say lawyers at Watson Farley.

  • UK Top Court Ruling Spells Uncertainty For Litigation Funders

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    The U.K. Supreme Court's recent decision in Paccar Inc. v. Competition Appeal Tribunal has called litigation funding agreements impermissible, causing astonishment in the legal industry and raising questions over how funders should now approach litigation, say Mohsin Patel at Factor Risk Management and Imran Benson at Hailsham Chambers.

  • Gender Diverse Boards May Reduce Corporate Fraud Risk

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    Following the recently proposed "failure to prevent fraud" offense, companies should focus on diversity in leadership as research shows that an increase in women's representation on boards is associated with a decreased probability of fraud, say Anoushka Warlow and Suzanne Gallagher at BCL Solicitors.

  • Trustees Should Take Caution After UK Pension Tap Plan

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    The U.K. government's recent plan to boost technology startups by tapping into pension sector funds may risk the hard-earned savings of members, so trustees need to be mindful of the proposals in light of their fiduciary duties, say Beth Brown and Riccardo Bruno at Arc Pensions.

  • Factors Driving Increased Litigation Against European Cos.

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    European government regulation and enforcement, economic inflation and litigation funding are driving an increase in litigation, especially class actions, against corporations in Europe, a trend that seems to be here to stay, says Henning Schaloske at Clyde & Co.

  • New UK Offense Will Help Law Firms Tighten AML Compliance

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    By allowing for larger fines and introducing a failure to prevent fraud offense, the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill, currently passing through Parliament, will further motivate law firms to improve their anti-money laundering compliance process, says Richard Simms at AMLCC.

  • What Venezuelan Gold Fight Means For UK One Voice Doctrine

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    The Court of Appeal's judgment in Deutsche Bank v. Central Bank of Venezuela clarifies the application of the "one voice" doctrine to foreign court judgments, highlighting that the reasoning depends on the recognition or nonrecognition of a head of state or government that is contrary to the U.K. government's position, say lawyers at Latham.

  • Report On UK Investment Act Offers Welcome Insights

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    The U.K. government's recent report on the National Security and Investment Act's first full year of operation is to be applauded for disclosing more information on the act's notification system than was required, enabling a better understanding of what has taken place and what the next year may hold, say Andrea Hamilton and Ajal Notowicz at Milbank.

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