Expert Analysis

• 5 Code Of Ethics Recommendations For FTSE 350 Companies

  

  In light of the U.K. Institute of Business Ethics' recent report on the FTSE 350, companies should regularly update their code of ethics in order to emphasize to employees and business partners the importance they place on following good practice, say attorneys at Norton Rose.

• Examining The Effects Of Increased Construction Insolvency

  

  With a significant rise in construction firm insolvencies, proactive monitoring of key counterparties is paramount, and if early warning signs such as failure to pay suppliers or a turnover in key management are triggered, parties should take steps to minimize exposure and potential losses, say lawyers at Reynolds Porter.

• What TPR's Guidance On DEI Means For Pensions Industry

  

  The Pension Regulator is one of the first regulators to issue guidance on equality, diversity and inclusion, and employers and trustees should incorporate its advice by developing policies and monitoring progress to ensure that improvements are made regularly, say lawyers at Linklaters.

• The Many Challenges Of Post-Brexit Regulatory Divergence

  

  As the regulatory effects of the U.K.'s departure from the EU emerge and the geopolitical landscape continues to evolve, firms must monitor compliance with fast-changing trade sanctions and the foreign investment screening regime that continues to add cost and complexity to the cross-border acquisitions market, say lawyers at Shepherd & Wedderburn.

• Economic Issues To Watch In The Libor Transition

  

  With the London Interbank Offered Rate officially retiring June 30, market participants and their counsel should consider how the economic questions presented by outstanding contracts and the pros and cons of different alternative reference rates may lead to litigation around Libor cessation, say analysts at The Brattle Group.

• Reserved Investor Fund Would Plug Gap In UK Finance Market

  

  The reserved investor fund recently proposed by HM Treasury has the potential to be a welcome tax-efficient addition to the U.K.’s canon of products for real estate investments, with attractive features for companies and, in particular, large asset managers, say lawyers at Herbert Smith.

• What Firms Need To Know About The FCA Consumer Duty

  

  The Financial Conduct Authority's new consumer duty, in force from July 31, presents an opportunity for manufacturers and distributors of financial services to understand the importance of fair value for consumers, and the regulator will be taking a close interest in this, say Julie Patient, Mark Aengenheister and Virginia Montgomery at Hogan Lovells.

• Examining The Growing Strength Of FRC Enforcement Actions

  

  As the U.K. Financial Reporting Council prepares to broaden its powers and transition into the Audit, Reporting and Governance Authority in 2024, it is already demonstrating an increased appetite for enforcement, with greater expectations placed on auditors, say Kathleen Harris, Sean Curran and Melissa Dames at Arnold & Porter.

• UK Case Shows Risks Of Taking Shortcuts In Fund Payments

  

  While the High Court recently reversed a decision in Floreat Investment Management v. Churchill, finding that investors routing funds into their own accounts was not dishonest, the case serves as a cautionary tale on the dangers of directing investment funds other than as contractually provided, say lawyers at Dechert.

• Growing EU Scrutiny Increases Hurdles For Foreign Investors

  

  The application of the EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation from July will bring further oversight to many large deals, and together with bolt-on strategies, foreign investment regulation and antitrust enforcement, financial sponsors will need to start planning for compliance to avoid potential delays, say Anna Mitchell and Neil Hoolihan at Linklaters.

• How Ambitious New EU Directive Seeks To Fight Corruption

  

  If enacted, the European Union’s recently proposed directive to combat corruption, with its substantive rules, specialized bodies and aim of raising public awareness, would form another milestone in the long-term creation of a genuine European criminal law system, say Katharina Humphrey and Andreas Dürr at Gibson Dunn.

• How The FCA Is Using Its New Powers To Make Changes

  

  The recent sentence of the former London Capital CEO is the latest development in the firm's scandal that prompted a damning report on the Financial Conduct Authority's regulatory conduct, leading the regulator to much soul-searching and a continuing clamp down on firms that misuse their approvals, says Ben Rees at Keller Postman.

• How The US And UK Differ On Crypto Regulation

  

  While the U.K. and U.S. share strong economic ties, their approaches to crypto regulation differ wildly, with the U.K. setting bespoke rules through legislation and the U.S. taking a fragmented, and arguably hostile, approach to regulating crypto-assets, most often happening through enforcement, say attorneys at BCLP.

• Judicial Review Lessons From Financial Ombudsman Case

  

  Even though the judicial review claim was dismissed in the recent High Court decision Shawbrook Bank v. Financial Ombudsman Service, it has important legal and practical takeaways for lenders who can obtain real value by challenging FOS decisions, say lawyers at Linklaters.

• Understanding ESG Considerations In Social Lending

  

  In light of recent updates to sustainable finance guidance by loan market associations, lenders should ensure they request compliance information for projects intended to provide social benefits in order to encourage borrowers to hold environmental, social and corporate governance factors as a priority, says Jasmine Robinson at Taylor Wessing.