Insurance UK

FCA's Crypto Rules Risk Abuse Without Tailored Safeguards

The proposed U.K. crypto-asset regime risks abuse because it tries to clamp traditional finance rules on to a digital asset class, leaving gaps which expose unwary investors to criminals unless new safeguards are added, legal experts have warned.

UK Faces Pensions Crisis As Millions Risk Retirement Penury

Britain will have to radically rethink what retirement means, amid a growing number of warning signs that millions of savers will have to work longer and retire with less income than their parents, unless the government intervenes, pension experts have warned.

Concept picture of pound notes with a calculator and pen.

FCA's New Redress Powers Spark Some Legal Concerns

Government plans to reform the Financial Ombudsman Service will give the Financial Conduct Authority new powers to introduce wide-ranging consumer redress programs at its discretion, leading lawyers to warn that the regulator could become too susceptible to public pressure.

Close-up of aeroplane jet-engine on a runway

Top Commercial Dispute Rulings Of 2025: Midyear Report

England's courts have dealt in the first half of 2025 with a multibillion-dollar legal dispute with insurers over planes stuck in Russia, slashed the exposure faced by banks over motor finance claims and set out how the proceeds from a landmark class action against Mastercard should be distributed.

October 06, 2025
UK Urged To Pause Deletion Of Pension Records Amid Errors

The U.K. government should hold back from deleting state pension records while there is still the possibility that relatives can claim compensation for administrative errors, a former minister warned Tuesday.
October 06, 2025
Ireland Cuts Insurance Levy, Urges Firms To Pass Savings

The Central Bank of Ireland has cut the compensation charge imposed on insurers and told businesses to "act in the best interests of consumers" by passing on any savings that come from the reduction.
October 06, 2025
Lloyd's Body Calls For Public-Private Scheme For Cyberattack

The spiraling cost to the economy of cyberattacks means that regulators might need to set up public-private partnerships to close insurance gaps, a trade body for brokers accredited by Lloyd's of London said Monday.
October 06, 2025
FCA Survey Highlights Firms' Frustration With Data Demands

The Financial Conduct Authority has revealed some rising industry concerns about its performance, including excessive supervisory correspondence and unnecessary data requests, as it published its latest annual Practitioner Panel survey.
October 06, 2025
Private Equity Deals Fuel Rebound In UK Insurance M&A

Transactions by private equity firms helped deals involving U.K. insurance brokerage or distribution firms achieve a moderate rebound in September, according to new analysis by a financial consultancy.
October 06, 2025
Watchdog To Issue Guidance on Virgin Media Pensions Ruling

Britain's audit watchdog has said it will issue guidance to help pension plan actuaries confirm historical amendments to retirement savings benefits ahead of forthcoming legislation sparked by a landmark court judgment in 2024.
October 03, 2025
UK Litigation Roundup: Here's What You Missed In London

This past week in London has seen billionaire Michael Platt sue his former tax lawyer, five former Deutsche Bank staffers file claims against the German bank and an Italian financier issue a commercial fraud claim against the Vatican and UBS.
October 03, 2025
Howden Buys Classic Car Insurance Broker In North Wales

Howden said Friday it has bought classic car insurance broker Gott & Wynne Ltd., marking its first regional buy in North Wales.
October 03, 2025
European Insurers Push For Simpler Sustainability Rules

European insurers have written to a group which advises lawmakers on sustainability standards in a letter published Friday, urging greater simplification of revised European sustainability reporting standards.
October 03, 2025
Science Minister Urges Pension Funds To Back Tech Startups

The U.K. government has urged the country's £3.2 trillion ($4.3 trillion) pensions industry to offer financial backing to a new generation of British technology startups.
October 03, 2025
EU Markets Watchdog Widens Supervisory Reach For 2026

The European Union's financial markets regulator said Friday it will expand its supervisory responsibilities into a raft of new areas in 2026, including sustainability ratings, green bond issuance and the giant information technology service providers.
October 03, 2025
DWF Boosts Scottish Insurance Practice With Hires

DWF LLP has hired a motor coverage expert as a director amid a wider hiring spree by the law firm to continue strengthening its presence in the Scottish insurance sector.
October 03, 2025
Pension Surplus Exceeds £55B At Top 100 UK Firms

The funding surplus of pension plans among the top 100 businesses in Britain has exceeded £55 billion ($74 billion), Lane Clark & Peacock LLP has said, marking a shift in conversation from funding to "delivering value."
October 03, 2025
Denmark Denied Permission To Appeal £1.4B Cum-Ex Defeat

Denmark cannot revive its £1.4 billion ($1.9 billion) against scores of traders and financial institutions over a cum-ex tax fraud it said was orchestrated by convicted hedge fund trader Sanjay Shah.
October 03, 2025
UK, Europe Pension Plans Urged To Look At VC Investment

British and European pensions must move beyond preparation to active participation with venture capital investment that could "unleash" significant growth across the bloc, new analysis by a research group for the sector shows.
October 02, 2025
McLaren Claims Driver's Exit Cost Millions In Sponsorships

Former McLaren driver Álex Palou cost the British motor racing group millions when he walked away from his contract, depriving the team of a "generational talent," company lawyers argued at the opening of a $21 million trial Thursday.
October 02, 2025
Groups Want Treasury Flexibility On Overseas Equivalence

U.K. and European financial services trade bodies have asked HM Treasury to take a flexible approach in recognizing overseas regimes as effectively "equivalent" to allow overseas firms access to U.K. customers, with a year's notice of withdrawal.
October 02, 2025
Broker Partnership Co. Invests In Drone Insurance Specialist

Investment vehicle Minority Broker Partnerships has said it will plug a "significant capital injection" into drone insurance specialist Moonrock Insurance.
October 02, 2025
Pension Review Should Tackle Triple Lock, Actuary Body Says

A government-led pensions review should have a free hand to reassess the triple lock, a trade body said, amid fears the policy will cost the state around £15.5 billion ($20.8 billion) a year by 2030.
October 02, 2025
Pension Savers Regret Prebudget Kneejerk Decisions

More than a quarter of Britons regret withdrawing a lump sum from their pensions, a wealth adviser said, amid fears that tax jitters over the budget could lead to savers making poor decisions on their finances.
October 02, 2025
L&G Breaks Industry Record, Tops £200B In Pension Assets

Legal & General Group PLC has said that its total defined contribution assets under management now top £200 billion ($270 billion) in what it called a first for the pensions industry.
October 02, 2025
Denmark Loses £1.4B Cum-Ex Fraud Case Against UK Trader

Denmark lost on Thursday its £1.4 billion ($1.9 billion) legal claim against scores of traders and financial institutions over a cum-ex tax fraud it said was orchestrated by convicted hedge fund trader Sanjay Shah.
October 01, 2025
Chubb Can't Yet Arbitrate La. Casino Owner's COVID Losses

A Louisiana federal court has temporarily barred a Bermuda-based Chubb unit from pursuing arbitration proceedings in England in a dispute with a hospitality and entertainment company over coverage for pandemic-related losses at its U.S. properties.
October 01, 2025
Yorkshire Broker Continues UK Expansion With Three Buys

JMG Group Investments Ltd. has bought three insurance brokers in Birmingham, Edinburgh and the Lake District, marking further expansion for the company in the U.K.
October 01, 2025
FCA Gives Chancellor 4-Point Plan For Consumer Duty

The Financial Conduct Authority has given the chancellor of the exchequer a four-part plan to change the Consumer Duty, with additional legislative steps for the Treasury to take, setting out its proposals in a letter published Wednesday.

Editor's Picks

Top Court Ruling In 'Whiplash' Test Case Could Hit Premiums

Personal injury claimants could get higher payouts from their motor insurance as a result of a test case ruling at Britain's highest court on Tuesday, although analysts warn that insurers could respond with higher premiums to cover the cost of bigger claims.
FCA Begins Crackdown On Poor-Value Insurance Products

The move by the Financial Conduct Authority to restrict sales of guaranteed asset protection insurance is a sign of a faster approach to market intervention, and could lead the regulator to scrutinize other underperforming products, consultants say.
Post-Election UK Pension Changes Could Be In The Fine Print

Regulatory lawyers are not expecting radical overhaul in pension policies if the government changes after this year's general election. But lawyers say that signals in the opposition Labour Party's policy language could hint at possible shifts in investment priorities for retirement savings.

Expert Analysis

What EBA Report Means For Non-EU Financial Firms

In a recent report concerning unregulated third country banks, the European Banking Authority decided not to extend a bank-to-bank exemption under the Capital Requirements Directive, raising a number of compliance issues for cross-border services, say lawyers at A&O Shearman.
What To Note From FCA, Gov't Financial Growth Proposals

Recent Financial Conduct Authority and government proposals for financial services reform are positive developments for firms, signaling a drive to push forward growth and a willingness to be flexible in areas of regulation that the industry has long raised as barriers, say lawyers at Simmons & Simmons.
FCA Misconduct Guide Will Expand Firms' Duty To Investigate

The Financial Conduct Authority's recent proposals on workplace nonfinancial misconduct will place a greater onus on compliance and investigations teams, clarifying that the question to ascertain is whether the behavior is justifiable and proportionate, say lawyers at Ashurst.
Mansion House Speech Heralds New Financial Regulatory Era

The chancellor of the exchequer's recent Mansion House speech introduced a sweeping commitment to modernize regulation, which will require U.K. retail banks and building societies to revisit core assumptions, and allow lawyers to play a key role in shaping the new rules, say lawyers at Addleshaw Goddard.
Key Points From EU Proposals To Ease Securitization Rules

The European Commission’s recently proposed securitization framework amendments aim to relax existing rules, such as by reducing due diligence requirements and removing the need for investors to conduct certain prescribed compliance verifications by sponsors or original lenders, say lawyers at McDermott.
What To Expect As FCA Preps To Launch AI Testing Service

The Financial Conduct Authority’s forthcoming artificial intelligence live testing service will provide participants with access to appropriate regulatory expertise, but to gauge the tool’s potential utility, it is important to understand how it fits in with what the regulator is already doing, says Omar Salem at Fox Williams.
EU Banking Watchdog Regulations Herald New AML Era

The European Banking Authority’s forthcoming anti-money laundering package will set a framework for compliance across the European Union by redefining the rules of engagement between financial institutions and supervisors, setting a new standard for transparency and accountability, say lawyers at A&O Shearman.
What To Expect As UK, US Gov'ts Develop Stablecoin Policies

While the U.K. and U.S. governments’ policies both suggest that fiat-backed stablecoins can improve efficiency and safety in payments systems, a perception that crypto-assets remain high risk means consumers are unlikely to use them in significant volume anytime soon, say lawyers at Cadwalader.
What Insurers Can Do To Prepare For PRA 'Solvent Exit' Rules

With less than a year until the Prudential Regulation Authority's new solvent exit rules for insurers come into force, it is critical that firms prepare to meet the imminent deadline by outlining an execution plan and establishing clear governance arrangements, say lawyers at Holman Fenwick.
How Regulators Want Online Platforms To Fight Finance Fraud

Recent statements from the International Organization of Securities Commissions and the European Securities and Markets Authority make clear that online platform providers are expected to adopt proactive measures to prevent the promotion of unauthorized financial services and related misconduct, say lawyers at Taylor Wessing.
FCA Notes Industry Criticism But Keeps Transparency Focus

The Financial Conduct Authority’s recently updated enforcement guide finally gives up the "naming and shaming" public interest test, demonstrating that the regulator has recognized the industry's serious concerns while maintaining less contentious aspects of its proposals to improve transparency in investigations, say lawyers at Irwin Mitchell.
Court Backing Of FCA Pensions Ruling Sends Key Message

The Upper Tribunal’s recent upholding of the Financial Conduct Authority's decisions against CFP Management directors serves as a judicial endorsement of the regulator’s approach to defined benefit transfers, underscoring that where the advisory model is fundamentally flawed, the consequences for those in control can be severe, say lawyers at RPC.
Pension Schemes Bill's Most Notable, Controversial Measures

The long-awaited Pension Schemes Bill recently introduced to Parliament creates a framework for harnessing money saved in U.K. workplace pension funds to grow the country’s economy, but provisions relating to local government pension scheme investment, and scale and asset allocation, are controversial, says Claire Dimmock at Squire Patton.
Decoding Arbitral Disputes: Prestige's Jurisprudential Legacy

The U.K. Supreme Court's recent denial of appeal ended Spain's decades-long quest to enforce an €855 million arbitral judgment against a London insurer, throwing into stark relief the increasingly complex relationship between arbitral sovereignty, foreign state immunity and the shifting terrain of post-Brexit private international law, says Josep Galvez at 4-5 Gray's Inn.
UK Securities Tax Reform Will Be Welcomed By Investors

The proposed reforms resulting from HM Revenue & Customs' recent consultation on modernizing stamp taxes on shares, suggesting a single digital tax on securities to replace stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax, are expected to reduce complexity for investors transacting in U.K. securities, say lawyers at Ropes & Gray.