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Corporate Crime & Compliance UK

SFO Looks Toward Technology, AI Overhaul After Ephgrave

The goal of the Serious Fraud Office to accelerate its investigations through intelligence-gathering and technology signals that the white-collar agency's new interim director will persist with plans put in place by predecessor Nick Ephgrave after his surprise exit earlier in April.

Exterior of the home of the High Court and appeals court in London at twilight.

Glencore Ruling Broadens Scope For Challenge Over Privilege

A recent court ruling that expands legal advice privilege to cover some internal corporate communications gives companies greater scope for withholding sensitive material but is likely to prompt challenges over whether those documents meet the test for protection, lawyers say.

Builders Brace To Fight Tax Fraud 'Should Have Known' Test

Britain's tax agency has begun to wield strengthened enforcement powers to combat tax fraud in the construction industry after reforms that lawyers warn could trigger disputes as businesses challenge whether they meet the regime's contentious "should have known" test.

Union flag flies high over Parliament Square in 2023.

Fair Work Agency Chief On Launch: 'We're Here To Listen'

The new Fair Work Agency is "here to listen" to employers as well as workers, its chief executive said ahead of its official launch on April 7.

April 28, 2026
Italy Fines Chips Producers €23M Over Snack Cartel

An Italian competition authority said Tuesday that it had handed out fines totaling more than €23 million ($27 million) to three savory food producers over their agreement to divide the supply of snacks produced for large-scale retail trade.
April 28, 2026
HMRC Considers VAT Updates After College Funding Ruling

The U.K. tax authority said it's considering changes to value-added tax rules for funding received by vocational and technical colleges after accepting a ruling that such a school could recover VAT because its funding fell within the scope of the VAT system.
April 28, 2026
Baker Hughes Says Sanctions Bar Ex-Russian Unit's $28M Bid

Baker Hughes has denied that it owes a former Russian subsidiary more than $28 million for unpaid commercial services, arguing that a Moscow judgment enforcing the payment should be stayed because of sanctions.
April 28, 2026
4 Convicted For Attempted €2.6M Enviro Cling Film Fraud

European Union prosecutors said Tuesday that four people have been convicted in Lithuania for an attempted €2.6 million ($3 million) subsidy fraud scheme linked to a green technology project.
April 27, 2026
BSB Confirms 10 Investigations Linked To Post Office Scandal

The Bar Standards Board said Monday it has 10 open investigations in the wake of the Post Office scandal that saw hundreds of branch managers wrongfully convicted of fraud and theft due an accounting software glitch.
April 27, 2026
Chemical Co. Fined £3.8M After Worker Lost Leg To Burns

The U.K.'s workplace safety regulator has fined a chemical manufacturing company £3.8 million ($5.2 million) after finding that a lack of proper controls for hazardous substances resulted in two employees suffering serious injuries, including the loss of a leg.
April 27, 2026
Nick Candy Beats Startup Founder's Freezing Order Claim

A London court struck out former dotcom entrepreneur Robert Bonnier's claim on Monday against property developer Nick Candy over a wrongly obtained freezing order, concluding that the entrepreneur and his company's bankruptcy trustee repeatedly breached court orders.
April 27, 2026
River Pollution Claim Too Thinly Pled To Compel Defense

Thousands of residents suing Welsh Water and two chicken producers for allegedly polluting rivers in England and Wales suffered a setback on Monday when a London judge ruled their case was too thinly pleaded to require a defense at this stage.
April 27, 2026
Liquidators Say Diamond Tycoon Used Firms To Launder $1B

A diamond and jewelry tycoon swindled more than $1 billion from banks in an Indian gold bullion fraud and diverted it to entities connected to him and his family, liquidators for U.K. companies said Monday at the first day of a High Court trial.
April 27, 2026
Top White-Collar Pro Admits Overcharging ENRC On £22M Bill

A top commercial crime lawyer admitted on Monday that his former barristers' chambers overcharged ENRC some of the £22 million ($30 million) his team earned on the Serious Fraud Office's criminal investigation, but denied suggestions the billing process was "shambolic."
April 27, 2026
ICO Commissioner Steps Down Amid HR Investigation

The U.K. data protection watchdog confirmed Monday that its commissioner has voluntarily stepped down amid a human resources investigation.
April 27, 2026
Union Mulls Legal Action As Met Deploys AI To Track Officers

A trade union said Monday that it is considering legal action against the Metropolitan Police over the force's use Palantir's artificial intelligence system to monitor staff and uncover possible misconduct.
April 27, 2026
Dentons Fails To Prevent Rerun Of Watchdog's AML Case

Dentons failed on Monday to prevent a rerun of allegations that it breached money laundering rules while acting for a politically exposed client, as an appeals court said a new tribunal must decide whether the firm's actions amounted to professional misconduct and what sanction might follow.
April 24, 2026
Tycoon's Son Can't Appeal £3.1M Howard Kennedy Bill

The son of a diamond tycoon accused of swindling $1 billion from banks has lost his latest bid to challenge his legal bills from Howard Kennedy LLP, as a judge held Friday that he understood his "ongoing liability" from the international fraud case.
April 24, 2026
AI-Led Attacks Are Growing Risk For Finance Cos., FCA Says

The Financial Conduct Authority said Friday that financial services companies are facing growing risks from artificial intelligence-led attacks and finding it difficult to get senior manager support in developing defenses.
April 24, 2026
Mandelson Investigated By EU Anti-Fraud Office

The European Anti-Fraud Office revealed on Friday that it has opened an investigation into Peter Mandelson following the release by the U.S. Department of Justice of millions of court documents in connection with Jeffrey Epstein.
April 24, 2026
UK Litigation Roundup: Here's What You Missed In London

The past week in London has seen a Hong Kong company sue the government and a COVID-19 PPE company linked to Tory peer Michelle Mone, an oligarch bring a fresh claim against a rival in a long-running feud, a rugby league club sue over a canceled mass dance event, and Visa and Mastercard hit with legal action from H&M, Eurostar, and Bang & Olufsen. Here, Law360 looks at these and other new claims in the U.K.
April 24, 2026
Student Can Be Named In $2B Money Laundering Probe

A student subject to an asset freeze in connection with a $2 billion money laundering investigation can be publicly identified in principle but will stay anonymous pending her right to appeal, a judge ruled on Friday.
April 24, 2026
FCA Leads Global Crackdown On Illegal 'Finfluencers'

The Financial Conduct Authority said Friday that it has spearheaded a week of global action to stop illegal "finfluencers" who put consumers' money at risk.
April 24, 2026
EU Sanctions 20 More Russian Banks, Crypto, Shipping

The European Union said Friday that it has hit Russia with a fresh round of sanctions that target financial services, including cryptocurrency companies, as part of a broader package.
April 24, 2026
Father Admits He Misled Sons Amid £5M Row Over Loan

The father of two brothers accused of owing almost £5 million ($6.8 million) in outstanding payments on an investment loan has admitted that he misled them, but has denied liability for the lender's claimed loss.
April 23, 2026
Tax Barrister Suspended After Failed Libel Claim

A tax barrister has been suspended from practice until 2027, the bar regulator has said, following the failure of his £8 million ($10.8 million) libel claim against former Clifford Chance LLP partner Dan Neidle.
April 23, 2026
UK Builder.ai Founder Charged In India Over Siphoned Funds

Indian law enforcement has filed a criminal complaint against the founder of a failed, London-based artificial intelligence tech company, alleging he was "the key beneficiary" of millions of dollars siphoned off a defunct electronics manufacturer.
April 23, 2026
HMRC Defends Court's Power To Resolve Exit Tax Dispute

A U.K. tribunal didn't overstep its authority by interpreting legislation to allow taxpayers to pay an exit tax in deferred payment plans to comply with the European Union's rights to free establishment, HM Revenue & Customs argued Thursday.
April 23, 2026
Fraud Claims Made Up 15% Of 2025 Court Filings, Report Says

The number of fraud claims issued in England and Wales for 2025 remained proportionately high, with banking and financial services disputes dominating as the most common subject matter of those claims, according to industry analysis published Thursday.

Editor's Picks

New 'British FBI' Plan Missing Vital Detail, Lawyers Say

Plans by the government to merge several fraud enforcement agencies give little detail about how the largest policing overhaul in 200 years will operate in practice, although lawyers say the Serious Fraud Office appears to be safe — for now.
Slapped Down: SRA At Crossroads After SLAPP Setbacks

The string of failed prosecutions brought by the Solicitors Regulation Authority against City lawyers accused of trying to silence journalists on behalf of clients has raised questions about its enforcement strategy, with critics accusing the watchdog of overreaching its rules.
Meet The Lawyers Tapped To Defend In Entain Bribery Case

Eleven gambling managers and employees, including former top executives at Ladbrokes and Coral owner Entain PLC, have enlisted veteran defense counsel and some of the country's most experienced trial solicitors and barristers to defend themselves against the Crown Prosecution Service's bribery and fraud charges.

Expert Analysis

Insights From FCA's Latest Customer Due Diligence Review

The Financial Conduct Authority’s recent report on customer due diligence controls explains what distinguishes good policies and procedures from those that are lacking, and should encourage firms to check that their processes are detailed, practical and relevant to the business, say lawyers at Womble Bond.
How New EU Third-Country Branch Rules Will Affect UK Banks

The European Union's new directive on third-country branch rules for non-EU banks will have a significant impact on U.K. banks, which will no longer be permitted to provide core cross-border services into the EU without a local presence, unless an applicable exemption or carveout applies, say lawyers at Farrer & Co.
Lessons From ESMA's Record €1.4M Trade Repository Fine

The European Securities and Markets Authority's recent fine against REGIS-TR for data and procedure breaches under Market Infrastructure and Securities Financing Regulations demonstrates that a license confers no immunity from sanctions, and that dually registered trade repositories face a greater financial exposure in the event of noncompliance, say lawyers at White & Case.
CMA's 5-Point Plan Signals Shift In Enforcement Priorities

The Competition and Markets Authority’s recently published annual plan is notable for a strong shift toward prioritizing U.K. enforcement of consumer protection laws, encouraging innovation and policing public procurement markets for anticompetitive conduct, which contrasts with previous plans that focused on competition in digital markets, complex merger review and sustainability, say lawyers at Cooley.
A New Era For UK Financial Sanctions Enforcement

A major overhauling of the U.K.'s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation brings it into closer alignment with its U.S. counterpart, though it also deliberately diverges in ways that carry real consequences for exposure modeling and enforcement strategy, says Irene Polieri at Gibson Dunn.
ECJ Ruling Shows When Cos. Can Reject Data Requests

The European Court of Justice’s recent decision in Brillen Rottler v. TC clarifies that although data controllers must be cautious in declining data subject access requests under the EU General Data Protection Regulation, a company may refuse to respond where the request is manifestly unfounded or excessive, even at first contact, says Rob Dalling at Jenner & Block.
Dubai Ruling Delineates Standard For Foreign Arbitration Aid

By delineating the limits of its jurisdiction with clarity, in the recent Orabelle v. Orzenia decision, the Court of First Instance of the Dubai International Financial Centre Courts enhances predictability and reinforces the court's standing as a forum combining international openness with strict adherence to statutory constraints, says Josep Galvez at 4-5 Gray's Inn.
What CMA Blog Reveals About Pricing Collusion Scrutiny

The Competition and Markets Authority's recent blog post announcing capabilities to screen for algorithmic collusion demonstrates that the regulator's concerns are crystallizing into enhanced investigative and enforcement actions, broadening the range of commercial arrangements at risk of antitrust scrutiny, say lawyers at Freshfields.
Carillion Fines Show FCA's Broad View Of Directors' Duties

The Financial Conduct Authority’s recent issuing of final notices to Carillion’s former group CEO demonstrates that executive directors cannot recklessly allow misleading public announcements that undermine market confidence, says Wendy Saunders at Lewis Silkin.
Assessing Potential Legal Claims From Private Credit Turmoil

Amid the downturn in the private credit markets spurred by multiple high-profile bankruptcies, a New York lawsuit stemming from the collapse of First Brands provides an important case study for investors to help minimize future losses and maximize any potential recovery in the event of a private credit default, say attorneys at Bleichmar Fonti.
What New FCA Rules Mean For Deferred Payment Providers

New rules from the Financial Conduct Authority requiring deferred payment credit providers to obtain a financial services license have two notable implications: providers will be subject to full compliance with the regulator’s consumer duty, and must meet its organizational and governance requirements, says Alix Prentice at Cadwalader.
FCA Stablecoin Sandbox Indicates Shift In Crypto Regulation

The Financial Conduct Authority’s recent decision to use four companies to test stablecoin models within its regulatory sandbox provides a mechanism for testing real-world use cases, and shines a light on the U.K.'s broader strategy in the context of global stablecoin legislation, says Ben Lee at Andersen.
Who Will Be 1st To Prosecute New Corporate Fraud Offense?

With no prosecutions under the failure to prevent fraud offense six months on from its introduction, lawyers at BCL Solicitors explore the front-runners in the race to prosecute, and consider whether a private prosecutor might beat a state prosecuting authority to the finish line.
What EU Cybersecurity Proposals Could Mean For Tech Cos.

The European Commission’s recent proposals for further communication technologies regulation via the Cybersecurity Act 2 and Digital Networks Act signify a substantive shift in how the European Union expects digital services, infrastructure and supply chains to function in an era of intensifying geopolitical risk, say lawyers at Akin.
FCA's £44M Nationwide Fine Highlights AML Control Gaps

The Financial Conduct Authority’s recent £44 million fine of Nationwide Building Society for anti-money laundering control failures demonstrates that where a firm does not implement appropriate policies and remediation projects, there is a risk that noncompliance will remain unaddressed, say lawyers at Taylor Wessing.