Corporate Crime & Compliance UK

  • March 28, 2024

    Feds Say Ex-OneCoin Atty Should Serve 'Substantial' Time

    Manhattan federal prosecutors have requested a "substantial" amount of prison time for a Bulgarian woman who worked on the legal team at the fraudulent OneCoin cryptocurrency exchange, but said the sentence should fall below the guidelines range of 10 years.

  • March 28, 2024

    Ex-Plastics Co. Manager Found Guilty Of Insider Dealing

    A former manager at a plastics company was found guilty of insider dealing on Thursday by a London jury, but his friend was acquitted of similar charges in connection with the £261 million ($329 million) purchase of a rival company.

  • March 28, 2024

    PE Firm Denies Liability For $28M Plane Lease Fees

    A private equity firm has hit back against a $28.5 million claim brought by three aircraft lessors over alleged unpaid fees for four jets, arguing the leases to a Canadian budget carrier it partly owns were unlawfully terminated.

  • March 28, 2024

    Truck Co. Sues Ex-Boss For £216K Over Tax Dodge Scheme

    A British truck dealership is suing its former managing director for more than £216,000 ($273,000), alleging that he left the company liable for a huge back tax bill by setting up a fraudulent salary sacrifice scheme to rent a house.

  • March 28, 2024

    Traders' Loss Raises High Bar For Bankers To Clear Names

    The failure of two former traders to overturn their rate-rigging convictions could mark the end of the road for others convicted in connection with the scandal because of the reluctance of the English courts to topple precedent, lawyers say.

  • March 28, 2024

    NCA Logs 5% Decline In Suspicious Activity Reports Last Year

    The National Crime Agency reported Thursday a 5% decline in reports about potential criminal activities such as suspected money laundering and terrorist financing to its intelligence unit received during the financial year that ended March 2023.

  • March 28, 2024

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

    This past week in London has seen investors target fraudsters who ran a fake film tax scheme, Barclays Bank sue privately owned Russian bank PJSC Sovcombank, easyGroup bring a trademark infringement claim against online casino TGI Entertainment for its "easybet" word sign, and a bioethanol fuel company hit high-profile individuals connected to the collapsed Elysian Fuels scheme. Here, Law360 looks at these and other new claims in the U.K.

  • March 28, 2024

    Nuclear Regulator To Prosecute Waste Dump Over IT Security

    The U.K.'s nuclear industry regulator said Thursday that it will prosecute the operator of Europe's largest nuclear site for allegedly committing computer security offenses for around four years.

  • March 28, 2024

    Investors Told To Show Standing For £1.4B StanChart Claim

    A London judge on Thursday ordered part of a group of investors suing Standard Chartered PLC for £1.4 billion ($1.7 billion) — for allegedly downplaying how much it had breached U.S. sanctions — to prove they are entitled to bring the claim. 

  • March 28, 2024

    Crowe Denies £5M Negligence Claim Over Audits Of Wine Co.

    A London-based accounting firm has hit back against a £5 million ($6.3 million) negligence claim by the liquidators of a failed wine investment company, saying it acted with the "care and skill" of a "reasonably competent" auditor.

  • March 28, 2024

    UK To Nullify NDAs That Stop People Reporting Crimes

    Non-disclosure agreements that prevent victims from reporting potential crimes are to become unenforceable, the government said Thursday as it announced plans to "clarify" the law governing the controversial contracts.

  • March 27, 2024

    No New Trial For Hedge Fund Boss In Forex Rigging Case

    A New York federal judge on Friday refused to acquit or call for a new trial for a U.K.-based hedge fund chief convicted of illegally manipulating a currency exchange rate, rejecting his argument that his alleged conduct lacked sufficient ties to the United States.

  • March 27, 2024

    Evidence On Ex-Mozambique Official Stays In $2B Fraud Suit

    A former Mozambique finance minister can't keep evidence from his phone out of a case alleging his involvement in a $2 billion scheme to siphon government-backed project funds from that country after a federal judge in Brooklyn on Wednesday backed the phone's seizure and search.

  • March 27, 2024

    Amazon Can't Block DSA Ad Repository Requirements

    A European court reversed a ruling temporarily exempting Amazon from a set of regulations for large digital platforms, ruling Wednesday that — like Apple's App Store, Facebook and Instagram — Amazon will have to maintain a publicly available repository of advertising information, as mandated by the European Union's 2022 Digital Services Act.

  • March 27, 2024

    Fashion Retailers Agree To UK Green Claim Rules

    Enforcers in Britain said Wednesday that ASOS PLC, Boohoo.com UK Ltd. and Asda Stores Ltd. have agreed to a new set of rules covering environmental claims about their fashion products following a "greenwashing" probe in the fashion retail sector.

  • March 27, 2024

    StanChart Urges Court To Toss Part Of £1.4B Sanctions Suit

    Standard Chartered PLC urged a London judge Wednesday to block part of a group of investors' £1.4 billion ($1.77 billion) claim against it alleging that the bank had downplayed how much it breached U.S. sanctions against Iran by hundreds of billions of dollars, alleging some of the investors had not shown they had standing.

  • March 27, 2024

    Aviation Co. Did Not Undersell By $28M, Lessor Claims

    An aircraft lessor has denied falsely suppressing its profitability to convince an aviation business to undersell its shares in the lessor by $28 million, claiming that any estimates of possible income were genuine and honest.

  • March 27, 2024

    BoE Finds Increasing Fear Of Financial Risk From AI

    The Bank of England said on Wednesday the proportion of banks, insurers and other firms that find artificial intelligence one of the greatest risks to the finance system has doubled in six months.

  • March 27, 2024

    Finance Pros Avoid Prison For £3M Mortgage Fraud

    A banned independent financial adviser and an accountant were handed suspended sentences on Wednesday for forging documents to help their clients make fraudulent mortgage applications worth £3 million ($3.8 million).

  • March 27, 2024

    Jaguar, Land Rover Owners Bring New 'Dieselgate' Action

    More than 3,000 owners of Jaguar and Land Rover diesel vehicles have launched legal claims against the manufacturer, dealerships and auto finance companies, alleging that their cars were fitted with defective exhaust filters, the law firm steering the action said Wednesday.

  • March 27, 2024

    SFO Loses Bid To Delay £1B Damages Trial Over ENRC Leaks

    A judge refused to grant the Serious Fraud Office permission on Wednesday to challenge his findings that its officers encouraged a former Dechert LLP partner to divulge confidential information about ENRC.

  • March 27, 2024

    UK Draft Pay Fraud Rules Open Tricky Legal Liabilities

    The government's new draft legislation, which will give banks longer to investigate suspicions of fraud before they send payments instructed by customers, will create a wave of new legal liabilities and lead to regulatory hurdles, according to lawyers.

  • March 27, 2024

    Insurers Undervalue Junked And Stolen Vehicles, FCA Says

    British insurers have been undervaluing written-off and stolen vehicles when settling customers' claims, according to a review by the country's financial watchdog published Wednesday.

  • March 27, 2024

    Ex-Barclays, Citi Traders Lose Interest Rate-Rigging Appeals

    Two former traders convicted of manipulating benchmark interest rates lost their bid to clear their names on Wednesday as an English appellate court ruled that they had received fair trials. 

  • March 26, 2024

    UAE Fund Must Pay £7M As Judge Tosses Azima Fraud Ruling

    A London judge has ordered a sovereign wealth fund to make an initial £7.6 million ($9.6 million) payment to Farhad Azima, ending a lengthy feud involving allegations the fund fraudulently obtained a $4 million judgment against the aviation tycoon with help from a lawyer at Dechert LLP.

Expert Analysis

  • Nix Of $11B Award Shows Limits Of Arbitral Process

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    A recent English High Court decision in Nigeria v. Process & Industrial Developments, overturning an arbitration award because it was obtained by fraud, is a reminder that arbitration decisions are ultimately still accountable to the courts, and that the relative simplicity of the arbitration rules is not necessarily always a benefit, say Robin Henry and Abbie Coleman at Collyer Bristow.

  • How The Netherlands Became A Hub For EU Class Actions

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    As countries continue to implement the European Union Collective Redress Directive, the Netherlands — the country with the largest class action docket in the EU — provides a real-world example of what class and mass litigation may eventually look like in the bloc, say lawyers at Faegre Drinker and Houthoff.

  • Navigating The Novel Challenges Facing The Legal Profession

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    The increasing prominence of ESG and AI have transformed the legal landscape and represent new opportunities for lawyers, but with evolving regulations and the ever-expanding reach of the Solicitors Regulation Authority, law firms should ensure that they have appropriate policies in place to adapt to these challenges, say Scott Ashby and Aimee Talbot at RPC.

  • Sustainable Finance Consultations May Signal Key Changes

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    The European Commission's recently launched consultations on the sustainable finance disclosure regulation point to important changes, including the potential introduction of a new product categorization system, and illustrate that there are clearly issues with the existing framework, say Ferdisha Snagg and Andreas Wildner at Cleary.

  • Deal Over Jets Stranded In Russia May Serve As Blueprint

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    In the face of a pending "mega-trial" over leased airplanes held in Russia after its invasion of Ukraine, a settlement between leading aviation lessor AerCap Holdings NV and NSK, the Russian state-controlled insurance company, could pave the way for similar deals, say Samantha Zaozirny and Timeyin Pinnick at Browne Jacobson.

  • Economic Crime Act Brings Changes For Limited Partnerships

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    The recently passed Economic Crime Act introduces significant financial transparency obligations for new and existing U.K. limited partnerships, and with criminal consequences for noncompliance, a degree of advance consideration is strongly advised, say Amelia Stawpert and Alex Jones at Hogan Lovells.

  • Key Lessons From The SRA's 2023 AML Report

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    The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s recent anti-money laundering report conducted supervisory activities that revealed a variety of breaches, and with an increasingly regulated landscape, lawyers can play an important part in preventing criminal activity by taking responsibility for ensuring compliance, says Harriet Holmes at Thirdfort.

  • ESMA Report Offers A Glimpse At EU's Securitization Future

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    The European Securities and Markets Authority’s recent overview of the EU securitization sector suggests a growing market for both investors and businesses and offers useful insight into future regulatory priorities, says Alan Bunbury at Matheson.

  • Collapse-Risk Buildings Present Liability Challenges

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    Recently, buildings, such as Harrow Crown Court, have been closed due to risk of collapse from use of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in their construction, but identifying who will pay for the associated damages may be challenging due to expired limitation periods, say Theresa Mohammed, Jonathan Clarke and Villem Diederichs at Watson Farley.

  • How The Legal Sector Can Enhance Its Data Resilience

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    In view of the U.K. National Cyber Security Centre’s recent report shedding light on the legal sector’s increased vulnerability to cyberattacks, law firms need not only establish robust defenses, but also to redefine their approach to data security by fostering a culture of continuous learning, adaptability and vigilance, says Katie McCullough at Panzura.

  • Age Bias Cases Illustrate Key Employer Issues On Retirement

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    Recent Employment Tribunal cases demonstrate that age discrimination claims are increasingly on employees' radars, particularly regarding retirement, so employers should be proactive and review their current practices for managing older employees, say Jane Mann and Lucy Sellen at Fox Williams.

  • Why Indonesia Feels Frustrated By Airbus Dispute Outcome

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    Although the U.K. Serious Fraud Office’s Airbus bribery investigation achieved a record payout for regulators, Indonesia’s threat to sue for lack of credit for its contribution serves as a reminder of the need to take care when settlements are distributed among investigating partners, says Niall Hearty at Rahman Ravelli.

  • EU Tech Guidance Is First Step In Minimizing Security Risks

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    The European Commission's recent recommendation on critical technologies that likely pose immediate risks to technology security has prompted an evaluation of the European Union's vulnerabilities in these areas, which could have significant implications for businesses operating in and with the bloc, say lawyers at Cooley.

  • Key Shifts In EU, UK Emissions Credits: Challenges For Cos.

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    An upcoming deadline to apply for free carbon dioxide emissions allowances in the European Union, and a reduction in the supply of similar allowances in the U.K., are likely to increase competition for allowances, and cause production, supply chain and contract issues for companies, say attorneys at Orrick.

  • UAE Bank Case Offers Lessons On Enforcing Foreign Rulings

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    The High Court recently clarified in Invest Bank v. El-Husseini that foreign judgment debts may be enforceable in England, despite being unenforceable in their jurisdiction of origin, which should remind practitioners that foreign judgments will be recognized in England if they are final and conclusive in their court of origin, say lawyers at Macfarlanes.

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