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Corporate Crime & Compliance UK

FCA May Be Forced To Set Lower Fines After Appeal Setbacks

The Financial Conduct Authority might be forced to rethink how it justifies the size of its fines after being forced to cut penalties after referral to the Upper Tribunal, raising questions about its ability to make enforcement decisions stick, legal experts caution.

Disclosure Haunts The SFO, Posing Challenge For Next Chief

The next director of the Serious Fraud Office must tackle the systemic disclosure failings that haunt its cases or face recurring questions about the agency's credibility after the latest collapse of a prosecution over problems with its handling of evidence, lawyers say.

Close-up of folded flags of Russia and the United Kingdom side by side.

OFSI Overhauls Its Powers, But Lawyers Doubt Impact

Moves to double the fining powers of Britain's sanctions watchdog would have little impact on enforcement, lawyers fear, although they say that a proposed program for agreeing settlements with companies could be just enough to speed up the regulator's cases.

Name sign outside one of the government's main ministries in Westminster.

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.

February 17, 2026
Unregistered Tax Advisers May Be Blocked, HMRC Warns

HM Revenue & Customs may block intermediaries who fail to register as a tax adviser, including for corporate and personal tax matters, cutting them off from services, the tax authority said Tuesday.
February 17, 2026
EU Probes Shein Over Addictive Design And Illegal Products

The European Commission launched an investigation on Tuesday against Shein over the e-commerce platform's addictive design and the measures it has in place to prevent the sale of illegal products such as child-like sex dolls.
February 17, 2026
Deutsche Bank, Ex-Trader Settle Over Monte Dei Paschi Case

Deutsche Bank has settled a commercial fraud claim brought by a former trading head over his wrongful conviction for aiding false accounting and market manipulation in one of Italy's biggest financial scandals.
February 17, 2026
EU Blacklists Turks and Caicos, Vietnam As Tax Havens

The European Union blacklisted two countries as tax havens Tuesday over their failure to meet transparency standards and policies encouraging foreign companies and entities to shift their profits overseas.
February 17, 2026
Law Firm Clayton Mott Fined For Failings On AML Compliance

Clayton Mott will hand over a fine of more than £7,000 ($9,450) to the Solicitors Regulation Authority under a settlement deal after the law firm was found to be violating anti-money laundering compliance rules, the regulator said Tuesday.
February 17, 2026
Ex-Investment Fund Director Denies Alleged £20M Fraud

A former investment fund director pleaded not guilty to criminal fraud and forgery charges at a London court on Tuesday over allegations that he orchestrated a years-long fraud worth up to £20 million ($27 million).
February 16, 2026
SRA Faces £400K Bill After SLAPP Conviction Overturned

A media lawyer who managed to overturn a conviction by the Solicitors Regulation Authority for allegedly trying to silence journalists has also won a costs order against the regulator, as the SRA was ordered to pay at least £400,000 ($545,000).
February 16, 2026
Billionaire Alleges Audit Fraud in £51M Gambling Biz Purchase

An internet betting businessman told a court Monday that the ex-owner of a gambling business he bought orchestrated and concealed a scheme to defraud its auditors, leading to the company losing its license and wiping out his £50.7 million ($69 million) investment.
February 16, 2026
Carillion's Ex-CEO Hit With Fine Over Misleading Statements

The Financial Conduct Authority said Monday it has fined Richard Howson, former group chief executive at Carillion PLC, £237,700 ($324,000) for his part in misleading statements issued by the international construction company, which is now in liquidation.
February 16, 2026
PM Law Faces SRA Probe Over Missing Client Money

The Solicitors Regulation Authority said Monday that it is investigating missing client money at PM Law in the latest potential incident involving mishandling of clients' funds by a law firm.
February 16, 2026
Swiss Lawyer Suspended For Quid Pro Quo Threats To Clients

A solicitor who accused his former clients of breaching sanctions and trading with terrorists after a dispute over fees has been suspended for two years, a tribunal confirmed on Monday.
February 13, 2026
Blair's Think Tank Urges UK Gov't To End Energy Windfall Tax

The U.K.'s Labour government must phase out the windfall tax on the energy industry and lift the ban on new oil and gas drilling licenses in the North Sea to increase revenue long term, the Tony Blair Institute said Friday.
February 13, 2026
Media Execs Claim Firing Was For Exposing Ad Overcharges

Two fired executives of a regional newspaper publisher have denied they must repay the company more than £900,000 ($1.2 million) in compensation, claiming they were wrongly forced out of the company for blowing the whistle on the fraudulent overcharging of advertisers.
February 13, 2026
Watchdog Prioritizes SFO Review After Disclosure Failings

The U.K.'s prosecution oversight body said Friday it would prioritize a planned review of the Serious Fraud Office after it dropped the prosecution of former mining executives in part due to disclosure failings.
February 13, 2026
UK Litigation Roundup: Here's What You Missed In London

This past week in London has seen a former U.S. defense contractor convicted of tax evasion face legal action, French football club Olympique Lyonnais sued following a $97 million ruling against its owner John Textor, consulting giant Kroll targeted by a South African airline, and H&M hit with a claim alleging it copied protected sunglasses designs. Here, Law360 looks at these and other new claims in the U.K.
February 13, 2026
Car Parking Giant Hit With CMA Fine For Ignoring Info Request

The U.K. competition watchdog has fined a car parking giant more than £473,000 ($645,000) for failing to comply with a request to hand over information, rejecting the company's excuse that it thought the request was a scam.
February 12, 2026
Louis Vuitton Fined €500K In Dutch Money Laundering Case

Dutch prosecutors hit the Netherlands subsidiary of Louis Voutton with a €500,000 ($593,000) fine Thursday for anti-money laundering violations after it said the fashion house failed to vet customers who repeatedly made large cash purchases.
February 12, 2026
Hotel Cos. Urge UK Gov't To Abandon Holiday Tax Proposal

The Labour government should not introduce what is known as a holiday tax on the hospitality industry, more than 200 hotel companies told the U.K.'s finance minister.
February 12, 2026
Ex-Latham Legal Secretary Barred After Fraud Conviction

A former legal secretary at Latham & Watkins LLP has been barred from working for another law firm after a criminal court convicted her of defrauding a partner at the firm of more than £50,000 ($68,105).
February 12, 2026
Gov't Sets Out Tough Regime For Appointed Representatives

The U.K. government published on Thursday its detailed proposed changes to the appointed representatives regime, which will give the Financial Conduct Authority new powers to crack down on misconduct.
February 12, 2026
Broker Says Denmark Can't Bring £56M Cum-Ex Fraud Claim

An English broker told Britain's top court on Thursday that Denmark's tax authority can't sue it for more than £56 million ($76 million) over a tax refund fraud, because an earlier decision in related proceedings rendered the claim inadmissible.
February 12, 2026
Ex-Police Treasurer Convicted Of £13K Expenses Fraud

A former police officer has been convicted of 15 counts of fraud by abuse of position in which he dipped into about £13,500 ($18,500) in the petty cash of a staff association for police constables to fund his family holidays.
February 12, 2026
SFO To Revisit 20 Cases After Bribery Prosecution Implodes

The Serious Fraud Office said Thursday that it is reexamining the integrity of approximately 20 cases after it abandoned a decade-old bribery prosecution because of another failing in disclosure.
February 11, 2026
Outdated Laws Blamed For China Spy Case Collapse

The root cause of the collapse of criminal proceedings against two men accused of spying for China was outdated legislation, but the risk of future problems has not been entirely negated by a new national security law, a parliamentary committee warned Thursday.
February 11, 2026
Compliance Pro Wins Bias Case Over Lost Promotion

A veteran compliance expert has persuaded an employment tribunal that she was forced to quit working at a car dealership because bosses had unfairly passed her over for a promotion to a new head role and given the job to a man.

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

EU AI Act Conformity Key For Cos. Despite Enforcement Delay

The European Data Protection Board-European Data Protection Supervisor’s recent joint opinion, posted in response to the European Commission’s proposal to delay EU Artificial Intelligence Act implementation, captures some of the core worries raised that postponement may affect fundamental rights protections and further undermine legal certainty, say lawyers at ZwillGen.
EU Foreign Subsidies Guide Brings Clarity And Questions

The European Commission’s long-awaited EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation guidelines provide helpful clarifications for companies, but with many areas remaining broadly framed, uncertainty may continue to deter investments and increase the compliance burden on organizations, say lawyers at Hogan Lovells.
FRC Audit Proposals Reaffirm Support For Economic Growth

The Financial Report Council’s recent proposals to prioritize audit enforcement, supervision and market reform will reward audit firms that self-police and proactively admit auditing standard breaches, signaling its aims to change the market landscape and encourage investment, say lawyers at RPC.
How FCA's Client Reforms May Boost Investment Access

The Financial Conduct Authority’s recent proposals to reform the professional client categorization regime and simplify conflicts of interest rules are likely to be welcomed, although firms will need to navigate the increased responsibility that comes with greater flexibility, say lawyers at Skadden.
Irish Consumer Law Proposals Expose Concerns Over Privacy

The Irish government’s recent proposals to amend and clarify competition and consumer law would allow new investigative powers and greater financial sanctions, leading to concerns from businesses whether the benefits outweigh the privacy risks, says Kate McKenna at Matheson.
Where PCAOB Goes Next After A Year Of Uncertainty

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board will likely bring fewer enforcement matters in 2026, reflecting a notable change in board priorities following the change in administrations, say Robert Cox and Nicole Byrd at Whiteford Taylor and Matthew Rogers at Bridgehaven Consulting.
Nigeria Ruling Offers Road Map For Onerous Costs Requests

The Court of Appeal's judgment in Nigeria v. VR Global Partners is significant because it tests the extent to which a court may prioritize accessibility and its own resources over a judgment creditor's desire for immediate recourse, says Josep Galvez at 4-5 Gray's Inn Square.
Consolidation Of Lloyd's Bylaws Will Be Useful For Members

Lloyd’s of London’s recent consolidation of its bylaws will make the rules governing its market more accessible, providing immediate results as well as the necessarily flexible framework to address the future needs of its participants, say lawyers at Skadden.
How EU Prospectus Rule Changes May Boost Market Access

The European Union Listing Act’s forthcoming changes to EU prospectus requirements aim to reduce the regulatory burden for issuers of securities, facilitating more efficient transaction execution and reducing market risk, of particular relevance to small and midsize enterprises, say lawyers at Covington.
4 Securities Trends For Pension Trustees To Watch In 2026

With the U.K. signaling it will soon demand more active fiduciary stewardship from pension trustees, British and EU fund managers must follow key trends in mass securities litigation, investment disclosures, and U.S. enforcement that could require intervening for their investors in 2026, say lawyers at Labaton Keller.
Sanctions Spotlight: Compliance Insights After OTSI's 1st Year

The Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation's recent report on its first year of operation offers insights into OTSI's interpretation of its mandate as the U.K.'s civil enforcement body for trade sanctions and efforts to operationalize its enforcement powers, giving businesses a compliance road map for areas it will prioritize in 2026, says Alexandra Melia at Steptoe.
FTO Designations: Containing Foreign Firms' Legal Risks

Non-U.S. companies can contain legal risks related to foreign terrorist organizations by deliberately structuring operations to demonstrate that any interactions with cartel-affected environments are incidental, constrained and unrelated to advancing harm on the U.S., says David Raskin at Nardello & Co.
A Look At ESMA's New Governance Framework For EU Boards

The European Securities and Markets Authority's recently finalized supervisory expectations for management bodies mark a shift toward improved board oversight across culture, risk, strategy and accountability that firms should view as a benchmark, say lawyers at Ropes & Gray.
UK Class Actions Appear Set For Resurgence In 2026

In 2026, the U.K. will likely see an uptick in class actions as a result of legal and regulatory developments, including the landmark court decision in BHP Group v. PGMBM Law that boosted confidence in the enforceability of funds-committed litigation funding arrangements, say lawyers at Winston & Strawn.
Limited Claims Raise Concerns About Subsidy Act's Efficacy

With significantly fewer challenges to date than expected under the Subsidy Control Act, it appears that parties may be unwilling to bring claims or unaware of their rights, calling into question the effectiveness of the regime, says Matthew Hall at McGuireWoods.