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Corporate Crime & Compliance UK

Ephgrave's Exit Leaves SFO At A Crossroads

Nick Ephgrave will leave the Serious Fraud Office better off, faster and more aggressive than he found it, raising challenges for his successor to build on the foundations laid during his relatively short tenure, lawyers have said.

Sign outside the headquarters of the UK anti-fraud agency

The SFO's Options To Pursue Guralp For Alleged DPA Breach

Sanctioning and potentially even prosecuting a British company for breaching a plea deal would bolster the U.K.'s flagging criminal settlement regime, although the Serious Fraud Office will have to weigh whether a tough stance is in the interests of justice, lawyers say.

Exterior of the financial regulator's offices in London

FCA Kick-Starts New 'Name And Shame' Enforcement Tactic

The Financial Conduct Authority has begun 2026 with a clear sign that it will use its newly won power to "name and shame" companies under investigation for suspected misconduct as it seeks to bolster protection for consumers.

portrait of a smiling white woman with long straight blonde hair wearing a suit

Sprenger Follows The Puck To New Boutique Dream Team

White collar veteran Polly Sprenger explained her decision to join the new London office of U.S. firm Michelman & Robinson with Wayne Gretzky's famed follow-the-puck mantra. Here she talks to Law360 about seeking out a different way of working, what clients actually need and why she thinks good lawyers should reveal rather than conceal the truth.

January 16, 2026
UK Supreme Court To Hear Landmark Whistleblowing Case

The U.K.'s top court will soon determine whether whistleblowers who claim automatic unfair dismissal can bring separate detriment cases based on sackings, after senior barristers formally filed their appeal in the landmark case.
January 16, 2026
Ex-Client Defamed It With Fraud Allegations, Law Firm Says

A law firm asked a court on Friday to find that a former client's series of emails accusing it of fraudulently overcharging him were accusing it of being dishonest as a matter of fact.
January 16, 2026
UK Litigation Roundup: Here's What You Missed In London

This past week in London saw the David Lloyd gym chain file an intellectual property claim against its founder, security company Primekings reignite a long-running dispute with the former owners of an acquired business, and a pair of Belizean developers sue a finance executive they say shut them out of a cruise port project.
January 16, 2026
Former Directors Cop To SFO's £70M Ethical Forestry Case

Two men accused by the Serious Fraud Office of defrauding investors as part of a £70 million ($94 million) tree plantation scheme pleaded guilty to fraud charges at a London court on Friday, two weeks prior to their trial.
January 16, 2026
UK Businesses See AI As Growing Legal Threat, Allianz Warns

More than half of U.K. businesses fear legal risks and damage to reputation from the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence, insurance giant Allianz has warned.
January 16, 2026
Ex-Finance Exec Hit With 5-Year Ban For Ignoring FRC Probe

The accounting regulator revealed Friday that a former finance executive has been removed from the profession for five years for failing to cooperate with its investigation into suspected accounting irregularities at a pipeline company which had collapsed.
January 16, 2026
Insurance Brokers Plan Directory To Boost Cyber Protection

The British Insurance Brokers' Association has said it is working with the government to develop a directory of cyber insurance brokers in an effort to close the so-called protection gap at U.K. businesses.
January 16, 2026
Consultant Hit With Fine For Insider Trading In Oil Shares

The finance watchdog said Friday that it has fined an oil rig consultant for breaching market abuse rules by using inside information about the discovery of oil and gas to pocket almost £130,000 ($174,000).
January 15, 2026
Jockey's Cos. Say He Can't Cover £765K In Tax Debt

An Italian jockey is not able to pay back over £765,500 ($1.02 million) in company tax debt to HM Revenue & Customs following his bankruptcy last year amid a private dispute with the U.K. tax authority, according to company documents.
January 15, 2026
NHS Settles Whistleblower Claims In Letby Hospital Case

A former NHS chief executive won a payout to settle her unfair dismissal case against the health service, after she raised concerns over leadership at the trust where Lucy Letby was accused of murdering seven babies.
January 15, 2026
Daily Mail, Celebs Accuse Each Other Of Pushing New Claims

Prince Harry and other public figures argued with the publisher of Daily Mail at court on Thursday, accusing each other of springing allegations on the eve of a mammoth trial over the newspaper's alleged use of unlawful information-gathering techniques.
January 15, 2026
SRA Appeals To Revive Carter-Ruck OneCoin Crypto Case

The Solicitors Regulation Authority said Thursday that it will appeal a tribunal's decision to throw out disciplinary proceedings against a Carter-Ruck partner for threatening a whistleblower exposing the OneCoin cryptocurrency scam.
January 15, 2026
Axiom Ince Says SRA Negligently Failed To Spot £65M Fraud

Axiom Ince has accused the Solicitors Regulation Authority in a court claim of bungling a probe into the firm and missing a chance to prevent further losses stemming from its former chief executive's alleged misappropriation of £65 million ($87 million) of client money.
January 15, 2026
Car Buyers Secure OK For £54M Shipping Cartel Settlement

The Competition Appeal Tribunal approved on Thursday a settlement worth £54 million ($71 million) from the last two vehicle shipping companies defending themselves against an opt-out collective action over delivery charges, despite some doubts over compensation take-up rates.
January 15, 2026
SFO Chief Ephgrave To Step Down Early In Surprise Move

Nick Ephgrave, the head of Britain's Serious Fraud Office, said Thursday that he is retiring in March, two-and-a-half years before the end of his tenure.
January 14, 2026
Swedbank Says DOJ Has Closed AML Probe Without Action

Swedbank, one of the biggest banks serving Europe's Baltic region, said Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Justice has released it from a long-running anti-money-laundering-related investigation, removing another U.S. legal cloud hanging over the lender.
January 14, 2026
Labour Party Won't Block Scottish Budget With Mansion Tax

The Labour Party will not block plans to implement what is commonly known as a mansion tax in Scotland at a threshold lower than the rest of the U.K. and to raise income tax thresholds to cut taxes for low earners, the party's Scottish leader said Wednesday.
January 14, 2026
Nigeria Wants To Pursue Litigation Funders For £50M Costs Bill

Nigeria argued at an appeals court on Wednesday that it should be able to seek to recover its £50 million ($67.3 million) legal bill from the litigation funders of an oil and gas company that defrauded the West African state in arbitration proceedings.
January 14, 2026
Dyson Forced Labor Claims Could Swell Ahead Of 2027 Trial

Dyson could face around 100 more claims from workers alleging forced labor when they made components at Malaysian factories for the appliance manufacturer, a London court said Wednesday.
January 14, 2026
Alleged UK Hacker Can Be Extradited To US Over Illicit Trades

A British man accused of hacking into the email accounts of American executives and using sensitive information to make $3.75 million in illicit trades can be extradited to the U.S. to stand trial, a London judge ruled Wednesday.
January 14, 2026
SFO Launches Bribery And Fraud Probe Into Property Investor

The Serious Fraud Office said Wednesday that it has opened a criminal investigation into the former management of a major housing company over suspicions of fraud and bribery worth an estimated £300 million ($403 million).
January 14, 2026
FRC To Continue Removing 'Unnecessary' Business Burdens

Britain's accounting watchdog said Wednesday it will continue its efforts to reduce "unnecessary" reporting and regulatory requirements on businesses as part of its broader bid to support growth in the U.K.
January 13, 2026
Minister Defends Plan To Drop Jury Trials In Complex Fraud

The U.K. government's courts minister on Tuesday defended proposals to drop jury trials for all but the most complex fraud and serious criminal cases, arguing that the current system is not fit for the demands of the 21st century.
January 13, 2026
Companies House To Bolster Fraud And Error Detection

Companies House will aid fraud detection by actively matching its data against that of government departments and local authorities as part of a focus on tackling vulnerabilities in its internal systems.
January 13, 2026
Carter-Ruck Pro Seeks £914K From SRA Over OneCoin Case

A Carter-Ruck partner urged a disciplinary tribunal on Tuesday to order the solicitors' regulator to pay her almost £1 million ($1.35 million) in legal costs and tax over its allegation that she had improperly threatened a whistleblower who exposed the OneCoin cryptocurrency scam.

Editor's Picks

6 Bombshell Moments From Staley's Bid To Clear His Name

Jes Staley has suffered a bruising week as he testified about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, culminating in an admission by the former banker that he had sex with a member of the disgraced financier's staff.
5 Questions For Spencer West Partner Karl Foster

The Financial Conduct Authority's approach to enforcement and consumer protection has come up against government economic growth priorities and resistance from the sector to its proposals to "name and shame" companies early on during regulatory probes.
UK Russia Sanctions Face Landmark Test At Supreme Court

The U.K.'s sanctions regime faces a major test on Wednesday as billionaire Eugene Shvidler seeks to have his financial restrictions cast off — the first case to challenge Russian sanctions that has reached the country's highest court.

Expert Analysis

Decoding Arbitral Disputes: EU Law And Treaty Arbitration

A recent Singapore court ruling in DNZ v. DOA upholding an arbitration award against Poland constitutes a significant affirmation of the autonomy of international arbitration from regional constitutional orders when disputes are adjudicated outside those orders, says Josep Galvez of 4-5 Gray's Inn.
What To Expect From UK Prospectus Regime Changes

The new U.K. prospectus regime for trading on regulated markets, effective Jan. 19, aims to streamline processes and reduce costs, but a significant shift in structuring and disclosure obligations will increase pressure on practitioners to manage risk under tighter timelines, say lawyers at Baker Botts.
10 Financial Regulatory Changes To Prepare For In 2026

A number of changes in the financial regulatory sphere are due this year, from targeted support to payment safeguarding and a new consumer composite investments regime, and firms should plan to address the policies and regulatory strategies relevant to them, say lawyers at Womble Bond.
How Gov't AML Supervision Reform Will Affect Law Firms

In confirming that the Financial Conduct Authority will become the single supervisor for professional services, HM Treasury’s planned reform of the U.K.’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing supervision regime marks a significant change for the legal profession, signaling a greater emphasis on evidence and accountability, says Harriet Holmes at Thirdfort.
EU Financial Regulation Trends Cos. Need To Watch In 2026

An ever-increasing number of initiatives on the European Union regulatory agenda, with simplification and consistent implementation being priorities, means financial services businesses with a footprint in the EU or seeking to establish one will face significant challenges and strategic opportunities, say lawyers at Taylor Wessing.
What To Expect From UK, EU Crypto Regime Changes In 2026

With 2025 marking the first operational year of the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation and the U.K.’s rules reaching their final legislative form, the two jurisdictions are converging in focus, but structural design differences mean firms active in both markets will require dedicated documentation to ensure compliance, say lawyers at Morgan Lewis.
What Cos. Can Expect From CMA Consumer Protection Drive

The Competition and Markets Authority’s recently launched consumer protection drive targeting banned online sales practices focuses on supporting compliance rather than on enforcement, although firms should expect this to change once businesses have had time to adapt to the regulator's new regime, say lawyers at Baker Botts.
Preparing For UK's New Tax Fraud Whistleblower Program

With the U.K. government introducing a U.S.-style whistleblower incentive scheme to tackle high-value tax avoidance and evasion, companies should take proactive steps and establish clear protocols to mitigate the potential increase in tax investigations, say lawyers at Skadden.
Key Trends Shaping ESG And Sustainability Law In 2026

2025 saw a chaotic regulatory landscape and novel litigation around environmental, social and governance issues and sustainability — and 2026, while perhaps more predictable, will likely be no less challenging, with more lawsuits and a regulatory tug-of-war complicating compliance for global companies, say attorneys at Crowell.
Digital Regulation In EU And UK: The Enduring 2025 Themes

With EU and U.K. digital regulation becoming an operational reality in 2025 and no sign of slowing in 2026, organizations need to embed content moderation, cybersecurity and data access obligations into their compliance structures, although legislative divergences mean that multinational businesses must also consider parallel and sometimes conflicting expectations, say lawyers at Morrison & Foerster.
FCA Enforcement Trends In 2025 And Expectations For 2026

The Financial Conduct Authority’s clear intention in 2025 to conduct fewer, faster investigations and reinforce transparency is likely to continue in 2026, with a dual-pronged approach of targeted enforcement and assertive supervision to fight crime, support growth and help consumers as its priorities, say lawyers at WilmerHale.
Judicial AI Guidance Update Shows Caution Still Prevails

The judiciary’s recently updated guidance on the use of artificial intelligence warns judges and tribunal members about misinformation and white text manipulation, providing a reminder that AI tools cannot replace direct engagement with evidence and reflecting a broader concern about their application when handling confidential material, say lawyers at Hogan Lovells.
Brazil Dam Ruling Highlights Role Of Corporate Accountability

The recent High Court judgment in Municipio de Mariana v. BHP concerning the collapse of the Fundao dam establishes a precedent for holding parent companies that exercise significant control and assume responsibility liable for the actions of group entities, notwithstanding their multinational corporate structure, say lawyers at Irwin Mitchell.
Freezing Orders Maintain Their Impact 50 Years On

Freezing orders, created in Mareva v. International Bulk Carriers 50 years ago, are now a fundamental part of English and Welsh law and a significant weapon in the litigator's armory, considered indispensable by practitioners seeking to obtain enforceable judgments and interlocutory relief on behalf of their clients, say lawyers at Trowers and Hamlins.
Decoding Arbitral Disputes: A Paris Ruling Defines Key Limits

Though French arbitration law is highly supportive of arbitral autonomy, last week's Paris Court of Appeal judgment annulling a $14.9 billion arbitral award against Malaysia reaffirms that such support is neither unqualified nor blind to defects striking at the very legitimacy of the arbitral process, says Josep Galvez at 4-5 Gray's Inn.