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Corporate Crime & Compliance UK

'A Recipe For Disaster': How SFO's London Mining Case Sank

The decision by the Serious Fraud Office to abandon its long-running prosecution of former executives at London Mining has led to renewed scrutiny of its handling of online disclosure of evidence and its broader approach to investigations and technology.

FCA Tests Global Reach In HTX Crypto-Exchange Litigation

The landmark legal case brought by the Financial Conduct Authority against HTX, which the regulator says has promoted crypto-asset services to U.K. consumers without authorization, will be a litmus test, establishing whether it has the teeth for enforcement against overseas crypto-exchanges, lawyers say.

Online documents float above a keyboard as a person types in a business technology illustration.

AI Tools Won't Mask Disclosure Failures, Lawyers Warn

New intelligence tools will save prosecutors valuable time and money in white-collar criminal cases, but the technology will also usher in an era of increasingly complex and technical fights over disclosure, lawyers say.

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.

March 06, 2026
Developer Accuses Banker Of Cruise Ship Port Takeover Plot

A Belizean businessman has accused a banker of orchestrating a conspiracy to take control of a project to construct a cruise ship port by demanding the repayment of loans and sending the building project into receivership.
March 06, 2026
UK Litigation Roundup: Here's What You Missed In London

This past week in London has seen British American Tobacco sued by more than 100 investors, the government bring a claim against a COVID-19 supplier of personal protective equipment, Annington Funding sue its new corporate trustees on the Financial List, and Piers Morgan hit with a defamation claim from a pro-Israel barrister he interviewed on his YouTube channel.
March 06, 2026
Italian Police Seize €2M In EU Tax Fraud Probe

Italian police seized almost €2 million ($2.3 million) in assets as part of an investigation into 12 people suspected of claiming European tax credits for fake energy projects, the European Public Prosecutor's Office confirmed Friday.
March 06, 2026
FCA Disputes 'Unreasonable' Early Closure Of Probe

The Financial Conduct Authority has rejected a decision by the Complaints Commissioner that the watchdog unreasonably closed an investigation into unauthorized promoter Amyma for allegedly marketing unregulated bonds to consumers.
March 06, 2026
Juryless Trials Won't Alter Law Commission Contempt Rules

An independent government legal adviser has said it is unnecessary to update its recent recommendations for reforms to the U.K.'s contempt of court rules in light of the government's plans to curtail jury trials.
March 06, 2026
Medical Co. Boss Banned For Fake £10M NHS Contract Fraud

The head of a medical supplies business has been banned from being a company director for 13 years after he fabricated a £9.8 million ($13.1 million) NHS contract to dupe investors into handing over more than £2 million.
March 05, 2026
Fintech Sues Deutsche Bank, Pathward Over Pharma Flags

A self-described barter-based payment platform sued Deutsche Bank AG and Pathward NA, alleging it was improperly placed on an industry blacklist following the banks' assertions it was "transaction laundering" for companies selling gray-market peptides.
March 05, 2026
Meta Agrees To Let Rival AI Bots On WhatsApp In Europe

Meta Platforms will let rival artificial intelligence providers back on its WhatsApp service in Europe for a fee for the next year, after enforcers threatened to impose restrictive measures as part of an antitrust investigation, the company confirmed Thursday.
March 05, 2026
Shein Must Share Supplier List Amid Copyright Dispute

Shein lost its bid in the Court of Appeal on Thursday to overturn an order compelling it to hand over a list of its top suppliers to Temu, with the court finding that there were no exceptional circumstances that justify limiting disclosure.
March 05, 2026
UK Designates 2 Investment Zones In Scotland

The U.K. government confirmed the designation of two investment zones in Scotland on Thursday that will offer tax relief to businesses in renewable energy and other sectors.
March 05, 2026
EU Top Court Says In-Game Gold Trade Not Exempt From VAT

A Lithuanian business' proceeds from the trading of virtual gold in an online video game are not exempt from value-added tax, the European Union's top court ruled Thursday, supporting efforts from the Lithuanian government to collect the tax.
March 05, 2026
Banks Can't Refuse Instant Fraud Refunds, ECJ Adviser Says

An independent opinion given to the European Union's highest court found Thursday that Polish bank PKO BP could not refuse to immediately refund an unauthorized transaction on grounds of the customer's gross negligence.
March 05, 2026
Post Office, Fujitsu Say Postmaster Can't Bring Fresh Claims

The Post Office and Fujitsu have argued a former sub-postmaster can't sue them over a civil judgment against him over an accounting shortfall being obtained by fraud, saying a settlement he entered as part of a group litigation precludes new claims.
March 05, 2026
BAT Sued By Investors Over North Korean Sanctions Breach

Investors have sued British American Tobacco in England over the cigarette company's failure to disclose information about its activities in North Korea, which led to it paying U.S. authorities hundreds of millions of dollars for violating sanctions.
March 05, 2026
NCA Takes Possession Of £1M Property From Former Mayor

The National Crime Agency said Thursday that it has finally taken possession of a property worth more than £1 million ($1.3 million) from a former lord mayor following an ownership dispute connected to a long-running money laundering investigation.
March 05, 2026
Linklaters' Negligence Case Over Fraud Oversight Dismissed

A fintech investor's negligence claim against Linklaters has been dismissed, in which it had alleged that the Magic Circle firm had failed to spot a "large-scale fraud" against a company that the investor had acquired, court records show.
March 05, 2026
Funeral Scheme Directors Deny Fraud Over £70M Collapse

Two former executives of an operator of funeral plans pleaded not guilty to fraud charges on Thursday over allegations that they misled thousands of individuals before their prepaid service collapsed with debts in excess of £70 million ($95 million).
March 04, 2026
FCA Asks Businesses To Help Fend Off Financial Criminals

The Financial Conduct Authority on Wednesday called for more businesses to engage with customers online to help drive away financial criminals preying on the investment marketplace.
March 04, 2026
Police Detain 9, Seize €13.5M In Luxury Car Tax Fraud Probe

European officials have detained nine individuals suspected of running a tax scam involving luxury cars and seized €13.5 million ($15.7 million) in assets, the European Public Prosecutor's Office said Wednesday.
March 04, 2026
Spies Targeted Hong Kong Dissidents In UK, Prosecutors Say

Two men accused of spying for China carried out "shadow policing operations" that targeted Hong Kong dissidents living in Britain, a prosecutor told the opening of a criminal trial on Wednesday.
March 04, 2026
Ex-Entain Execs Can't Fight Privacy Claim Against Watchdog

Two former betting company executives were denied permission on Wednesday to challenge a decision to dismiss their privacy claims against Britain's gambling regulator as a judge said that a redacted version of her judgment would be published before their bribery trial.
March 04, 2026
Fish Producers Say £382M Cartel Claim Not Worth The Payout

A group of fish producers accused of artificially inflating salmon prices fought to block a £382 million ($510 million) class action on behalf of U.K. consumers on Wednesday, arguing that potential damages for each consumer would be too low to be worthwhile.
March 04, 2026
Police Federation Officials Held On Suspicion Of Corruption

Three serving and former senior members of the national body that represents police in England and Wales were arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of corruption over allegations of financial wrongdoing.
March 04, 2026
FCA Plans 3-Month Prep For Motor Finance Redress

The Financial Conduct Authority said Wednesday that it would streamline the claims process and set a three-month period for businesses to get their systems ready to handle complaints and requests for compensation under its motor finance redress program.
March 04, 2026
John Wood Group Fined £13M For Misleading Statements

The Financial Watchdog Authority said Wednesday it has hit John Wood Group PLC with a fine of £12.99 million ($17.38 million) after finding that the engineering and consulting business published inaccurate information in its financial results.

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

How UK Securitization Reforms Will Affect Industry

The Prudential Regulation Authority’s recent proposals to reform securitization requirements will offer greater structuring flexibility, reduced operational complexity and lower compliance costs, although with the rationale for imposing stand-alone obligations on institutional investors not clear, dissenting voices are likely, say lawyers at Skadden.
How EU Reforms May Affect Copyright, AI Balance

The European Parliament’s recently proposed resolution calling on the European Commission to address the intersection between copyright and generative artificial intelligence will have implications for companies developing technology, whose compliance costs will soar, and rights holders, for whom great opportunities may lie ahead, says Pasquale Tammaro at BonelliErede.
FCA's HTX Action Shows Crypto Ad Rules Must Be Followed

The Financial Conduct Authority’s London High Court action against global crypto-exchange HTX for illegally promoting its services to U.K. consumers sends the message that it will pursue those who flout the rules from a distance and will be key in testing the extent of the U.K.’s regulatory perimeter, says Nick Barnard at Corker Binning.
UK Territories May Yet Prevail On Ownership Disclosure

Despite its recently launched anti-corruption strategy, the U.K. government appears to have little appetite in the short term to impose fully public ownership registers on the overseas territories, a position that will be welcomed by advisers and individuals, says Rupert Cullen at Allectus Law.
New Foreign Bribery Guide Can Help Int'l Cos. Identify Risks

In light of growing global coordination on anti-bribery enforcement, the International Foreign Bribery Taskforce’s recent guide to foreign bribery indicators represents a step forward in the standardization of factors for evaluating corruption risks that multinational companies should consider, say lawyers at Paul Weiss.
FCA Enforcement Newsletter Reflects Shift Toward Openness

The Financial Conduct Authority’s inaugural Enforcement Watch newsletter provides clarity on the cases the regulator is opening and highlights its approach to early communication of enforcement activity, offering a welcome insight into its emerging priorities, says David Hamilton at Howard Kennedy.
How UK Gov't Proposes To Streamline CMA Regime

The Department for Business and Trade’s planned overhaul of the Competition Market Authority’s regime will introduce a series of targeted procedural changes aimed at improving efficiency and engagement, raising questions around procedural safeguards and jurisdictional thresholds, say lawyers at Baker Botts.
Decoding Arbitral Disputes: US Cert Denial And EU Strategy

The U.S. Supreme Court recently denied certiorari in Russia v. Hulley Enterprises, leaving in place the D.C. Circuit's opinion supporting jurisdiction in the $50 billion arbitration award challenge, and intensifying litigation exposure for the European Union's strategy of contesting the enforceability of intra-EU awards abroad, says Josep Galvez at 4-5 Gray's Inn.
Examining EU Data Watchdog's E-Commerce Account Guide

Lawyers at Gibson Dunn take a look at the European Data Protection Board’s recently adopted recommendations regarding the mandatory creation of user accounts on e-commerce websites, and address the regulator's assessment of when they may be justified under the General Data Protection Regulation.
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.