Corporate Crime & Compliance UK

Dropping Juries Will Upend Defense Lawyers' Strategies

The government's decision to drop jury trials for some criminal cases that involve complex financial crime could reshape the approach of lawyers to plea decisions, appeals and advocacy, as well as prompt a shift toward more open justice, experts say.

Former Top Prosecutors Back Judge-Only Fraud Trials

Radical reforms dispensing with jury trials for complex fraud and many other criminal cases may be the only way to stop the justice system from collapsing under its own weight, former chief prosecutors have told Law360.

4 Things To Watch As UK Releases Budget

The U.K.'s Labour government is set to release an autumn budget Wednesday that faces a test of balancing a pledge not to raise working people's taxes with an expected need to boost revenue to meet fiscal rules. Here are four things to watch for as the budget is issued.

Blocks featuring binary code with locks on dark blue background as illustration of blockchain technology.

SFO's Crypto Probe Marks Shift In Tackling Blockchain Fraud

The launch by the Serious Fraud Office of its first cryptocurrency investigation signals an appetite for using new resources to crack down on fraud, part of a wider move by U.K. law enforcement agencies to treat blockchain as a mainstream threat, lawyers say.

December 08, 2025
US Fund Loses $5.4M Bonus Battle With Fired London Trader

A London court ordered a U.S. investment fund to pay $5.4 million to a sacked portfolio manager on Monday, ruling that the company had no right to withhold his discretionary bonus amid criminal probes into his trading.
December 08, 2025
Lessors Bid To Flip $69M Plane Payment Sanctions Ruling

Aircraft lessors urged the U.K.'s highest court Monday to overturn a ruling that they cannot receive $69.3 million for Russian planes because of sanctions, arguing that a lower court had wrongly found that UniCredit's U.K. branch had rightly withheld payments under letters of credit.
December 08, 2025
Lawyers In Crosshairs In New Anti-Corruption Crackdown

Corrupt lawyers, accountants and bankers "will be hunted down" under a new anti-corruption strategy unveiled by the government on Monday, which will crack down on enablers facilitating bribery and illicit finance in the U.K.
December 08, 2025
Hamlins Partner Cleared Of Journalist Blackmail Allegations

A disciplinary tribunal dismissed allegations on Monday that a Hamlins LLP partner blackmailed a journalist by improperly threatening to bring contempt proceedings in a case over alleged corruption.
December 08, 2025
Ex-Police Chief Faces 2027 Trial For Alleged Fraud

A former police chief constable accused of lying about his military career and education when applying to work for the police and perjuring himself in court will stand trial at the end of 2027, a judge said Monday.
December 08, 2025
Hip-Hop DJ Tim Westwood Denies Rape, Sexual Assault

Hip-hop DJ and broadcaster Tim Westwood appeared in court on Monday to deny 15 charges of rape and other sexual offenses involving seven different women spanning over three decades.
December 05, 2025
Morecambe FC Deal Figure Hit With Counterterror Sanctions

HM Treasury has accused a key figure behind the Morecambe FC takeover of supporting a terrorist organization in India and has frozen his assets, which the ministry said marks the first use of the U.K.'s domestic counterterrorist sanctions regime to disrupt funding for the pro-Khalistan militant group Babbar Khalsa.
December 05, 2025
UK Litigation Roundup: Here's What You Missed In London

This past week in London has seen Mozambique sue the late tycoon Iskandar Safa's family and Privinvest amid the wider $1.9 billion "tuna bond" fraud case, Entain face a claim from a major U.S. pensions agency, and a Mexican lawyer accused of embezzlement bring legal action against Travelers Insurance Co.
December 05, 2025
UK Trade Sanctions Body Probes Breaches Amid 146 Reports

The Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation has said it is pursuing numerous investigations that could lead to fines and has referred a significant number of cases to HM Revenue and Customs for potential enforcement.
December 05, 2025
Ex-CPS Paralegal Sentenced For Misusing Boyfriend's Files

A former Crown Prosecution Service paralegal has received a suspended prison sentence at an English court for gaining access to her then-boyfriend's criminal file without authorization, the prosecution service said Friday.
December 05, 2025
Elon Musk's X Fined €120M By EU For Misleading Users

The European Commission revealed Friday that it has fined social media platform X €120 million ($140 million) for breaching European Union digital transparency rules, including by "deceiving" users through the blue checkmarks for so-called verified accounts.
December 05, 2025
StanChart Settles Investors' £1.5B Iran Sanctions Claim

Standard Chartered announced Friday it has agreed to a settlement in a £1.5 billion ($2 billion) claim brought by investors who said they suffered losses after the bank made allegedly untrue or misleading statements about its noncompliance with Iranian sanctions.
December 04, 2025
ICO Challenges Tribunal's Ruling On Dixons Data Breach

The U.K. Information Commissioner's Office asked an appeals court Thursday to overturn a tribunal finding that pseudonymous information stolen from electronics retailer Dixons Carphone in a privacy breach was not covered by data protection rules.
December 04, 2025
Ex-Oil Biz Director's Claim Trimmed In €143M Case

A London judge has blocked two men's claims against a Singaporean oil company's directors in a €143.8 million ($166.8 million) forgery and payment diversion case, but allowed part of their case against a man they allege controlled the company to continue.
December 04, 2025
UK Extradition Should Be Barred For Contempt Risk, AG Says

An adviser to the European Union's top court said Thursday that three fraud suspects arrested in Ireland should not be extradited to the U.K. if they risk being jailed for earlier contempt of court charges.
December 04, 2025
Crown Court Backlog Could Hit 125,000 By 2029, MoJ Warns

The Ministry of Justice warned Thursday that the backlog of cases waiting to be heard at the Crown Court could hit 125,000 by 2029, as the government seeks to double down on its controversial proposal to scrap jury trials for all but the most serious offenses.
December 04, 2025
Sheffield Hallam Uni Settles Forced Labor Libel Claim

A university apologized in a London court on Thursday to a major Hong Kong-based textile and clothing manufacturer for a report into apparel supply chains which linked some of the suppliers to human rights abuses against China's Uyghur minority and other groups.
December 03, 2025
EU Adds Russia To Money-Laundering Blacklist

The European Commission said Wednesday that it has added Russia to a list of high-risk countries in order to protect the European Union against financial crime.
December 03, 2025
Payments Firm Denies Suspecting LC&F Funds Tied To Fraud

A payments processing business has denied being liable to the administrators of London Capital & Finance for allegedly allowing £20.3 million ($27 million) to be diverted to the defunct investment firm's former directors and others.
December 03, 2025
Eurojust Probes 5 Linked To €2.6M Insider Trading At IT Firm

Five individuals linked to a Swiss information technology company are facing investigations in Switzerland, Germany, and the U.K. as part of a probe into suspected insider trading worth up to €2.6 million ($3 million).
December 03, 2025
Investment Fund Director Charged Over Alleged £20M Fraud

A former investment fund director appeared at a London court on Wednesday accused of perpetrating a years-long fraud worth up to £20 million ($26 million).
December 03, 2025
Lawyers Condemn 'Unprincipled' Plan To Scrap Jury Trials

The U.K. government's plan to end jury trials for some criminal cases has been subjected to withering criticism from criminal defense lawyers who warn the reforms could undermine the foundations of the justice system without even speeding up proceedings.
December 03, 2025
BHP Fails To Block US Testimony In Pogust Goodhead Row

BHP failed Wednesday to block Pogust Goodhead from pursuing deposition testimony from a U.S-based witness for potential use in English legal proceedings arising from compensation agreements with victims of the Fundão dam disaster in Brazil.
December 03, 2025
Gambling Biz Betfred Hit With Fine For AML Failures

The Gambling Commission said Wednesday that it has fined online gambling company Betfred £825,000 ($1.1 million) for social responsibility and money-laundering failings.
December 02, 2025
Watchdog Says It Warned UK Treasury Of Budget Leak Risks

The U.K. Office for Budget Responsibility warned senior HM Treasury officials about the risks of leaks of the autumn budget before the document was accidentally revealed early, the watchdog's officials told a parliamentary committee Tuesday.

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

A Look At Factors Affecting Ombudsman Complaint Trends

Lawyers at Womble Bond provide an analysis of the Financial Ombudsman Service's complaint trends in 2025, highlighting the impact of changes within the FOS and external factors on the financial sector's redress system.
What To Know About FCA's Short Selling Regime Proposals

Although the Financial Conduct Authority’s recent proposals for changes to the U.K. short selling regime do not materially alter the rules, targeted reforms designed to reduce the administrative burden placed on position holders will be welcomed by market participants, say lawyers at McDermott.
CMA's Leniency Guide May Change Self-Report Calculus

The Competition and Markets Authority's updated leniency guide introduces significant changes to bolster cartel enforcement, with incentives to early self-report that will be welcomed by businesses, but the weighty specter of potential class actions could greatly outweigh the discount on administrative fines, say lawyers at Cooley.
Why EU's FDI Screening Proposals Require Careful Balance

The European Commission’s proposals to harmonize EU foreign direct investment screening regimes at the member state level require a trilogue between the commission, Parliament and council, which means political tensions need to be resolved in order to reach agreement on the five key reforms, say lawyers at Arnold & Porter.
Fashion Giants' €157M Fine Shows Price-Fixing Not In Vogue

The European Commission’s recent substantial fining of fashion houses Gucci, Chloé and Loewe for resale price maintenance in a distribution agreement demonstrates that a wide range of activities is considered illegal, and that enforcement under EU competition law remains a priority, says Matthew Hall at McGuireWoods.
OFSI Proposals Signal Greater Focus On Enforcement Activity

The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation’s proposed financial sanctions reforms, with risks of higher penalties and more stringent disclosure requirements for U.K. banks and companies, reflect the agency’s evolution into a more sophisticated and robust enforcement regulator, says Irene Polieri at Gibson Dunn.
How 2nd Circ. Decision Extends CFTC's Extraterritorial Reach

The Second Circuit recently concluded in U.S. v. Phillips that the Commodity Exchange Act extends to entirely foreign conduct if a victim of the conduct is based in the U.S., suggesting there is a heightened risk that foreign swap transactions will be susceptible to U.S. regulation when U.S. counterparties are involved, say attorneys at Skadden.
UK Getty Ruling Tests Balance Of IP Rights And AI Industry

The recent Getty Images v. Stability AI High Court decision, rejecting copyright claims while upholding limited trademark infringement, will influence the creative community and U.K. artificial intelligence industry alike, and the training of AI models in the U.K. is still a risk, say lawyers at Powell Gilbert.
Takeaways From Landmark UK Ruling On Brazil Dam Collapse

The High Court found BHP liable for a Brazilian dam collapse that resulted in a major environmental disaster, showing that England remains open for complex transnational environmental claims and providing a road map for other mass claims that are sure to follow this case, says Josep Galvez at 4-5 Gray's Inn Square.
Navigating Compliance As EU Cybersecurity Rules Evolve

One year after the European Union’s Network and Information Systems Directive 2 took effect, in-scope organizations are encountering mounting pressure to meet new cybersecurity standards, and national variations are creating additional challenges for companies that operate across multiple EU jurisdictions, say lawyers at Goodwin.
EBA Proposals Signal Overhaul Of EU 3rd-Party Risk Rules

The European Banking Authority’s plans to extend third-party risk controls to non-ICT services, which may be finalized by the end of the year, will place a significant compliance and operational burden on in-scope entities, which should not be underestimated, say lawyers at Travers Smith.
UK Tribunal's Clearview Decision Expands GDPR Application

The Upper Tribunal’s recent decision in Information Commissioner v. Clearview AI is an important ruling on the extraterritorial reach of the European Union and U.K. General Data Protection Regulations, broadening behavioral monitoring to include not only activity by the company, but also its client, says Edward Machin at Ropes & Gray.
Decoding Arbitral Disputes: UK Assignability Of ICSID Awards

The recent High Court decision in Operafund v. Spain clarifies the stance of English law on an important question to investors, funders and sovereigns, concluding that awards under the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes Convention are not commodities that can be traded, says Josep Galvez at 4-5 Gray's Inn.
CMA Guide Clarifies Role Of Competition Law In Employment

The Competition and Markets Authority’s recent guide to applying U.K. competition law to employment market practices, with a focus on no-poach agreements, wage-fixing and exchange of sensitive information, provides welcome and timely guidance for employers trying to navigate this area, say lawyers at Lewis Silkin.
FCA Proposals Reduce Consumer Duty Compliance Burden

The Financial Conduct Authority’s recent proposals to streamline the consumer duty regime represent a pragmatic response to industry concerns, with a move toward sector-specific supervision and potentially narrowing its scope for wholesale and cross-border business, say lawyers at Simmons & Simmons.