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Financial Services UK
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March 22, 2024
EU Watchdog Fines Ratings Firm €2M For Conflict Of Interest
The markets watchdog of the European Union said Friday that it has fined German credit ratings agency Scope Ratings GmbH €2.2 million ($2.4 million), and issued a public notice after it failed to avoid potential conflicts of interest.
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March 22, 2024
Audit Agency Backs Gov't Non-Financial Reporting Reforms
The Financial Reporting Council voiced its support for the U.K. government's plans to update non-financial reporting requirements on Friday, emphasizing the importance of simplifying the framework to help companies access capital.
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March 21, 2024
Banksy Co. Calls Instagram Post True In £1.3M Libel Case
The company that manages anonymous street artist Banksy has defended a £1.35 million ($1.7 million) claim that he posted a defamatory Instagram post about a licensing company using his artwork on clothing without his permission, saying it was substantially true.
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March 21, 2024
LC&F Was 'Doomed From The Start,' Administrator Tells Trial
An administrator of London Capital & Finance said on Thursday that the mini-bonds provider was "doomed from the start," as he gave evidence at the £237 million ($300 million) investment scandal trial at a London court.
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March 21, 2024
HSBC Settles Investors' £240M Claim Over Disney Tax Scheme
HSBC has settled a £240 million ($304 million) claim brought by more than 100 investors alleging that the bank misled them to finance a Disney film tax relief scheme it developed which turned out to be worthless.
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March 21, 2024
Ex-OneCoin Attorney Says 1 Year In Prison Is Enough
A Bulgarian woman who held the title of legal and compliance executive at the fraudulent OneCoin cryptocurrency exchange asked a Manhattan federal judge to credit her for the year she'd spent in prison in harsh conditions and not sentence her to any more jail time.
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March 28, 2024
White & Case Hires 2nd Funds Pro From Ropes & Gray
White & Case LLP has recruited a private funds lawyer from Ropes & Gray LLP — the second time it has hired a specialist as a partner from the London office of its U.S. rival in recent months.
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March 21, 2024
Influencer Denies Contempt Charge Over 'Lavish Lifestyle'
The founder of a French startup argued against accusations of contempt of court on Thursday after his former company accused him of "flagrantly" breaching a worldwide freezing order by continuing to live a "lavish lifestyle."
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March 21, 2024
Audit Watchdog To Probe UK Sustainability Assurance Market
The Financial Reporting Council on Thursday said it would be studying the quality of sustainability assurance services in the U.K. to ensure the market is providing high-quality guarantees over companies' reporting.
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March 21, 2024
FCA Tells Consumer Lenders To Detect Financial Crime Better
The City watchdog has warned chief executives of consumer lending firms that they must improve on their detection of financial crime.
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March 21, 2024
ECJ Adviser Rejects Taxing Foreign Pension Funds Differently
Taxing dividends paid to foreign public pension funds while exempting dividends paid to the source country's general retirement savings funds contravenes European Union law, an adviser to the bloc's highest court said Thursday, backing Finnish pension funds' challenge of a Swedish law.
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March 21, 2024
Nationwide Agrees To Buy Virgin Money For £2.9B In Cash
Nationwide Building Society said Thursday that it will buy Virgin Money UK for £2.9 billion ($3.7 billion) in cash, in a deal backed by the boards of both companies.
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March 20, 2024
Spanish Investment Co. Beats Slovak TM Opposition In EU
A Spanish investment company has won an appeal to revive its trademark application, as European officials ruled that buyers of financial services paid a "high degree of attention" and wouldn't think that the sign was linked to a Slovak company.
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March 20, 2024
Investor Seeks To Toss €10M Case Over Share Deal Row
An investment company urged a London court on Wednesday to throw out a €10.2 million ($11 million) claim by an asset management firm, arguing that it had not consented to the terms of the sale of shares in a luxury Greek resort.
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March 20, 2024
Russian F1 Driver's EU Sanctions Over Oligarch Father Lifted
A Formula One racing driver and son of a Russian oligarch has won his fight to lift European Union sanctions, with a court ruling Wednesday there was insufficient evidence to prove that his business interests were benefiting from his fathers' wealth.
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March 20, 2024
Health And Safety Top Risk For Directors, Global Survey Says
Health and safety is the top risk for directors and officers worldwide, according to a survey published Wednesday, in a "surprise" result partly attributed to the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses and increasing mental health considerations.
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March 20, 2024
Ex-Russian Minister Fails To Renew Bid To Jail Deripaska
The Court of Appeal dismissed on Wednesday an attempt by Vladimir Chernukhin, a former Russian minister, to have his ex-business associate Oleg Deripaska jailed for contempt of court, finding that a judge had been entitled to conclude the case had not met the criminal standard of proof.
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March 20, 2024
Bank of Cyprus Eyes €137M Investor Return After ECB Nod
The Bank of Cyprus Group said Wednesday it intends to boost shareholder returns to €137 million ($149 million) by launching a share buyback and ramping up dividends, after receiving the green light for both payouts from the regional banking watchdog.
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March 20, 2024
Swiss Watchdog To Inspect UBS Closely For Merger Impact
The Swiss financial markets regulator said Wednesday it plans 40 on-site supervisory reviews at UBS AG in Switzerland and abroad and two in-depth stress tests in 2024 to assess the result of the bank's merger with Credit Suisse last year.
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March 20, 2024
AI Misuse Will Drive Cyber Insurance Demand, Actuary Says
The use of artificial intelligence by criminals and other evolving threats will boost demand for cyber-insurance for at least the next decade, according to analysis published Wednesday by actuarial consultancy OAC.
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March 20, 2024
British Bank CEOs Shift Blame For Pay Fraud To Social Media
Britain's largest banks told a cross-party group of MPs Wednesday they blamed social media and telecommunications companies for a rise in authorized push payment fraud in the banking sector, calling for mandatory requirements to help prevent it.
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March 20, 2024
EU Insurers Warn Regulators Of Gaps In Greenwashing Rules
European insurers have urged the bloc's insurance and pensions watchdog to be consistent and clear with its greenwashing rules for investment products, pointing to discrepancies between jurisdictions and inconsistencies with other sustainability frameworks.
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March 20, 2024
Dentons AML Ruling Deals Blow To SRA's Enforcement Plans
The failure by the Solicitors Regulation Authority to secure a sanction against Dentons over the firm's handling of anti-money laundering checks on a former client is a blow to the regulator's enforcement ambitions which – if upheld – could prompt caution in future prosecutions, lawyers say.
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March 20, 2024
Slaughter And May Cuts Partner Promotions By Half In 2024
Slaughter and May said on Wednesday that it is adding to its bench of up-and-coming leaders by promoting five lawyers to its partnership — only half the number it elevated in 2023.
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March 20, 2024
Ex-LC&F Chief Says SFO And FCA 'Wrecked' His Career
A former director of London Capital & Finance had his career "wrecked" by the finance regulator and fraud investigation agency when they forced the investment company into administration without reason, his lawyers said at his trial Wednesday.
Expert Analysis
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Cayman Islands Off AML Risk Lists, Signaling Robust Controls
As a world-leading jurisdiction for securitization special purpose entities, the removal of the Cayman Islands from increased anti-money laundering monitoring lists is a significant milestone that will benefit new and existing financial services customers conducting business in the territory, say lawyers at Walkers Global.
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Cos. Should Plan Now For Extensive EU Data Act Obligations
The recently enacted EU Data Act imposes wide-ranging requirements across industries and enterprises of all sizes, and with less than 20 months until the provisions begin to apply, businesses planning compliance will need to incorporate significant product changes and revision of contract terms, say Nick Banasevic, Robert Spano and Ciara O'Gara at Gibson Dunn.
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How Decision On A Key Definition Affects SMEs
The Financial Conduct Authority's decision not to extend the definition of small and midsized enterprises may benefit banks and finance providers in the current high interest rate environment and where SMEs in certain sectors may be under financial pressure in light of the cost-of-living crisis in order to streamline it, says Rachael Healey at RPC.
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What New Digital Sandbox Regs Hold In Store For UK Markets
The recently enacted Digital Sandbox Regulations will be key to incorporating distributed ledger technology into the activities of a central securities depository, but despite being a potentially transformative innovation, a number of considerations may need to be addressed to accommodate the trading, settlement and maintenance of shares, say Tom Bacon and Andrew Tsang at BCLP.
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Why Investment In Battery Supply Chain Is Important For UK
The recently published U.K. battery strategy sets out the government’s vision for a globally competitive battery supply chain, and it is critical that the U.K. secures investment to maximize opportunities for economic prosperity and net-zero transition, say lawyers at Watson Farley & Williams.
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What Extending Corporate Liability Will Mean For Foreign Cos.
Certain sections of the Economic Crime Act enacted in December 2023 make it easier to prosecute companies for economic crimes committed abroad, and organizations need to consider their exposure and the new ways they can be held liable for the actions of their personnel, say Dan Hudson at Seladore Legal and Christopher Coltart at 2 Hare Court.
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A Consequential Moment For Sanctions Activity
It is clear from the U.K. Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation's review of the 2022-2023 financial year that the unprecedented scale of designated persons and the value of assets frozen as a result has placed enormous pressure on OFSI and its partners, say lawyers at Greenberg Traurig.
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ECJ Ruling Triggers Reconsiderations Of Using AI In Hiring
A recent European Court of Justice ruling, clarifying that the General Data Protection Regulation could apply to decisions made by artificial intelligence, serves as a warning to employers, as the use of AI in recruitment may lead to more discrimination claims, say Dino Wilkinson and James Major at Clyde & Co.
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Economic Crime Act Offers Welcome Reform To AML Regime
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act exemption for mixed-property transactions that came into force on Jan. 15 as part of the U.K.'s anti-money laundering regime is long overdue, and should end economic harm to businesses, giving banks confidence to adopt a more pragmatic approach, say Matthew Getz and Joseph Fox-Davies at Pallas Partners.
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3 Financial Services Hot Topics To Watch In 2024
Technology, ESG and private markets are set to have the greatest impact on financial markets in 2024, as firms grapple with increasing regulatory change and a shifting political backdrop on both sides of the Atlantic, says Matthew Allen at Eversheds Sutherland.
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What Venice Swaps Ruling Says About Foreign Law Disputes
The English appeals court's decision in Banca Intesa v. Venice that the English law swaps are valid and enforceable will be welcomed by banks, and it provides valuable commentary on the English courts' approach toward the interpretation of foreign law, say Harriet Campbell and Richard Marshall at Penningtons Manches.
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Key Litigation Funding Rulings Will Drive Reform In 2024
Ground-breaking judgments on disputes funding and fee arrangements from 2023 — including that litigation funding agreements could be damages-based agreements, rendering them unenforceable — will bring legislative changes in 2024, which could have a substantial impact on litigation risk for several sectors, say Verity Jackson-Grant and David Bridge at Simmons & Simmons.
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How Draft Trading Regs Provide Framework For UK Regime
Representing an important part of the U.K. government's post-Brexit regulatory reform agenda, the most recent draft of the proposed Trading Regulations seeks to provide a framework for a new rules-based regime for regulating public offers of securities and admissions to trading on a U.K.-regulated market, say lawyers at Davis Polk.
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Breaking Down The New Rules For High Net Worth Individuals
Andrew Northage at Walker Morris outlines what businesses need to be aware of to ensure ongoing compliance with revised conditions in the U.K. government's updated financial promotion exemptions for high net worth individuals and sophisticated investors, and suggests a few practical tips for businesses to follow.
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How Data Privacy Law Cases Are Evolving In UK, EU And US
To see where the law is heading in 2024, it is worth looking at privacy litigation and enforcement trends from last year, where we saw a focus on General Data Protection Regulation regulatory enforcement actions in the U.K. and EU, and class actions brought by private plaintiffs in the U.S., say lawyers at Morgan Lewis.