Insurance UK

FCA Expected To Boost Fines, Name More Companies In 2026

The Financial Conduct Authority is likely to step up its enforcement action in 2026 with higher fines and more readiness to name companies under investigation, bolstered by a landmark High Court rejection of a challenge to such a naming decision.

Sign outside office that deals with fraud with the UK coat of arms, affixed to a stone building.

SFO Faces Critical Year With Several Major Trials In 2026

Though the Serious Fraud Office spent a year largely outside the courtroom, 2026 is shaping up to be a blockbuster period for the white-collar enforcer, with four cases going to trial involving 11 defendants charged with fraud and bribery.

Car Loans, AI, Crypto Top UK's 2026 Consumer Protection List

Financial regulators have entered the new year with a long list of unfinished business in consumer protection and other regulatory areas, ranging from targeted support and a major redress program to a first full U.K. regime for crypto assets and a better steer on artificial intelligence.

The Top 10 UK Commercial Litigation Cases To Watch In 2026

Millions of pounds will be at stake when the U.K. Supreme Court hears the battle between businesses forced to close during the COVID-19 pandemic and their insurers over furlough deductions.

January 08, 2026
Gov't Pension Reforms Could Hurt Savings, Trade Body Warns

A pensions trade body has warned the government that its ill-understood changes to regulation of retirement programs could leave many employees with less money to save into their pensions, hitting U.K. investment growth.
January 08, 2026
Authorities To Push For Transparency In UK Pension Value

Two finance watchdogs and a government department revealed plans on Thursday to force pension plans to publish information on their investments, costs and service quality in a move to equip retirement savers with better information on performance.
January 08, 2026
Gov't Road Safety Plan A 'Significant Step,' UK Insurers Say

Britain's insurance trade body has broadly welcomed a major new government road safety strategy, as it called for continued collaboration to cut road deaths and serious injuries.
January 08, 2026
3 Firms Steer PIC's £155M Engineering Co. Pension Deal

Pension Insurance Corp. PLC said Thursday it has completed a £155 million ($208 million) bulk annuity buy-in to secure the retirement benefits for members of the pensions program of NG Bailey, a U.K. engineering consultancy.
January 08, 2026
Solicitor Accused Of Misleading Court In Personal Injury Case

A solicitor faces being prosecuted before a tribunal over allegations that she made a series of misleading statements to the court and defense counsel when she represented a client in a personal injury matter, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has said.
January 08, 2026
UK Insurance Distribution M&A Has 'Quietest Year' Since 2017

The total volume of mergers and acquisitions announced in the insurance distribution sector in 2025 fell to its lowest level in almost a decade amid fewer potential buys for companies in the market, MarshBerry has said.
January 07, 2026
UK Broker Snaps Up Cambridge Benefits Biz

Insurance broker Verlingue said it has acquired employee benefits and financial planning specialist EBCam for an undisclosed amount as it continues expanding in the U.K. employee benefits market.
January 07, 2026
Trustees Urged To Review Pension Plan Objectives

Pension plan trustees should review their long-term objectives and evolve their strategies accordingly ahead of a year set to be marked by continued change in the retirement savings landscape, Lane Clark & Peacock LLP has said.
January 07, 2026
Aircraft Co. Settles $44M Claim Over Plane Stranded In Russia

An aircraft leasing company and two others have reached a settlement with a dozen reinsurers that they claimed should cover for the $44 million loss of a plane leased to a Russian airline and stranded after the country's invasion of Ukraine.
January 07, 2026
Aon Expands In Japan With New Brokerage License

Aon PLC said Wednesday that it has won a new insurance brokerage license in Japan, which it believes will help strengthen the services it offers in the market.
January 07, 2026
Lloyds Market Group Taps AXA Exec To Lead Organization

The head of AXA XL's insurance business in the U.K. has been named the new chair of the trade body representing managing agents in the Lloyd's insurance market.
January 07, 2026
UK Rail Pension Program Adds New GC From Post Office

The manager of Britain's railways pension plan said Wednesday that Sarah Gray, former interim general counsel at the Post Office, will be joining its executive committee as general counsel.
January 07, 2026
Car Insurance Drops By 13% Over Year Amid Gov't Probe

Motorists in the U.K. paid on average 13% less for their car insurance in 2025 than in the previous year, advisory and broking company WTW said Wednesday, amid a wider government probe into factors driving up the price for cover.
January 06, 2026
EU Watchdog Flags Widespread Fund Rule Violations

The European Union's markets watchdog warned Tuesday that fund managers are frequently breaching rules governing the marketing of funds three years after requirements were put in place for a more harmonized approach and four years after guidelines were issued.
January 06, 2026
More UK Adults Would Prioritize Pension Savings In 2026

The number of working Britons who would increase their pension contributions in 2026 if they reviewed their retirement savings increased by nine percentage points over 2025 in the biggest year-on-year shift in pension behavior, a survey has found.
January 06, 2026
Tech Biz Claims £20M Loss Over Concealed Business Flaws

A group of companies owned by an American technology and security conglomerate has pressed home its £20 million ($27 million) claim that the former owner of a company it acquired concealed a raft of problems with the business, and denied that he is still owed money from the deal.
January 06, 2026
Prudential Launches $1.2B Share Buyback Program

Prudential PLC said Tuesday that it will reward investors with a new $1.2 billion share buyback program in 2026 after the British insurance and asset management giant successfully listed an Indian subsidiary on the Asian country's stock exchange in December.
January 06, 2026
Broadstone Helped Steer Record £500M Pension Deals In 2025

Financial services consultancy Broadstone said Tuesday that it helped to steer 36 pension deals worth a record £508 million ($687 million) in 2025, taking the total of transactions completed through its SM&RT Insure service to more than £1 billion.
January 06, 2026
Latham-Led Howden To Buy US Broker Atlantic Group

Global insurance broker Howden Group Holdings Ltd. has said that it has agreed to acquire Atlantic Global Risk LLC, a transaction liability insurance firm, as it aims to increase its presence in the U.S. market.
January 06, 2026
Admiral Completes Sale Of US Motor Insurance Biz To PE Firm

Admiral Group PLC has said it has completed the sale of its U.S. motor insurance business to private investment firm J.C. Flowers & Co., to focus its operations on Britain and Europe.
January 05, 2026
FCA Renews Its UK-EU Derivatives Trading Venue Flexibility

The Financial Conduct Authority said Monday it has renewed for six months temporary rules allowing U.K. businesses to trade over-the-counter derivatives with European Union clients on EU trading venues, without mutual equivalence.
January 05, 2026
Pensions Body Voices Fears Over Superfund Lifeboat Levy

Proposals by the pensions lifeboat body to continue charging a levy to superfunds do not reflect the risks posed in the emerging sector and stops the funds benefiting from the zero charge applied to other schemes, a retirement savings provider said Monday.
January 05, 2026
Munich Re Unit Completes €80M Acquisition Of Baltic Insurer

Ergo Group, the insurance arm of Munich Re, said Monday that it has completed the acquisition of ADB Gjensidige, the former Lithuanian subsidiary of Norwegian general insurer Gjensidige Forsikring ASA, in a deal worth €80 million ($93.3 million).
January 05, 2026
Divorced Women Face 61% Pension Gap In UK

Divorced women in the U.K. retire with substantially smaller pension savings than their male counterparts, highlighting a deepening "pension gap" tied to marriage and lifetime earning patterns, a consultancy said on Monday.
January 05, 2026
UK Pensions Deal Market Could Hit Record £55B In 2026

Pension deals in the U.K. could hit a record £55 billion ($74 billion) in 2026 if favorable pricing continues amid a rise in acquisitions among some of the biggest insurers in the sector, Lane Clark & Peacock LLP said Monday.

Editor's Picks

Top Court Ruling In 'Whiplash' Test Case Could Hit Premiums

Personal injury claimants could get higher payouts from their motor insurance as a result of a test case ruling at Britain's highest court on Tuesday, although analysts warn that insurers could respond with higher premiums to cover the cost of bigger claims.
FCA Begins Crackdown On Poor-Value Insurance Products

The move by the Financial Conduct Authority to restrict sales of guaranteed asset protection insurance is a sign of a faster approach to market intervention, and could lead the regulator to scrutinize other underperforming products, consultants say.
Post-Election UK Pension Changes Could Be In The Fine Print

Regulatory lawyers are not expecting radical overhaul in pension policies if the government changes after this year's general election. But lawyers say that signals in the opposition Labour Party's policy language could hint at possible shifts in investment priorities for retirement savings.

Expert Analysis

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.
How Russia Sanctions Trajectory Is Affecting UK Legal Sector

The proliferation of U.K. and European Union sanctions targeting Russia has led to a vast increase in legislative provisions, and lawyers advising affected businesses should expect a complex and evolving legal landscape for the foreseeable future, says Rob Dalling at Jenner & Block.
Navigating Legal Privilege Issues When Using AI

The recent explosion in artificial intelligence has led to prompts and AI outputs that may be susceptible to disclosure in proceedings, and it is important to apply familiar principles to assess whether legal privilege may apply to these interactions, say lawyers at HSF.
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.
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.
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.
How New Companies House ID Rules Affect Businesses

Lawyers at Shepherd & Wedderburn discuss the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act’s new mandatory identity verification requirements for all company directors and persons with significant control, set to go live next week, which aim to curb fraud by improving the reliability of information held by Companies House.
What EU Securitization Proposals Signal For Risk Transfers

If implemented, recent amendments to the European Union securitization framework are expected to have an unambiguously positive effect on significant risk transfer markets, providing greater consistency and necessary flexibility, say lawyers at McDermott.
What To Know About EU's Reimposition Of Sanctions On Iran

Lawyers at Steptoe discuss the European Union’s recent reimposition of trade and financial sanctions against Iran, which will introduce legal and operational constraints that affect EU companies' commercial activities in the region.
FCA Crypto Proposals Herald Tougher Oversight For Firms

The Financial Conduct Authority’s recent proposals to extend regulation to crypto-asset activities will bring parity, but implementation of the operational resilience requirements and enhanced financial crime controls will present compliance challenges, says Michelle Kirschner at Gibson Dunn.
What To Know About Interim Licenses In Global FRAND Cases

Recent U.K. court decisions have shaped a framework for interim licenses in global standard-essential patent disputes, under which parties can benefit from operating on temporary terms while a court determines the final fair, reasonable and nondiscriminatory terms — but the future of this developing remedy is in doubt, say attorneys at Fish & Richardson.
EU-US Data Transfer Ruling Offers Reassurance To Cos.

The European Union General Court’s recent upholding of the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework in Latombe v. European Commission, although subject to appeal, provides companies with legal certainty for the first time by allowing the transfer of European Economic Area personal data without relying on alternative mechanisms, say lawyers at Wilson Sonsini.
What EBA Report Means For Non-EU Financial Firms

In a recent report concerning unregulated third country banks, the European Banking Authority decided not to extend a bank-to-bank exemption under the Capital Requirements Directive, raising a number of compliance issues for cross-border services, say lawyers at A&O Shearman.