The European Securities and Markets Authority's recently finalized supervisory expectations for management bodies mark a shift toward improved board oversight across culture, risk, strategy and accountability that firms should view as a benchmark, say lawyers at Ropes & Gray.

In 2026, the U.K. will likely see an uptick in class actions as a result of legal and regulatory developments, including the landmark court decision in BHP Group v. PGMBM Law that boosted confidence in the enforceability of funds-committed litigation funding arrangements, say lawyers at Winston & Strawn.

Aymen Mahmoud, co-head of the London transactions practice at McDermott, discusses the challenges of navigating a complex cross-border financing in his first matter as partner, why regulators should resist the instinct to fix what is not broken, and how private capital continues to reshape the landscape.

The recently enforced Property (Digital Assets etc) Act confirms in law that digital assets can be recognized as personal property, while leaving intentional gaps, which allow courts the flexibility to adapt traditional legal rules to new innovative technology, say lawyers at Dechert.

With significantly fewer challenges to date than expected under the Subsidy Control Act, it appears that parties may be unwilling to bring claims or unaware of their rights, calling into question the effectiveness of the regime, says Matthew Hall at McGuireWoods.

As political and legal landscapes continue to shift across key global jurisdictions, with Mexico and England instituting key judicial and arbitral reforms, respectively, international arbitration parties are becoming increasingly strategic in their selection of arbitral seats, say attorneys at Cleary.

As the artificial intelligence industry continues to witness substantial M&A transactions in Europe, parties should be mindful of the unique challenges posed by the acquisition of intangible AI technologies, monitor the evolving regulatory landscape, and establish optimal mechanisms for risk allocation, say lawyers at Morgan Lewis.

Perks make headlines as law firms look for ways to draw in the best talent, but while they add value, they cannot replace competitive and transparent pay or the realistic career road map that form the fundamentals of a strong recruitment strategy and result in long-term engagement, says Adam Stocker at Major Lindsey.

With 2025 seeing more sophisticated and far-reaching environmental litigation, and regulatory enforcement set to continue, a focus on greenwashing and climate attribution science is likely in 2026, and organizations must remain vigilant and proactive in their approach to sustainability risks and opportunities, say lawyers at Simmons & Simmons.

While recent judgments against Apple by the Competition Appeal Tribunal and European Commission all focus on the Apple ecosystem and point toward closer scrutiny of its App Store rules, their analytical methodologies and potential enforcement routes differ, highlighting differences in approaches to competition law, say lawyers at Perkins Coie.

Samantha Brown, HSF Kramer's managing partner for employment, pensions and incentives for U.K. and Europe, the Middle East and Africa, discusses the challenges of managing a deal where many of the commercial aspects were new to the buyout market, why pension adequacy needs attention, and how new pensions legislation makes it an exciting time for schemes and their advisers.

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.

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.

Entrepreneurs are increasingly using artificial intelligence in their operations to model valuations or test market timing, and the same sophistication is expected from those advising them, so lawyers should use AI tools responsibly to reinforce their judgment and good advice, says Amen Alonge at Farrer.

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.

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.

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.

Neil McDonald, head of the corporate and M&A group at Walkers Global in London, discusses the challenges of conducting a multijurisdictional transaction with a pressing timeline, the need for regulation to keep pace with innovation, and why a willingness to go the extra mile to assist clients is so important.

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.