Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Corruption definition

What does Corruption mean? In legal practice, corruption describes conduct by which a person abuses an entrusted position or influence to secure an improper benefit, typically through bribery, kickbacks, undue influence or manipulation of decisions in public or commercial contexts. It is a descriptive umbrella term used across criminal law, public law, procurement and compliance, rather than a single offence. In England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, there is no general statutory definition of “corruption”. The Bribery Act 2010 (UK-wide) instead creates specific offences of bribing, being bribed, bribery of foreign public officials and the corporate offence of failure to prevent bribery; it...

Anti-bribery and corruption clauses in public sector contracts: drafting, exclusion and termination under the Bribery Act 2010 and the evolving procurement regime (PCR 2015 to Procurement Act 2023)

Published by a LexisNexis Commercial expert

Practice notes

STOP PRESS: From 24 February 2025, the core provisions of the Procurement Act 2023 (PA 2023) have taken effect. Procurements launched on or after that date must follow PA 2023, while those started under earlier regimes (including the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016, Concession Contracts Regulations 2016, and Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011) must continue to be run and managed under those rules. The Cabinet Office has also refreshed its standard contract suites, templates and guidance for the government’s Model Services Contract, Mid-Tier Contract and Short Form Contract. These revised materials were released to coincide with the PA 2023 ‘go-live’ on 24 February 2025. This Practice Note will be updated shortly to reflect these changes. In the interim, see News Analysis: Procurement Act 2023 ‘go live’—what happens next?, and Government model contracts updated for Procurement Act 2023 ‘go-live’—LNB News 24/02/2025 29, and Cabinet Office updates PPN 013: Using standard contracts—LNB News 28/04/2025 36.

Boilerplate provisions in public Sector contracts

This Practice Note examines the inclusion, scope and operation of prevention of Corruption and Bribery clauses within public sector contracts...

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Michael Bowsher

Monckton Chambers

Michael Bowsher KC has a busy practice in public procurement, competition and commercial law, particularly in disputes concerning major public and public-private projects. He is particularly known for his unique practice in government and utility procurement in the United Kingdom, Ireland, elsewhere in Europe and beyond. Michael Bowsher KC has appeared as counsel in many of the major procurement cases over more than a decade. His contentious practice is complemented by a substantial practice in providing legal and strategic advice for bidders and purchasers throughout the procurement process. Michael has also has a busy competition law practice. He has acted in a number of recent matters involving essential facilities, competition in payment systems and now acting as leading counsel in a number of collective proceedings brought in the CAT. In recent years Michael has become increasingly involved in matters involving application and...

William Buck

Monckton Chambers

William practice covers a wide spectrum of high value commercial disputes, civil fraud, insolvency and offshore matters. He has been consistently recommended in Chambers and Partners (both in the UK and Global editions) as a leading commercial practitioner in his fields. He is ranked across four different practice areas, reflecting the spread of his expertise. As well as undertaking high value work in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and the High Court of England and Wales, he has a substantial international and cross-border practice, undertaking work in many other jurisdictions, such as the Isle of Man, Dubai, Jersey, Italy, Gibraltar, Spain, Germany and the USA, with expertise in contentious jurisdictional disputes and with handling a range of civil and common law legal systems. He has also successfully acted in a range of arbitrations and adjudications and has acted as an...

Francis Hornyold-Strickland

Monckton Chambers

Francis has a broad commercial practice, with a particular emphasis on international arbitration and commercial litigation, shipping & commodities (wet and dry), civil fraud, procurement, energy, professional negligence, and competition law. He is also well known for his expertise in bringing and defending interlocutory applications, including worldwide freezing orders, and proprietary injunctions. Francis is ranked as a leading junior in the legal directories 2026. Prior to joining Monckton Chambers Francis practised as an associate in the world-leading international arbitration practice at WilmerHale, where he worked on a range of high value, complex commercial arbitrations alongside some of the world’s top international arbitration practitioners, including Franz Schwarz and Gary Born....

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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