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R (Greyhound Board of Great Britain Ltd) v Welsh Ministers [2026] EWHC 670 (Admin) What are the practical implications of this case? The ruling reinforces the constitutional divide between the courts and the legislature. It explains that the scheme and framework of the Government of Wales Act 2006 (GWA 2006) embody that separation of powers, and that any judicial attempt to recognise and enforce a common law obligation on Welsh Ministers to consult prior to introducing legislation in the Senedd would trespass upon that boundary. This is not a departure from established principle; case law has already upheld comparable rules for lawmakers in Scotland and at Westminster. However, this is the first express confirmation of the position for Welsh lawmakers, and the first time this dimension of the GWA 2006 has been analysed in such depth. The court examined earlier
The solution arrived through the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC), a quasi‑judicial body handling mass claims, created under UN Security Council Resolution 687. By addressing environmental harm—most notably via its ‘F4’ claim class—the UNCC set a seminal benchmark shaping how international law and contemporary arbitral panels allocate financial responsibility for wartime ecological devastation. With present-day wars in areas such as Eastern Europe and the Middle East bringing dam breaches, strikes on chemical facilities, and the burning of farmland, the UNCC’s legacy endures as an essential reference point for states, global investors, and companies engaged in post‑conflict arbitration. The F4 claims: Quantifying the unquantifiable Prior to the 1990s, mechanisms in international law for war reparations overwhelmingly favoured property loss, foregone earnings, and bodily injury. The natural world was commonly treated as a mute, non-compensable victim of armed hostilities...
Understanding the farming business as a business Many farms still use long-standing structures that arose by habit, not strategy. Sole traders, informal partnerships and outdated partnership deeds are common. While once effective, such setups can cause major issues around succession, tax planning and involving the next generation. A corporate team can take a fresh, business-led view of the farm, asking: Who owns the land and other critical assets? Who manages daily operations? Who carries the risk and who enjoys the return? What is the enduring plan for succession? From this review, the team can confirm whether the current setup is fit for purpose or if an alternative — for example an updated partnership agreement, a company, a limited liability partnership, or a blended model — would better meet the family’s aims. Tax efficiency through joined-up advice Tax sits at the centre of most
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In this issue: Sanctions Data protection Other Practice Compliance updates this week Daily and weekly news alerts Trackers New and updated content Sanctions OFSI issues two new Russia sanctions general licences and amends two existing licences The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation ( OFSI) has unveiled two fresh general licences and revised two existing licences within the Russia sanctions framework. The new licences are General Licence INT/2026/8889196, which authorises individuals to wind down transactions involving designated persons, and General Licence INT/2026/8893924, permitting the run-off of insurance policies written by Maritime Mutual entities and their subsidiaries before designation. OFSI has also adjusted two current general licences. General Licence INT/2024/4761108 has been amended and extended to 23:59pm on 23 February 2028. General Licence INT/2025/5635700 has been updated to cover entities owned or controlled by PJSC Transneft following its...
On 18 February 2026, Nikhil Rathi said on a podcast that the FCA would instead use the Consumer Duty to spot instances of harm. Consumer organisations have criticised the FCA for a light-touch stance on regulation after two wide-ranging probes into the insurance sector concluded with no proposals for intervention. Rathi, speaking on a Fairer Finance podcast, argued that not every issue will be resolved quickly through major interventions, additional rules, bans or guidance as he told listeners......
In this issue: Practice Compliance forecast Sanctions Data protection Artificial intelligence & information security Other Practice Compliance updates this week Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Practice Compliance forecast New Practice Compliance forecast as at 17 February 2026 The latest Practice Compliance forecast, current as of 17 February 2026, is now available. This edition highlights: HMRC’s confirmed amendments to the Economic Crime Levy from April 2026; the JMLSG’s final updates to Part I of its AML guidance; the ICO’s intention to refresh guidance for the privacy notice generator; and the LSB’s interim findings from its targeted review following Mazur. See News Analysis: New Practice Compliance forecast as at 17 February 2026. Sanctions OFSI launches call for evidence on ownership and control test in UK sanctions The Office of Financial Sanctions...
As at 17 February 2026, our Practice Compliance forecast monitors proposed regulatory developments affecting law firm compliance, enabling you to prepare for changes that may impact your organisation. Please review it thoroughly; key matters that should be on your radar are highlighted below. New items we’re tracking this month Economic Crime Levy changes— HMRC has confirmed a rise in the Economic Crime Levy, effective from the financial year commencing April 2026. The names and descriptions of the bands have also been revised to align with the updates introduced in Budget 2025. See: AML, CTF and counter-proliferation financing OFSI Call for evidence: Ownership and control test— OFSI has opened a call for evidence on how the ownership and control test in UK financial sanctions regulations is applied in practice. ......
Fiona Ghosh, Patricia Wade and Nilesh Ray of Ashurst delve into each of these matters in greater depth below. Overview The draft Code takes a decisive stride towards turning the broad transparency duties in Article 50 of the Act into concrete, operational expectations for both providers and deployers of generative AI. Shaped by extensive engagement with stakeholders, it offers the first coherent roadmap for how organisations should handle the marking and detection of AI-generated or manipulated content, alongside the labelling of deepfakes, from here on. The Article 50 transparency duties take effect on 2 August 2026. As that date draws nearer, adherence to the steps in the draft Code is poised to serve as a key yardstick for assessing day-to-day compliance. In practice, it will set clear expectations across the market. Who's covered? The draft Code captures 'providers' (those placing Gen AI systems on the market) and...
The European Commission has set out this year’s slate of priorities, and what should be set aside, for secondary legislation to implement the EU AI Act, according to an internal note viewed by MLex. Secondary legal acts are commonly used in EU lawmaking to confer powers on the Commission to amend or add non‑essential elements of a law via a delegated act, or to secure uniform application through an implementing act. Where the basic law is silent, the EU executive may decide when to adopt such secondary measures, enabling it to order its own regulatory agenda. In a list compiled earlier this month, the Commission detailed its priorities for implementing the EU AI Act in 2026. It also pointed to a set of ‘de‑prioritised’ items, although it is still uncertain whether that implies they are not due to be adopted this...
In this issue: Sanctions Data protection Other Practice Compliance updates this week Daily and weekly news alerts Trackers New and updated content Sanctions OFSI amends General Licence INT/2022/1947936 and UK Financial Sanctions FAQs The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation ( OFSI) has refreshed its UK Financial Sanctions FAQs, revising FAQs 147 and 148. OFSI has also varied General Licence INT/2022/1947936 and withdrawn the expired General Licence INT/2025/8202932. See: LNB News 05/02/2026 36. OFSI extends General Licence for Lukoil Bulgaria entities’ business operations OFSI has prolonged General Licence INT/2025/7895596, allowing business activities with Lukoil Bulgaria entities to continue. The licence will now end on 13 August 2026. First granted on 14 November 2025 under regulation 64 of the Russia ( Sanctions) ( EU Exit) Regulations 2019, SI 2019/855, it was later updated on 20 November 2025 to broaden coverage to aviation and bunker subsidiaries. OFSI has also revised FAQ 173 within its UK Financial...
For breaching the prohibition on treating client accounts as a banking facility while acting for a Russia-based client, the SRA imposed penalties of £68,000 on Scott Moncrieff and Associates Ltd and £9,941 on consultant Ian Insley. The regulator announced the firm’s sanction on 2 February 2026 and Insley’s on 3 February 2026, and, following its inquiry, concluded that Insley transferred funds from the Russia-based client to a Canadian company with which the client had entered a property agreement. Insley and the practice had been engaged by the Russian company solely to deliver escrow services and general legal advice. Neither Insley nor the firm had any involvement in the property transaction......
In this issue: Sanctions Data protection Other Practice Compliance updates this week Daily and weekly news alerts Trackers New and updated content Sanctions FCDO announces UK sanctions against Iranian authorities for human rights violations during peaceful protests The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO) has unveiled the UK’s suite of sanctions against ten individuals and one organisation in Iran for enabling recent human rights abuses against peaceful protestors. This action reflects the UK’s determination to hold the Iranian authorities to account following widespread brutality and violence. The Law Enforcement Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran ( FARAJA) has been designated for its leading role in policing protests in Iran and is subject to an immediate director disqualification and asset freeze, while the listed...
Seema Malhotra told a debate in the House of Commons on 28 January 2026 that the government intends to bring forward the Equality ( Race and Disability) Bill. The measure represents a Labour Party manifesto pledge. It would introduce new compulsory reporting requirements on the pay gap for employers with more than 250 staff members and codify a right to equal pay for disabled and ethnic minority workers, mirroring the protection already in place for women. However, Malhotra did not set out any timetable for presenting a draft bill. She stated to MPs only that at present......
In this issue: Sanctions Data protection Other Practice Compliance updates this week Daily and weekly news alerts Trackers New and updated content Sanctions OFSI issues £160,000 monetary penalty on Bank of Scotland for financial sanctions breaches The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation ( OFSI) has levied a £160,000 penalty on Bank of Scotland Plc ( Bank of Scotland) for contraventions of regulations 11 (dealing with funds) and 12 (making funds available) under the Russia ( Sanctions) ( EU Exit) Regulations 2019, SI 2019/855. Imposed pursuant to section 146 of the Policing and Crime Act 2017 ( PCA 2017), the sanction concerns the bank’s processing of 24 transactions, totalling £77,383.39, to and from a personal current account held by an individual designated under the Russia Regulations. See: LNB News 26/01/2026 18......
In this issue: Sanctions AML, CTF & counter‑proliferation financing Data protection Cybersecurity Other Practice Compliance updates this week Daily and weekly news alerts Trackers New and updated content Sanctions OFSI updates General Licence INT/2024/4423849 and related sanctions guidance to reflect revised oil price cap The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation ( OFSI) has revised sanctions guidance and licensing resources following confirmation that the crude oil price cap will drop to $44.10 per barrel from 31 January 2026. Changes include updates to General Licence INT/2024/4423849 to mirror the reduced cap, and revisions to UK Financial Sanctions FAQs 154–158 and 161 so they correspond with the new threshold. The UK Maritime Services Ban and Oil Price Cap industry guidance has likewise been refreshed to incorporate the amended cap. See: LNB News 15/01/2026 40. AML, CTF &...
This consultation This consultation, which closed on 24 December 2025, examined a range of issues concerning the Financial Conduct Authority taking on AML/ CTF supervision of professional services firms. It sets out the core duties, powers and accountability arrangements the FCA would need to supervise law and accounting firms effectively, as well as the legislative amendments required to deliver the reforms. It is not about sector-specific guidance or a rulebook; the focus is the architecture of FCA powers. The consultation followed HM Treasury’s response, issued on 21 October 2025, to its earlier review of the UK’s AML/ CTF supervision regime. That response confirms the FCA will become the single AML/ CTF supervisor for professional services, including law and accounting firms, replacing the existing model of sectoral professional-body oversight, led in the legal sphere by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. The Law Society has strongly opposed the...
Shifts in policy, supervisory strategies and priorities, newly regulated activities drawing more firms within the regulatory perimeter, further rewrites of EU‑derived rules after Brexit, and sector‑specific adjustments—we’ve witnessed the lot. The job for firms now is to map how to handle the changes and challenges that 2026 will deliver. In this piece, we set out the detail of five changes already scheduled for fixed dates in 2026, and we also flag five others that remain in development, but which we expect to move forward significantly during 2026... Targeted support: April 2026 In July 2025, HM Treasury outlined a new regime for targeted support. This service would become a stand‑alone regulated activity under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 ( FSMA), made possible by amendments to the FSMA ( Regulated Activities) Order 2001. Providing investment advice is a...
The UK’s limited approach to whistleblowing Although the UK officially brought in whistleblower protections in 1998, it has, like many European jurisdictions, traditionally been hesitant to reward whistleblowers. Stakeholders have raised worries about malicious or bad-faith reports, the exposure of whistleblowers under cross-examination, the possibility of criminal investigation where they are implicated in the disclosed conduct and, more broadly, the belief that disclosures should rest on moral rather than monetary motives. In practice, the principal deterrents to reporting misconduct are the absence of financial incentives and certainty. Prospective whistleblowers in senior roles or specialist fields may fear enduring career harm and consequent financial hardship if they speak up, particularly where robust and adequate (financial) safeguards are lacking. Current UK legislation The cornerstone statute on whistleblowing is the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998, which modified the Employment Rights Act 1996. Its purpose is to shield workers from...
The High Court found that Portner Law Ltd owes the money to the liquidators of Grosvenor Property Developments Ltd Notwithstanding that the joint liquidators had already realised roughly £10.5m through separate proceedings against other defendants, the court held Portner must pay the sum claimed. Judge Saira Salimi noted that Portner had, ambitiously, attempted to contend the further claim represented a surplus and amounted to double recovery. The liquidators accepted that, in some respects, duplication would occur; however, as recorded in the judgment, other settlements demonstrated either no overlap at all or only a partial overlap with the sums sought from the firm. Salimi J commented that it was regrettable the parties could not resolve this point and that an additional hearing was needed to deal with double recovery, a step that may lessen the funds available to satisfy creditors in the...
Our Practice Compliance forecast as at 13 January 2026 monitors proposed regulatory developments affecting law firm compliance, helping you prepare for any shifts that could impact your organisation. Please review it thoroughly; key points to watch are highlighted below. New items we’re tracking this month Data subject requests—the ICO intends to refresh its short guidance on the right of access in spring 2026, reflecting DUAA 2025 changes. This follows the ICO’s update to its detailed ‘ Right of access guidance’ on 8 December 2025. See: Data protection, AI and cybersecurity......
In this issue: Sanctions AML, CTF & counter‑proliferation financing Other financial crime Data protection Other Practice Compliance updates this week Daily and weekly news alerts Trackers New and updated content Sanctions OFSI issues General Licence INT/2025/8257372 permitting humanitarian activity in Myanmar The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation has introduced General Licence INT/2025/8257372, authorising humanitarian and basic‑needs work in Myanmar pursuant to the Myanmar ( Sanctions) Regulations 2021 ( SI 2021/496) and the Global Human Rights ( Sanctions) Regulations 2020 ( SI 2020/680). Eligible users include UK‑funded organisations, UN entities, NGOs within UN‑coordinated response plans, the Disasters Emergency Committee, and their service providers. Covered actions range from delivering aid and processing payments to supplying goods or services essential for humanitarian relief or meeting basic needs in Myanmar. See: LNB News 23/12/2025 35. OFSI updates UK financial sanctions FAQs...
Additionally, one espionage case involving service to foreign states ended in a win for prosecutors, while a sister trial proved humiliating; one of the nation’s largest money‑laundering actions saw a socialite, alleged to be central to the plot, cleared; and the UK’s highest court stopped an extradition for insider trading in a move that bucked precedent. Here, Law360 unpacks the year’s most significant financial crime cases... UK Supreme Court quashes Libor convictions In R v Hayes; R v Palombo [2025] UKSC 29, Britain’s top court in July 2025 overturned the convictions of traders Tom Hayes and Carlo Palombo for conspiring to manipulate benchmark interest rates. The pair had been found guilty of rigging the London interbank offered rate ( Libor) and its euro‑denominated counterpart after separate trials following the 2008 financial crash. The justices ruled the verdicts unsafe, holding that the trial judges...
This is the first instalment in a series of News Analyses, each concentrating on one of the principal changes within ERA 2025. The measures are arranged by the date of implementation (or anticipated implementation). Employment Rights Act 2025 (pdf) The Employment Rights Act 2025 overview factsheet, issued on 18 December 2025, confirms that: ERA 2025 will be rolled out in phases over a two‑year period common commencement dates (6 April and 1 October) will be used to bring the majority of regulations made using ERA 2025 powers into force the government remains committed to the timelines set out in the Implementing the Employment Rights Bill Roadmap, published on 1 July 2025 Review of extent of right to time off for public duties Provisions: section 19 Main changes: Requires the Secretary of State, within 12 months of the passing of ERA 2025 (ie before 18 December 2026), to review the...
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When evaluating a general damages claim, the practitioner ought initially to refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG)...
This Practice Note This Practice Note reviews mechanisms used in settling litigation. A Tomlin order consists of a consent order paired with a schedule. It operates to stay proceedings on terms that have been agreed. The provisions contained in the schedule may remain confidential. This Practice Note describes the scope of confidentiality attaching to the schedule and sets out how it differs from a standard consent order. Sample wording for a Tomlin order is included, alongside links to precedents, as well as guidance on court approval. It also addresses varying, setting aside and enforcing a Tomlin order, including the considerations the court will take into account when handling applications for each. Further guidance is provided on interpreting and applying the relevant provisions of the CPR; however, some courts and divisions impose very specific requirements for both drafting and approval, and for approaching the schedule and confidentiality issues. Accordingly, you must consider the particular rules and court guide provisions in the forum where your claim is proceeding when drawing up the Tomlin order...
Date [ date ] Parties [ name of Landlord ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Landlord) [ name of Tenant ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Tenant) [ [ name of Guarantor ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Guarantor) ] [ [ name of Mortgagee ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Mortgagee) ] Definitions Within this Deed, the terms below shall be interpreted as follows: [ Annual Rent • the annual sum reserved under the Lease; ] [ Insurance Rent • the Tenant’s share of the Landlord’s costs of insuring the Property (as set out in the Lease); ] Lease • the lease of the Property dated [ date ], entered into between (1) [ the Landlord OR [ name ...
I, [ name ], of [ address ], solemnly and sincerely state that: [ Matters to be verified, set out in numbered paragraphs ] I make this solemn statement in good conscience, believing it to be true, and pursuant to the provisions of the Statutory Declarations Act 1835. DECLARED at [ details ] this [ day ] day of [ month and year ] Before me ................................................................................ [ signature of the person before whom the declaration is made ] A [ commissioner for oaths OR [ solicitor OR [ insert other qualification ] ] authorised to administer oaths ]...
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