Featured documents
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 Sole traders, informal partnerships and outdated partnership deeds are common.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
Most recent News
In this issue Data protection Financial sanctions AML, CTF & counter-proliferation financing Other Risk & Compliance updates this week Daily and weekly news alerts Trackers New and updated content Data protection Meta faces 11 complaints across the EU over its forthcoming policy to use personal data for AI training. According to MLex, European data protection authorities will examine the new approach after filings by Max Schrems and his advocacy group in 11 countries. The grievances challenge Meta’s reliance on legitimate interest as the legal ground for processing users’ data to train unspecified AI tools. With the policy set to take effect in three weeks, regulators may need to resort to an expedited procedure. See News Analysis: Meta receives 11 EU complaints over upcoming policy to feed personal data to AI... Financial sanctions The Office of Financial Sanctions...
In recent months, solicitors have been guiding business clients on evaluating the risks posed by their artificial intelligence ( AI) systems and on taking immediate steps to establish internal governance frameworks, so that organisations keep pace with compliance under the far-reaching new law, approved by the Council of the EU in May 2024 and phased in across the next 36 months. Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP partner Joel Harrison, co-chair of the firm's privacy, cybersecurity and data innovation practice group, told Law360 that numerous companies are working out internally where responsibility for AI governance should sit within current corporate arrangements, a task complicated by lingering ambiguities in the statute. He said many organisations are wrestling with the placement of AI governance and how the new AI rules intersect with their data privacy and security practices, as they determine how these...
David Kennedy, 71, remained impassive as Judge Gregory Perrins imposed a period of imprisonment after a brief hearing at Southwark Crown Court in London. In May, the jury found Kennedy guilty on a single charge of defrauding investors in the Axiom Legal Financing Fund, which collapsed in 2012 with debts of £107m. As he delivered sentence, Judge Perrins said Kennedy and a co‑defendant had set up the fund to deceive investors, calling it “rotten to the core”. Prosecutors from the Serious Fraud Office ( SFO) alleged Kennedy pocketed management fees, which were not revealed to investors, by fraudulently diverting Axiom payments that were meant to fund law firms pursuing low‑value, high‑volume litigation. He showed no reaction. The fund’s collapse left debts of £107m......
The Bill passed two years after the government first unveiled the reforms, and over a year after it was brought before Parliament. The legislation is set to take effect in the autumn. The DMCC Act 2024 ( DMCCA 2024) ushers in the most far-reaching overhaul of competition and consumer protection rules since merger control was introduced over 20 years ago. Broad in scope, the DMCCA 2024 delivers major updates to digital markets, merger control and antitrust provisions, along with consumer law. We outline some of the principal points below. The strategic market status regime A central feature of the DMCCA 2024 is the creation of the strategic market status, or SMS, regime. Although the regime drew significant debate during its passage through Parliament, the core features have remained unchanged since the Bill was introduced......
Meta is facing complaints from 11 European data protection authorities After announcing a privacy policy revision signalling it would use personal data to develop ‘ AI technology’, Meta now faces formal complaints from 11 European data protection authorities. Max Schrems’ campaign group NOYB has lodged cases with privacy watchdogs in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Spain, urging the regulators to urgently stop the change before it takes effect on 26 June. NOYB has specialised in strategic complaints, including those that led to the invalidation of Meta’s legal basis under contract for processing personal data for advertising. Since then, Meta has switched to the ‘legitimate interest’ legal basis. While the General Data Protection Regulation sets out six potential legal bases for processing personal data, the prevailing doctrine arising from data protection authorities’ guidance and decisions has......
The challenger bank has faced scrutiny since 2021, when the Financial Conduct Authority ( FCA) began investigating its anti-money laundering and financial crime controls and systems in that year. The watchdog is reviewing matters spanning October 2018 to June 2022. In its annual report released today, Monzo noted the FCA has narrowed the scope of the ongoing investigation. In November 2023, the FCA told Monzo it was no longer pursuing criminal liability in relation to Monzo’s compliance with the......
The act ushered in a series of reforms, with some measures commencing at once in October 2024 and others still awaiting implementation. Why did these reforms come about? Fraud is the most prevalent offence in the UK. As set out in the government’s 2023 Fraud Strategy, fraud accounts for over 40% of all crime yet attracts less than 1% of police resource......
EU General Court annuls sanctions on Azerbaijan-born businessman The EU’s General Court has overturned sanctions applied to the businessman during 2022–2023, ruling that the EU body overseeing sanctions lacked a credible foundation for the restrictive measures. Although the EU delisted Akhmedov in September 2023, he, having made his fortune by selling his shares in a Russian gas producer in 2012, pursued legal action to show he should never have been targeted. The court found that the Council — which had drawn on Wikipedia and press reports — failed to demonstrate that Akhmedov, who lives in Azerbaijan, is presently engaged in significant areas of the Russian economy. It held that the Council did not furnish ‘sufficiently specific, precise and consistent’ evidence establishing that Akhmedov was a ‘leading businessperson involved in economic sectors which provided a substantial source of revenue to the Government of the Russian...
In this issue: Data protection Financial sanctions AML, CTF & counter-proliferation Other financial crime Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Data protection Data Protection and Digital Information Bill lost in Parliament wash-up period The Data Protection and Digital Information Bill fell during the wash-up period ahead of Parliament’s prorogation on Friday 24 May 2024, and its dissolution on 30 May 2024 for the UK general election set for 4 July 2024. At dissolution, all unfinished business is dropped. First read in the House of Commons on 8 March 2023, the Bill was intended to deliver substantial reforms to data law. See: LNB News 29/05/2024 66. Financial sanctions OFSI reissues General Licence on funds of non-designated third parties The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation has reissued General Licence INT/2024/4761108 under Regulation 64 of the Russia ( Sanctions) ( EU Exit)...
The share of upheld complaints climbed to 36% in the latest year, having been 27% or lower across each of the preceding three years overall. Complaints about closures linked to financial crime concerns or politically exposed persons have nearly trebled since 2020–2021 period. The committee is worried about the effects of account closures (debanking) on individuals and businesses. To deal with the issue properly, it needs to understand and remedy certain unhelpful and counterproductive aspects of anti-money laundering ( AML) laws. This article will set out the principal questions around crimes and immunities, the risks facing banks and the choices available to them, and, lastly, the potential for genuine change. Crimes and Immunities The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 ( POCA 2002) bars banks from handling funds that contain any proceeds of any criminal conduct, where they know or suspect that this is the case. It also...
Risk & Compliance weekly highlights—23 May 2024 In this issue: Risk & Compliance forecast as at 22 May 2024 Financial sanctions AML, CTF & counter-proliferation financing Other financial crime Artificial intelligence Daily and weekly news alerts Trackers New and updated content Risk & Compliance forecast as at 22 May 2024 Our latest Risk & Compliance forecast is now available. This month we cover: (1) revisions to the UK national risk assessments for money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing; (2) an FCA consultation proposing amendments to its Financial Crime Guide; (3) progress on the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill; and (4) an ICO call for evidence on embedding individual rights within generative AI models. See News Analysis: Risk & Compliance forecast as at 22 May 2024. Financial sanctions OFSI updates General Licence INT/2022/1839676 on Russian travel The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation has revised General Licence INT/2022/1839676 relating to Russian travel, extending its expiry to 23 May 2026. See: LNB...
Risk & Compliance forecast as at 22 May 2024 Our Risk and Compliance forecast as at 22 May 2024 outlines anticipated regulatory developments affecting risk & compliance, enabling you to prepare for potential impacts on your organisation and to plan for any relevant changes. Please review it carefully; however, we flag below several items that should be on your radar. New items we’re tracking this month UK national risk assessment — HM Treasury and the Home Office are updating the UK’s national risk assessments covering money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing. The government is seeking information from the private sector on money laundering and associated threats from 2020 to date......
David Lammy, Labour’s lead on foreign affairs, vowed today that the party will financially reward whistleblowers who expose sanctioned organisations that are stashing hidden funds. Payouts would be a share of any penalty issued by the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, which can impose fines of one million pounds. Speaking at an event in London, Lammy said that 'toxic corruption and money laundering' was flourishing on Britain’s streets and in the nation’s 'darkest corners'. He added that around 40% of the world’s dirty money is washed through the UK, totalling billions of pounds......
A combined jail term of five-and-a-half years imposed on Romy Andrianarisoa, once a senior aide to Madagascar’s president, and her French partner on 10 May 2024 drew a dramatic, high-profile London trial to a close, one that included secret footage of the pair covertly asking an undercover officer for bribes. The convictions—marking the first bribery case against a foreign official in the UK—were secured after the National Crime Agency received a tip-off from Gemfields, the British mining company that owns Faberge. That alert enabled NCA officers to gather vital evidence and to set up a carefully planned sting at a five-star London hotel. According to Zulfi Meerza of Rahman Ravelli, a former senior investigator at the Serious Fraud Office ( SFO), the matter was 'uniquely placed' because it rested on 'smoking gun' material that secured the guilty verdicts. ' It is hardly surprising we have not...
In this issue: Data protection Financial sanctions Other financial crime Cybersecurity Daily and weekly news alerts Trackers New and updated content Data protection ICO releases report on prevalence of data breaches and steps to prevent breaches The Information Commissioner’s Office ( ICO) has published a report setting out data on the scale of data breaches. It offers practical guidance to help organisations identify frequent security weaknesses, bolster protections and prevent future incidents before they arise. The report highlights five principal causes of cyber security breaches: phishing, brute force attempts, denial of service, errors and supply chain attacks. For each area, it describes how attacks unfold, key considerations to reduce risk and likely developments ahead. See: LNB News 10/05/2024 35. Financial sanctions Law Society makes recommendations on Russian sanctions The Law Society of England and Wales has submitted...
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 ( ECCTA 2023) Enacted in October 2023, the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 ( ECCTA 2023) introduces a new requirement for large companies and businesses to establish 'reasonable procedures' to shield themselves from prosecution for a failure to prevent fraud. This closely aligns with the UK's Bribery Act 2010, under which organisations can face charges for not preventing bribery. Junior Home Office minister Andrew Sharpe told the House of Lords, Parliament’s upper chamber, that guidance might arrive within weeks. ' The government......
Risk & Compliance weekly highlights—9 May 2024 In this edition: Data protection Financial sanctions AML, CTF & counter-proliferation financing Economic crime Daily and weekly news alerts Trackers New and updated content Data protection The ICO’s 2024 data protection fining guidance Ellie Ludlam, partner, and Alex Smallwood, associate, at Pinsent Masons, review the Information Commissioner’s Office’s ( ICO’s) updated fining guidance for breaches of data protection law. They explain the factors the ICO will weigh when considering a penalty notice, and outline the five-stage method it will apply to decide whether to impose a monetary penalty. See News Analysis: The ICO’s 2024 data protection fining guidance. Financial sanctions HMRC asked to investigate firm on dodging sanctions Law360 reports that, according to an MP, HM Revenue and Customs ( HMRC) ought to probe a German-owned garage door maker for alleged sanctions breaches after...
Background In March 2024, the Information Commissioner’s Office ( ICO) issued new guidance (the Guidance) explaining how it will determine penalty notices and set fines under the UK General Data Protection Regulation, the assimilated Regulation ( EU) 2016/679 ( UK GDPR), and the Data Protection Act 2018 ( DPA 2018) (collectively, the UK data protection laws). This Guidance replaces the penalty notice sections of the ICO Regulatory Action Policy from November 2018 and is far more detailed. It applies to all fresh cases concerning infringements of the UK data protection laws, and to ongoing matters where no notice of intent to impose a fine has yet been served... What are the key questions on which the Guidance provides greater clarity? The Guidance is divided into three sections: statutory background circumstances in which the ICO would consider a penalty notice...
Siobhain Mc Donagh, a Labour Party representative in the House of Commons, formally urged HMRC to investigate Alutech, owned by Hormann, alleging the company has imported goods banned since 2022, per a Treasury Committee transcript of the meeting on 30 April 2024......
The Economic Crime Manifesto II The All- Party Parliamentary Group ( APPG) on Anti- Corruption and Responsible Tax, alongside the APPG on Fair Business Banking, has released The Economic Crime Manifesto II (the Manifesto). It follows the 2022 document and arrives amid intense focus and action on financial crime. Over intervening years, changes at home and abroad have unfolded, sharpening attention on risks and the UK’s capacity to respond. Serving as a sequel to the 2022 edition, this iteration lands amid intensified scrutiny and momentum across the financial crime landscape. In the meantime, notable shifts have occurred both internationally and at home. As the Manifesto underscores, the risk posed by financial crime—especially fraud—now appears particularly acute in the UK. Among the stark findings it sets out, the UK’s illicit finance issues are estimated to cost around £350bn annually, approaching 15% of national GDP. The...
Popular documents
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 ]...
Discover more from LexisNexis
