Corporate Crime & Compliance UK

  • December 03, 2024

    Consumers Settle £10B Mastercard Swipe Fees Class Action

    Representatives of more than 45 million U.K. consumers confirmed Tuesday that they had settled a multibillion-pound claim against Mastercard over its fees, which is likely to end one of the first cases to test the boundaries of Britain's collective proceedings regime.

  • December 03, 2024

    Charity's Ex-Partner Gets 10 Years For £1.5M Gift Aid Fraud

    A former finance business partner at national charity Save The Children UK has been jailed for 10 years for stealing £1.5 million ($1.9 million) through fraudulent Gift Aid claims, HM Revenue & Customs announced Tuesday.

  • December 03, 2024

    Chancellor Appoints COVID Czar To Probe 'Carnival Of Fraud'

    The chancellor said Tuesday that Tom Hayhoe, a health service and regulatory veteran, has been appointed as the COVID-19 corruption commissioner to claw back money wasted in pandemic-era fraud with a potential cost of up to £7.3 billion ($9.2 billion).

  • December 03, 2024

    Microsoft Faces £1B Class Action Over Software Overcharging

    Microsoft was hit on Tuesday with a class action of more than £1 billion ($1.3 billion) brought on behalf of thousands of U.K. businesses alleging that it overcharged for licensing fees to its Windows Server, a software used in cloud computing.

  • December 03, 2024

    Motorists Reach £37M Settlement In Shipping Cartel Case

    Millions of motorists who allegedly overpaid for their cars have reached a £37.3 million ($47.3 million) settlement against two vehicle shipping companies in an opt-out class action before a trial in January, lawyers representing the group said Tuesday. 

  • December 03, 2024

    Severity Of Cyber Risk 'Widely Underestimated' In UK

    Britain is facing a "widening gap" in its ability to fight cyberthreats and must improve its defenses to combat the increasing severity and scale of hostile threats, the head of the country's top cybersecurity agency said on Tuesday.

  • December 02, 2024

    Skat Settles With Ex-Barclays Director In £1.4B Fraud Case

    The Danish tax authority has settled its claim against a former Barclays Capital director and four companies that it sued alongside dozens of others over an alleged scheme to defraud it of £1.4 billion ($1.8 billion) in tax revenue.

  • December 02, 2024

    Sports Direct's Ashley Says HMRC Bungled His Data Request

    Sports Direct International PLC founder Michael Ashley argued in a London court Monday that the U.K.'s tax agency improperly handled his data request related to its probe into his 2012 sale of real estate assets, calling its alleged failings "significant, wide-spread and persistent."

  • December 02, 2024

    EU Adopts Laws To Bolster Cybersecurity Across Sectors

    The European Council announced Monday that it has adopted new laws to strengthen its cybersecurity measures by establishing an alert system across the bloc to better share information between the public and private sector.

  • December 02, 2024

    Lewis Silkin To Probe Claims Against 'MasterChef' Co-Host

    The production company behind "MasterChef" has appointed Lewis Silkin LLP to lead a probe into a series of harassment allegations against one of its presenters, Gregg Wallace.

  • December 02, 2024

    Mogul Can't Duck £102M Debt Using Sham Settlement

    Property mogul Andrew Ruhan colluded with a British businessman convicted for fraud to cook up sham litigation to escape a £102 million ($129 million) debt owed to the liquidators of three luxury hotels, a London judge has ruled.

  • December 02, 2024

    5 Convicted In €14M COVID Test VAT Fraud Scheme

    A German court convicted five people for their roles in a value-added tax fraud scheme involving the sale of COVID-19 tests that caused about €14 million ($14.7 million) in VAT losses, the European Public Prosecutor's Office said.

  • December 02, 2024

    Former Hausfeld Pro Tapped For Solicitor General In UK Gov't

    A former competition partner at Hausfeld LLP was tapped to become the next solicitor general in a surprise appointment late Monday as the outgoing senior law officer joins the U.K.'s justice ministry just months into the job.

  • December 02, 2024

    Compensation Fund Open To Claims On Failed SIPP

    Customers of a self-invested personal pension operator can now file compensation claims through the Financial Services Compensation Scheme following the company's administration and liquidation earlier this year.

  • December 02, 2024

    FCA Urges Better AML Regulation Of Conveyancing

    The supervisory body for watchdogs in the legal and accountancy sectors has told them that they must take further steps to prevent money laundering in the transfer of ownership in U.K. property transactions.

  • November 29, 2024

    Banned Lawyer Must Pay £68K For False Legal Aid Claims

    A solicitor has been struck off the roll and ordered to pay more than £65,000 ($82,700) in legal costs for breaching Solicitors Regulation Authority accounting rules, failing to ensure funds were properly returned to clients and making legal aid claims for unrecorded hospital attendances.

  • November 29, 2024

    Greensill Rejects Gov't's 'Immaterial' Defense To Leaked Probe

    Lex Greensill has said a claim by the Department for Business and Trade that leaking private details of an investigation into him had not damaged his reputation is "immaterial" to his data and privacy claim against the government.

  • November 29, 2024

    Lombard Odier Indicted In Switzerland For Money Laundering

    Swiss prosecutors said on Friday that they have indicted Lombard Odier and one of its former employees for "aggravated money laundering" — a rare move against one of the country's largest wealth managers.

  • November 29, 2024

    UK Litigation Roundup: Here's What You Missed In London

    This past week in London has seen the National Crime Agency file a civil recovery order against a Chinese couple suspected of £29 billion ($37 billion) banking fraud, Norwich City FC of the second tier of English football hit two drinks companies with IP claims, and Owen Jones of the Guardian newspaper sue Telegraph columnist Allison Pearson for libel.

  • November 29, 2024

    Pension Trustees To Repay £5.2M For Investment Breaches

    A group of pension scheme trustees must repay more than £5.2 million ($6.6 million) into three retirement savings plans after the sector's ombudsman found they had breached their duties and acted dishonestly with a number of dubious investments.

  • November 29, 2024

    BHP Exec Pressed On Mining Giant's Dam Safety Procedures

    A former executive at BHP Billiton told a court on Friday that he believes the mining giant is likely to have reviewed its safety procedures after the collapse of a dam that happened before the Brazilian disaster at the heart of the trial.

  • November 29, 2024

    Audit Watchdog Urges EU To Curb Harmful Tax Practices

    The European Union is still not doing enough to stop harmful corporate tax practices that are costing governments more than €100 billion ($105 billion) a year in revenue, the bloc's independent audit watchdog has warned.

  • November 28, 2024

    Barclays Fights 'Shareholder Rule' In Privilege Dispute

    Investors sought to prevent Barclays PLC asserting legal privilege over documents requested for disclosure in securities fraud litigation at a court hearing Thursday, after a judge ruled in a separate case that a "shareholder rule" exception to legal privilege did not exist.

  • November 28, 2024

    Police Detain 32 People In Raids On €297M VAT Fraud Network

    Police have detained more than 30 people in raids on a €297 million ($313 million) value-added tax fraud network that spanned 16 EU countries, the European Public Prosecutor's Office said Thursday.

  • November 28, 2024

    UK To Ban 'Rogue,' 'Shameless' Firms From Hiring Overseas

    Employers that breach visa rules to exploit foreign workers will be banned from hiring overseas help for at least two years, the government said Thursday as it launched measures to crack down on abuse of the immigration system.

Expert Analysis

  • Implications Of The EU AI Act For Medtech Companies

    Author Photo

    Lawyers at Hogan Lovells discuss challenges the medtech sector faces in conforming with the requirements of the recently enacted European Union Artificial Intelligence Act, and the necessity for a detailed comparison with existing legislation to identify and address potential gaps.

  • Insurance Rulings Show Court Hesitancy To Fix Policy Errors

    Author Photo

    Two recent Court of Appeal insurance decisions highlight that policyholders can only overcome policy drafting errors and claim coverage if there is a very obvious mistake, emphasizing courts' reluctance to rewrite contract terms that are capable of enforcement, says Aaron Le Marquer at Stewarts.

  • What New UK Listing Rules Mean For Distressed Companies

    Author Photo

    The Financial Conduct Authority’s recently published overhaul of U.K. listing rules makes it easier for advisers to restructure distressed listed companies, and in moving to a more disclosure-based approach, simplifies timelines and increases opportunities for investors, say Kate Stephenson and Sarah Ullathorne at Kirkland & Ellis.

  • AI Reforms Prompt Fintech Compliance Considerations

    Author Photo

    With the EU Artificial Intelligence Act's Aug. 1 enforcement, and the U.K.'s new plans to introduce AI reforms, fintech companies should consider how to best focus limited resources as they balance innovation and compliance, says Nicola Kerr-Shaw at Skadden.

  • Irish Businesses Should Act Now To Prepare For EU AI Act

    Author Photo

    Artificial intelligence is increasingly transforming the Irish job market, and proactive engagement with the forthcoming European Union AI Act, a significant shift in the regulatory landscape for Irish businesses, will be essential for Irish businesses to responsibly harness AI’s advantages and to maintain legal compliance, say lawyers at Pinsent Masons.

  • Takeaways From World Uyghur Congress Forced Labor Ruling

    Author Photo

    The Court of Appeal’s recent judgment in the World Uyghur Congress' case against the National Crime Agency confirms that companies dealing in goods that they suspect to be products of forced labor are potentially liable to criminal prosecution, presenting significant legal risks that cannot always be mitigated through conducting supply chain due diligence, say lawyers at King & Spalding.

  • 10 Ways To Manage AI Risks In Service Contracts

    Author Photo

    With the European Union Artificial Intelligence Act coming into force on Aug. 1 and introducing a new regulatory risk, and with AI technology continuing to develop at pace, parties to services arrangements should employ mechanisms now to build in flexibility and get on the front foot, says James Longster at Travers Smith.

  • What Future May Hold For AI Innovation In UK Under Labour

    Author Photo

    Labour’s recent King's Speech was notable in its absence of discussion of a comprehensive artificial intelligence bill, and while this may indicate to many that the UK is open for business, the party’s approach to cross-sectoral engagement will be critical for shaping Britain's AI landscape in the near term, says Alexander Amato-Cravero at Herbert Smith.

  • Unpacking The New Concept Of 'Trading Misfeasance'

    Author Photo

    In addition to granting one of the largest trading awards since the Insolvency Act was passed in 1986, the High Court recently introduced a novel claim for misfeasant trading in Wright v. Chappell, opening the door to liability for directors, even where insolvent liquidation or administration was not inevitable, say lawyers at Greenberg Traurig.

  • EU WhatsApp Deletion Fine Sends Clear Message

    Author Photo

    The recent European Commission fine of International Flavors & Fragrances — the first for the deletion of social media messages during a dawn raid — although halved as a result of IFF's cooperation, shows the commission's view on obstruction poses a real risk to companies under investigation, says Matthew Hall at McGuireWoods.

  • Key Takeaways From Proposed EU Anticorruption Directive

    Author Photo

    The European Commission's anticorruption proposal, on which the EU Council recently adopted a position, will substantially alter the landscape of corporate compliance and liability across the EU, so companies will need to undertake rigorous revisions of their compliance frameworks to align with the directive's demands, say lawyers at Linklaters.

  • Implications Of EU Network Directive For Data Center Owners

    Author Photo

    With the October implementation deadline of the EU’s new cybersecurity regime under the Network Systems Directive fast approaching, data center owners and operators need to consider compliance steps, and U.K. companies providing services in the EU should take note, say lawyers at Bird & Bird.

  • New EU Guidelines Provide Insights On Global AI Regulation

    Author Photo

    The European Data Protection Supervisor’s first guidelines on artificial intelligence only apply to governmental bodies, but together with the EU AI Act they demonstrate a strong and prescriptive policy, and offer a glimpse into what could be the next phase in world AI regulation, says Kevin Benedicto at Redgrave.

  • Boeing Plea Deal Is A Mixed Bag, Providing Lessons For Cos.

    Author Photo

    The plea deal for conspiracy to defraud regulators that Boeing has tentatively agreed to will, on the one hand, probably help the company avoid further reputational damage, but also demonstrates to companies that deferred prosecution agreements have real teeth, and that noncompliance with DPA terms can be costly, says Edmund Vickers at Red Lion Chambers.

  • Keeping Up With Carbon Capture Policy In The US And EU

    Author Photo

    Recent regulatory moves from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the European Commission in the carbon capture, sequestration and storage space are likely to further encourage the owners and operators of fossil fuel-fired power plants to make decisions on shutdowns or reconfiguration to meet the expanding requirements, say Inosi Nyatta and Silvia Brünjes at Sullivan & Cromwell.

Want to publish in Law360?


Submit an idea

Have a news tip?


Contact us here
Hello! I'm Law360's automated support bot.

How can I help you today?

For example, you can type:
  • I forgot my password
  • I took a free trial but didn't get a verification email
  • How do I sign up for a newsletter?
Ask a question!