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Financial Services UK
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July 15, 2024
WH Ireland Completes £5M Sale Of Capital Markets Division
Wealth manager WH Ireland Group PLC said on Monday that it has finalized the £5 million ($6.5 million) sale of its capital markets division to financial services company Zeus Capital Ltd.
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July 12, 2024
Lawyer Beats Allegation He Helped Tycoon Duck Asset Freeze
A leading Monégasque lawyer did not conspire to help an embattled Taiwanese shipping magnate evade an asset freezing order, as he "honestly believed" he was entitled to transfer $26 million from the sale of the businessman's villas, a London judge ruled Friday.
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July 12, 2024
UK Litigation Roundup: Here's What You Missed In London
This past week in London has seen the owner of the Lambretta scooter brand Innocenti SA embroiled in a trademark dispute with a property developer, a clash between two art dealers over a collection of tapestries, Telecom Italia pursue a debt claim against a competing telecommunications company, and performing arts trade union Equity hit a casting directory for charging unfair subscription fees on actors. Here, Law360 looks at these and other new claims in the U.K.
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July 12, 2024
Israeli Aquafarm Blames War For Unpaid $21M Debt
An Israeli aquafarming company has hit back at an asset management firm trying to recover $21 million for an allegedly unpaid settlement agreement, arguing it has been impossible to raise money following Hamas' Oct. 7 attack in Israel.
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July 12, 2024
Dentons To Face SRA Appeal On AML Misconduct Ruling
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has appealed against a London tribunal's decision that inadvertent anti-money laundering failures at the U.K. arm of Dentons over a politically exposed client did not amount to professional misconduct.
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July 12, 2024
Asset Manager Impax Completes Financial Adviser Buyout
Impax said on Friday that it has now completed the purchase of the assets of fixed-income manager Absalon Corp. Credit, as the private equity firm which focuses on renewable energy looks to expand its business beyond the U.S.
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July 12, 2024
FCA Cuts Record-Keeping For Banks Advising Listed Firms
The Financial Conduct Authority has cut record-keeping requirements for banks advising client companies that are listed on the London Stock Exchange.
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July 12, 2024
Fix AML Defenses Or Face Fines, German Banking Group Told
Germany's financial watchdog warned the Solaris SE digital banking group on Friday that it faces regulatory penalties if it does not shore up its defenses against money laundering.
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July 12, 2024
Gov't Urged To Set Up Comp Program For Pension Failings
Women who lost out after the government failed to tell them that their retirement age had changed have called for the "swift implementation" of a compensation program by the new pensions minister.
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July 11, 2024
London Revamps Listing Rules To Hone Competitive Edge
The move by the financial watchdog to rewrite U.K. Listing Rules better equips the London Stock Exchange to attract and retain high-growth companies, experts tell Law360. And they downplay fears the new rules could weaken consumer protection.
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July 11, 2024
NCA Can Seize Money Linked To £55M Tax Scam
A 13-year money laundering investigation involving a lottery winner, a bomb hoax and a £55 million ($71 million) tax fraud neared its end at a London court on Thursday as a judge ordered funds from three defunct companies to be forfeited to the National Crime Agency.
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July 11, 2024
Labour Urged To Represent All Generations In Policy Planning
The new Labour government must ensure that its policy agenda reflects the needs of all generations, pensions provider Aegon said on Thursday, saying its research suggests that under-50s are more positive about their long-term financial planning than those who are older.
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July 11, 2024
Barclays Sued By Trader For Suspending Investor's Account
Barclays is being sued for allegedly blocking a customer from trading on the bank's investor platform and failing to tell the market trader when selling could resume, losing him £6.7 million ($8.6 million) in profit.
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July 11, 2024
Social Media Influencers Deny FCA Charges Over Forex Ads
Eight reality TV stars and social media influencers pleaded not guilty to charges brought by the Financial Conduct Authority at a London court on Thursday over claims that they promoted a high-risk trading scheme dealing in financial products without authorization.
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July 11, 2024
Ex-Autonomy CFO Formally Banned After Conviction
The U.K. audit watchdog said on Thursday that it has formalized its 20-year exclusion from the accountants' professional body of the chief financial officer of software company Autonomy after he was convicted of fraud and securities offenses in the U.S.
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July 11, 2024
FCA Overhauls Share Listing Rules To Boost LSE
The Financial Conduct Authority unveiled a "significant" revamp of its share listings regime on Thursday, a move to help the London Stock Exchange provide corporate financing and stay competitive with other global financial centers.
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July 10, 2024
Deutsche Bank Settles Ex-Trader's Malicious Prosecution Suit
Deutsche Bank has settled a lawsuit brought by a former trader who claimed the bank scapegoated him when the U.S. Department of Justice began an investigation into suspected interest rate rigging, according to a Wednesday filing in New York federal court.
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July 10, 2024
HMRC, CPS Beat Financier's Claim Over Botched Prosecution
HM Revenue and Customs and the Crown Prosecution Service have beaten claims of malicious prosecution and misfeasance in public office by a corporate financier following a failed criminal fraud case, with a judge finding that they had enough evidence to pursue him.
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July 10, 2024
FCA Beats Applicant's Claim Over Noise Aversion Condition
The Financial Conduct Authority did not fail to accommodate a job applicant with a sound sensitivity condition, an employment tribunal has ruled after finding the agency did everything it could to mitigate her condition.
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July 10, 2024
UK Prosecutors Secure 1st Monero Crypto Payout
A drug dealer has paid back £15,000 ($19,200) of his illegal profits by surrendering his Monero cryptocurrency to a U.K. government agency, the first time the coin has been sold off in a Crown Prosecution Service case.
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July 17, 2024
Travers Smith Hires Infrastructure Finance Pro From WFW
Travers Smith LLP announced Wednesday that it has recruited a specialist in infrastructure finance from Watson Farley & Williams LLP, boosting the firm's partnership ranks after it suffered a recent wave of exits.
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July 10, 2024
Citi Rebuked Over Botched Misconduct Probe Into Trader
A decision by Citigroup to fire a trader amid allegations that he had given misleading updates on deals was unfair because its probe was plagued by delays and led to an unreasonable finding of gross misconduct, a tribunal has ruled.
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July 10, 2024
Gov't Appoints Minister For Both Treasury And DWP
The new Labour government has appointed a minister spanning HM Treasury and the Department for Work and Pensions, a move that analysts said could indicate a more joined-up approach to pensions policy.
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July 10, 2024
Finance Co. Can't Escape Liability In £1.7M Failed Investments
A finance company has failed to duck liability for botched property investments worth approximately £1.7 million ($2.2 million) as a London appeals court found the firm had accepted responsibility for another business to arrange the deals.
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July 10, 2024
PE Biz TowerBrook Bids £253M For Payments Platform Co.
Private equity shop TowerBrook Capital Partners LP has made an improved cash offer of £253 million ($325 million) for Equals Group PLC, the British financial technology company said Wednesday after it put itself up for sale.
Expert Analysis
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Takeaways From ICO's Action In NatWest Privacy Dispute
The U.K. Information Commissioner’s Office's latest intervention in the Nigel Farage NatWest Bank dispute highlights the importance of the legal responsibilities of all data processors in possession of sensitive information, and is a reminder that upholding bank customers' privacy rights is paramount, says James Kelliher at Keller Postman.
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How The OECD Global Tax Proposal Could Affect M&A
Following agreement on the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Pillar Two proposal to introduce a global minimum tax, domestic implementation is expected to have a significant impact on international M&A transactions, with financial modeling, deal structuring, risk allocation and joint venture arrangements likely to be affected, say lawyers at Freshfields.
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How Russia Sanctions May Complicate Contract Obligations
Against the backdrop of recent comprehensive sanctions against Russia and Belarus, a review of recent U.K. case law clarifies that certain force majeure clauses likely cover trade sanctions, and that future litigation will further develop the scope of force majeure and frustration in the context of sanctions, says Frances Jenkins at Quillon Law.
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New Guidance Offers Clarity For Charities On ESG Investing
The need for charities to understand investing in line with environmental, social and governance aspirations has never been more pressing, and recently updated U.K. Charity Commission guidance should give trustees confidence to make decisions that are right for their organization, says Robert Nieri at Shoosmiths.
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US And EU Poised For Closer Ties In Tech Financial Market
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the European Commission are both concerned about the challenges posed by the increasing digitalization of financial products, such as the use of AI and new forms of credit, and by working together, the two regulators can share information and best practices, says Yulia Makarova at Cooley.
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FCA Case Failures Highlight Value Of Robust Investigation
The recent U.K. upper tribunal judgment in Seiler, Whitestone and Raitzin v. The Financial Conduct Authority, criticizing the regulator for accepting a narrative advanced by the firm, makes clear that such admissions must not get in the way of a proper investigation to enable agencies to target the correct individuals, say Tom Bushnell and Olivia Dwan at Hickman & Rose.
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UK Shares-Tax Proposals Offer Long-Awaited Modernization
The U.K. government's recent consultation on the introduction of a new tax on transactions in securities raises detailed legal and practical issues, but the prospect of a single digital stamp tax offering both streamlined legislation and administration will be welcomed, say Zoë Arnautov and Mark Sheiham at Simmons & Simmons.
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Directors Should Beware Reinvigorated UK Insolvency Service
The recent lengthy disqualification of Carillion directors serves as a salutary lesson to executives on the level of third-party scrutiny to which their actions may be exposed, and a reminder that the directors’ fiduciary duty to creditors is paramount once a company is irretrievably insolvent, says Ben Drew at Fladgate.
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The New Accountability Landscape For Financial Regulators
The preliminary-stage success of a group of U.K. lawmakers in a case against the Financial Conduct Authority highlights the significant hurdles for review of regulatory actions, but the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 creates additional visibility into the regulators' decision making, which may lead to an increase in judicial review activity, say attorneys at Cleary.
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Director Responsibilities Amid Russian Asset Seizures
Following Russia's recent takeover of several companies, shareholders may argue that directors failed to properly guard the companies' assets and choose to bring derivative claims or unfair prejudice petitions, say lawyers at Collyer Bristow.
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Investors Should Prepare For Possible EU Energy Treaty Exit
Following the European Commission’s recent call for the European Union and Euratom to withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty, investors in the energy sector should assess the legal structure of their existing investments and consider restructuring to ensure adequate protections, says Philipp Kurek at Kirkland.
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EU Raw Materials Initiative Vital For Sustainable Value Chains
The European Commission’s recent steps toward developing partnerships with the U.S. and Argentina to ensure a secure supply of critical raw materials are a welcome recognition of the importance of mining to the European Union's sustainable transition, say lawyers at Watson Farley.
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UK Top Court Ruling Spells Uncertainty For Litigation Funders
The U.K. Supreme Court's recent decision in Paccar Inc. v. Competition Appeal Tribunal has called litigation funding agreements impermissible, causing astonishment in the legal industry and raising questions over how funders should now approach litigation, say Mohsin Patel at Factor Risk Management and Imran Benson at Hailsham Chambers.
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Gender Diverse Boards May Reduce Corporate Fraud Risk
Following the recently proposed "failure to prevent fraud" offense, companies should focus on diversity in leadership as research shows that an increase in women's representation on boards is associated with a decreased probability of fraud, say Anoushka Warlow and Suzanne Gallagher at BCL Solicitors.
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Trustees Should Take Caution After UK Pension Tap Plan
The U.K. government's recent plan to boost technology startups by tapping into pension sector funds may risk the hard-earned savings of members, so trustees need to be mindful of the proposals in light of their fiduciary duties, say Beth Brown and Riccardo Bruno at Arc Pensions.