Final report recommends the digitisation of UK shareholdings through a fully intermediated system of shareholding, with an interim phase of digitised share registers.
By Mark Austin CBE, James Inness, Anna Ngo, and Johannes Poon
On 15 July 2025, the Digitisation Taskforce, chaired by Sir Douglas Flint, published its final report, marking a significant milestone in the journey towards digitising the UK shareholding framework. Its findings have been welcomed by HM Treasury on behalf of the UK
UK membership will strengthen cross-border enforcement of English court judgments and reinforce London’s position as a key global centre for dispute resolution.
By Oliver Middleton, Samuel Pape, and Sean Newhouse
On 1 July 2025, the Hague Judgments Convention 2019 (Hague 2019) enters into force across the UK for proceedings commencing on or after that date.1 This is a major development in the cross-border enforcement landscape, supporting the recognition and enforcement of English court judgments across a growing
In the next phase of Online Safety Act implementation, children’s safety duties and related codes of practice will come into full effect on 25 July 2025.
By Gail Crawford, Fiona Maclean, Alain Traill, Calum Docherty, Edgar Lee, and Amy Smyth
The UK Online Safety Act (OSA) establishes an extensive regulatory framework designed to protect children and adults online by phasing in duties of care on covered service providers, including duties to prevent the spread of
The guidelines confirm that FCPA enforcement will continue but provide opportunities for foreign authorities to lead where US interests are not significantly impacted.
By Clare Nida, Pamela Reddy, Nathan H. Seltzer, Annie Birch, and Emma Bunting
On 9 June 2025, US Department of Justice (DOJ) Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a memorandum outlining guidelines (the Guidelines) for investigations and enforcement actions brought by DOJ under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). This follows on from
The ruling, which narrows the UK’s jurisdiction over money laundering offences, will impact how cross-border money laundering offences are prosecuted going forward.
By Pamela Reddy, Clare Nida, and Annie Birch
The UK Supreme Court’s decision in El-Khouri1 has clarified the territorial limits of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA). The ruling confirmed that the primary money laundering offences under Sections 327 to 329 POCA do not have extra-territorial effect, narrowing the UK’s jurisdiction over money laundering
A recent statutory instrument aims to remove legal uncertainty surrounding crypto staking and ease blockchain operations.
By Stuart Davis, Gabriel Lakeman, and Emma Trankeenan
On 9 January 2025, the UK Government published the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Collective Investment Schemes) (Amendment) Order 2025 (SI 2025/17) (the Staking SI) and the accompanying explanatory memorandum (the Explanatory Memorandum).
The Staking SI together with the Explanatory Memorandum confirm that arrangements where a firm provides services to stake cryptoassets on
Recent reforms in the UK market have led to less prescriptive executive remuneration principles that encourage companies to tailor structures to their business, strategy, and performance while consulting with shareholders.
By Mark Austin, Kendall Burnett, Sarah Gadd, James Inness, Anna Ngo, and Johannes Poon
On 8 October 2024, the Investment Association (IA) updated its Principles of Remuneration (and supporting guidance) (the IA Principles), which predominantly apply to UK-listed companies. UK proxy advisors refer to the
A primer on the new law for relevant service providers, within and beyond the UK.
By Gail E. Crawford, Deborah J. Kirk, Fiona M. Maclean, Alain Traill, Victoria Wan, and Amy Smyth
The Online Safety Act (the OSA) received Royal Assent on 26 October 2023 and is now in force.
The OSA establishes an extensive regulatory framework for providers of online user-to-user services and search services with links to the UK. A link to the
The sentencing of Romy Andrianarisoa, the first ever foreign public official to be convicted under the Bribery Act 2010, provides important takeaways.
By Pamela Reddy, Robin Spedding, and Matthew Unsworth
On 10 May 2024, Romy Andrianarisoa was sentenced to three-and-a-half years’ imprisonment for soliciting bribes contrary to Section 2 of the Bribery Act 2010 (Bribery Act). Andrianarisoa, former Chief of Staff to President Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar, requested substantial cash payments in exchange for helping UK-headquartered Gemfields Group