The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has just published the outcome of new research into the approach that Audit Committee Chairs (ACCs) take to audit quality. The findings suggest inconsistency among ACCs on what constitutes audit quality, and how it should be approached, which the FRC says “lends weight to the proposals for reforms in the … Continue Reading
The FCA has just updated on the work that it had stopped or postponed in order to allow it to focus on the more urgent work that has been required of the regulator as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant economic turmoil.… Continue Reading
In the recent decision of A v B and another [2020] EWHC 1491, the High Court decided that where an auditor is required to provide documents to a regulator, and the auditor’s client asserts privilege over such documents, it is for the auditor to decide whether the documents are in fact privileged and therefore should not … Continue Reading
As we have reported previously, there are a number of action groups who are actively pursuing group claims against insurers. The groups argue that the insurers in question have unlawfully refused group members’ claims under their business interruption (“BI”) insurance policies.… Continue Reading
The Court of Appeal has recently confirmed in Glencairn IP Holdings Ltd and another v Product Specialities Inc and others [2020] EWCA Civ 609 that the Bolkiah principle will only apply where a former client of a firm of solicitors alleges that a new client has an adverse interest to it. Therefore, a firm of … Continue Reading
The Cabinet Office has published guidance for contractual parties on what it deems responsible behaviour during COVID-19. The motive being to encourage parties to support the response to the pandemic and protect jobs and the economy, noting that, “bad behaviour will be bad for jobs and will impair our economic recovery.”… Continue Reading
Many of the ongoing disputes between insureds and insurers about the nature and extent of coverage provided by certain business interruption insurance policies for losses suffered in the wake of the pandemic now seems destined to end up before the Courts or the Financial Ombudsman Service.… Continue Reading
Last week, the Pensions Regulator (“tPR“), the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA“) and The Money and Pensions Service (“MaPs“) urged savers to keep calm and not rush any decisions about their pension in response to the COVID 19 pandemic.… Continue Reading
Earlier this month, a Wolverhampton-based financial advisor was banned by the Insolvency Service for eight years after his firm provided poor pension investment advice, resulting in clients losing £7 million.… Continue Reading
Whilst we all try to settle in to our new working from home routines, and maintain social distancing measures, the civil justice system is also having to find ways to adapt. Early messages from Court system that it would be ‘business as usual’ quickly proved impossible; but over the past week there have been procedures … Continue Reading
On 28 February, former senior Barclays executives Roger Jenkins, Tom Kalaris, and Richard Boath were all acquitted of conspiracy to commit fraud contrary to section 1(1) of the Criminal Law Act 1997, and fraud by false misrepresentation, contrary to section 1 of the Fraud Act 2006. The case is the latest in a series of … Continue Reading
The English Court has now made a clear ruling; “I consider that cryptoassets such as Bitcoin are property“, Bryan J concludes in his judgment in AA v Persons Unknown. The Court has granted another interim injunction over Bitcoin, this time held in an account of a cryptocurrency exchange after it had been transferred to the exchange … Continue Reading
Debbie Gupta, FCA Director of Life Insurance and Financial Advice Supervision, spoke at a conference last week about how financial advisers might improve the suitability of their advice to clients and at the same time reduce the risk of client complaints (or at least improve the chances of successfully defending them).… Continue Reading
The FCA has now published its Final Guidance on Cryptoassets (PS19/22), setting out the FCA’s position on how cryptoassets fit within the current regulatory perimeter. The Guidance does not change the scope of regulation of cryptoassets by the FCA, but does provide useful and practical insight into how the regime applies in the cryptoasset sphere … Continue Reading
In a report published last week, the House of Commons’ Treasury Select Committee (“Committee“) recommended that the FCA should be given more powers to help it address the consumer harm occurring in the “grey area” that sits just outside the FCA’s perimeter of regulation. … Continue Reading
The Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) has just published its Business Plan for 2019/20, setting out its strategic objectives and priorities for the year ahead.… Continue Reading
The Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) has published a consultation paper (“Guidance”) providing guidance on the regulation of cryptoasset activities.… Continue Reading
After a relatively quiet year for fines in 2018, the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA“) has already published two Final Notices this week confirming the first fines of 2019 that total over £79 million.… Continue Reading
The Court of Appeal in Elite Property Holdings Limited, Decolace Properties Limited v Barclays Bank Plc [2018] EWCA Civ 1688 considered the appellants’ Application for permission to appeal against the Mercantile Court Judge’s decision to strike out part of the Appellants claims against the Respondent Bank. Whilst the application concerned permission to appeal, this was the first occassion on which … Continue Reading
Squire Patton Boggs’ London office will be welcoming over 100 legal and compliance professionals from a range of banks and financial institutions next week for a major financial crime and regulatory risk conference. We are hosting the event for the leading industry forum, MLROs.com. There will be a full programme of speakers covering a wide range of topics including: … Continue Reading
The FCA’s Business Plan for 2017/18 identified cyber risk as a cross sector priority for the FCA. In keeping with the FCA’s drive to encourage firms to acknowledge, confront and manage cyber risk, at the PIMFA Financial Crime Conference on 25 January 2018, Robin Jones (Head of Technology, Resilience & Cyber, FCA) delivered a warning that along … Continue Reading
It was reported last week that the Financial Reporting Council (the “FRC”), which oversees the UK’s accounting industry, has more than tripled the size of its enforcement team over the past five years. The FRC’s principle role is to regulate auditors, accountants and actuaries with its work aimed at investors and others who rely on … Continue Reading
Background As mentioned in our blog posted on 20 September 2016, MasterCard was facing one of the UK’s first class-action lawsuits, following the introduction of collective proceedings under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. This allows for collective proceedings to be brought in the Competition Appeal Tribunal (“CAT”) on an opt-out basis, by representatives of consumers … Continue Reading
Background Our previous blog piece (20 September 2016) described how, in 2007, the EU found that MasterCard’s Multilateral Interchange Fees (“MIFs“) were unfairly high. This decision was applicable to cross-border transactions using MasterCard and Maestro cards in the European Economic Area (“EEA“). The finding was that Mastercard’s MIF breached Article 101 of the Treaty on the … Continue Reading
