Piers Rake of the Astraea Group argues that the UK’s whistleblower regime is not fit for purpose and, worse, it undermines efforts to make the UK a destination of choice for investment.
In an article published in The Times today, Astraea Group's Piers Rake identifies the fault lines running through the UK's whistleblower regime and calls for urgent reform.
Click here to see the full article.
The High Court has handed down a controversial judgment concerning the rights of protestors to make public statements which are capable of influencing a jury.
In this series of articles over the coming months, we will look at the councils at risk and will unpick some of the causes and discuss how the consequences are likely to impact communities affected.
Two recent contract cases are a reminder of the dangers of drafting incomplete contractual payment terms.
Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, judicial decisions on financial sanctions relating to Russia are in the spotlight.
Under proposed legislation, large businesses could be criminally liable for failing to prevent fraud perpetrated by their employees and other associates.
The Office for Financial Sanctions Implementation (“OFSI”) has issued a second general licence for the payment of legal fees.
The High Court has recently dismissed what is believed to be the first application brought to set aside a sanctions designation under current legislation. The judgment provides a significant insight into the principles and approach applicable to such applications.
On 22 February 2023, Mr Healy-Pratt (sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge) issued his judgment in the Osbourne claim, granting an extension to relief previously granted and providing further comment on Lavender J’s analysis.
The decision in Osbourne v (1) Persons Unknown Category A and others has, despite granting the relief sought by the claimant, raised some doubts about cryptoasset recovery where additional relief is sought against subsequent recipients of stolen cryptoassets whose connection to the jurisdiction is less established than that of persons who first stole them.
On 28 November 2022, the SRA published guidance entitled “Complying with the UK Sanctions Regime”, which provides a helpful overview of the regulator’s expectations of law firms and regulated individuals working within this field. Rory Mulchrone and Aleksandra Haustova examine some of the key features of an effective sanctions compliance regime.
The Law Commission has now issued its final report on confiscation of the proceeds of crime after conviction, including cryptoassets. Lisa McCreath and Harmish Mehta have shared their insight on the observations and recommendations relating to restraint orders, specifically with regard to cryptoassets, coming out of the review.
Singapore issues its first known written judgment concerning NFTs. In this article, James Ramsden KC, Lisa McCreath and Harmish Mehta consider Lee Seiu Kin J’s approach to key issues of jurisdiction and the status of NFTs. The judgment is demonstrative that, at least in certain areas, Singaporean law on crypto disputes is moving closer to the position currently adopted in England and Wales.
The High Court of England and Wales has overturned a decision to vary rather than set aside freezing orders relating to Petr Aven, who has been sanctioned in the UK and EU. This judgment makes interesting comment about the interplay between the freezing order and sanctions regimes.
President Emmanuel Macron announced France’s withdrawal from the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) on Friday “in line with its climate objectives”, leaving the continued progress of modernisation plans unclear.
In a dispute over a cryptocurrency investment, the Dubai Court of First Instance has issued an order for payment of damages denominated in cryptocurrency, in a move consistent with the UAE’s wider objective of becoming a hub for crypto-based businesses.
In an article published in the Central London Lawyer, Harmish Mehta and Matthew Allan analyse the developments so far in Tulip Trading Ltd v Bitcoin Association for BSV and others.
We consider the various factors to be taken account when planning and handling internal investigations.
In an interview with City Solicitor magazine, Matthew Allan considers prospective shifts in the regulation of cryptocurrency, the impact of NFTs on the art market and how to enforce your crypto rights.
On 6 April 2021, the 127th Practice Direction came into force which included amendments to the on-going Disclosure Pilot Scheme. We consider the key changes and whether they address the concerns raised so far by Court users.
The Digital Dispute Resolution Rules can be used by parties to smart contracts and other technology-based agreements can use to resolve disputes out of court. We consider what the rules cover, what they do not, and potential future developments.
DeFi is the latest wave in the cryptoasset movement. We consider what it involves and how it may be regulated.
We consider the new rules on witness statements in the Business and Property Courts, why they are needed and their implications.
When enforcing English judgments overseas, it is important to carefully weigh the respective benefits of default and summary judgment, and the most obvious option may not always be the best.
Last week, the European Commission launched legal action against AstraZeneca for not respecting its vaccine supply contract. We discuss what the published and leaked documents tell us about the issues likely to play out in the litigation.
Over the past few weeks Non-Fungible Tokens (“NFTs”) have upended the traditional art market. We consider what NFTs are, how they work and the issues arising from attempts to capitalise on them.