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Public inquiries into privacy and press regulation
BBC Radio 4's PM programme's 'Privacy Commission' has finished hearing evidence and will presumably be publishing its report shortly.
Read moreAccountability without liability
Last week the FSA laid the foundations of the FCA with the publication of "The Financial Conduct Authority - Approach to Regulation".
Read moreFOS does not breach human rights
The FOS' compliance with fundamental principles of justice was thrown into the spotlight by last week's ECHR decision in the cause célèbre case of Heather Moor & Edgecomb Limited (HME) v UK (FOS).
Read morePhone hacking scandal reaches a new plane
If, as seems likely, it proves true that the News of the World did indeed hack into the voicemail messages of the abducted teenager Milly Dowler, the phone hacking saga moves onto an entirely new plane.
Read moreDisclosure of documents in privacy litigation
What documents is a claimant entitled to demand from a media defendant in a privacy case?
Read moreIs it time to regulate MPs like other professionals?
I am delighted to announce that Sam Bishop, who joins RPC as a trainee in September, won ARDL's 2011 Marion Simmons QC Memorial Essay Prize.
Read morePromotion of competition at the centre of new FCA's remit
Last week the FSA published - "to inform public debate and facilitate stakeholder engagement" - the initial thinking behind how the new FCA, which is expected to be established by end-2012, will approach delivery of its objectives.
Read moreEstate 4 Limited v HMRC – proactivity can achieve results!
We are often asked by advisors to assist them in closing down long-running enquiries by HMRC.
Read moreRPC Practice Notes: guidance for the busy practitioner
In addition to regular updates on the latest tax news and case law developments, RPC Tax Take features Practice Notes written by specialist lawyers at RPC.
Read moreEight things you need to know about the Bribery Act
As we have already posted, the Bribery Act comes in force today.
Read moreBribery Act goes live today - but it's never too late
The birth of the Bribery Act 2010 today represents a new chapter in corporate criminal liability, but the requirements to have anti-bribery systems and controls in place should not surprise any FSA regulated firm.
Read moreThe world (of complaints handling and redress) according to FOS
Yesterday Natalie Ceeney, Chief Ombudsman, set out her vision for how the financial services complaints and redress system can be improved. Her speech came at an interesting time as the performance and powers of FOS are under scrutiny as never before.
Read morePartnership residence – a rallying cry!
An important decision of the First-tier Tribunal has been released in the case of Mark Higgins Rallying (a firm) v. Revenue & Customs [2011] UK FTT 340 (TC).
Read moreMortgage fraud against lenders: FSA's report on how lenders manage the risk
The FSA recently published a report on how lenders manage the risk posed by mortgage fraud.
Read moreCorporates facing criminal penalties need certainty when self-reporting
On Monday of this week I reported in the Financial Times the increasing reliance by the OFT on whistleblowers who come to the OFT through its leniency programme to reveal details of anti-competitive arrangements in exchange for immunity from civil fines and criminal penalties.
Read moreIndustry seeks to put FOS in its place - and FOS fights back
In recent weeks the performance and powers of the FOS have been under intense scrutiny with its own Annual Review, the BBA's judicial review of the PPI complaints rules and FSA announcements about award limits and rule changes.
Read moreAudit – a global market requires global thinking
The OFT has finally dared to lift the lid on the UK's audit market to peer inside what is likely to be a Pandora's box of complex issues.
Read moreFSA secures first conviction for boiler room fraud
The FSA recently secured its first criminal conviction for boiler room fraud. At Southwark Crown Court, David Mason pleaded guilty to:
Read moreLaw Society anti-bribery guide useful for non-lawyers
The Law Society has recently published a guidance note on the Bribery Act 2010 and how its member firms should comply with the Act.
Read moreTreasury plans reduction in burden of the Money Laundering Regulations by decriminalisation
HM Treasury has recently proposed amendments to the Money Laundering Regulations to encourage a risk based approach to anti money laundering compliance and thereby reduce the regulatory burden on SMEs.
Read moreLloyd's Managing Agents faced with four separate anti-bribery reporting obligations
The recent Lloyd's Market Bulletin on the Bribery Act is an excellent guide for Managing Agents, but it suggests that in the event of an incident of bribery (or even suspected bribery) the Managing Agents may need to make as many as four separate reports about their suspicions:
Read moreFinancial Services Bill – FOS naming and shaming could harm blameless businesses
The FOS, under proposed new legislation set out in yesterday’s draft Financial Services Bill, would be required to publish reports on its determinations into consumer complaints, naming and potentially shaming businesses involved.
Read moreJustice Secretary expresses concern over MPs defying injunctions
The Times has today reported that the Justice Secretary Ken Clarke yesterday told the Joint Committee on the Defamation Bill that he was concerned about the growing habit of using parliamentary privilege to defy court gagging orders.
Read moreNational Crime Agency: an FBI for the UK?
The recent speculation that the SFO would be wound up (as discussed in my earlier blog) has somewhat over-shadowed the plans for a National Crime Agency (NCA).
Read moreTiming is everything... but not in the fight against bribery and corruption!
With the implementation of the Bribery Act only two weeks away, absolutely the last thing that should have been of concern was the break up of the lead anti-corruption investigator and prosecutor, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).
Read moreA former judge reflects on privacy injunctions
Mr Justice Eady's interview last month by Joshua Rosenberg -
Read moreResolving PPI complaints – pay them all, defend in Court or request a FOS hearing?
Barclays announced yesterday that it will reimburse all customers who complained about the sale of their PPI before 20 April in full (plus 8% interest) without any further investigation of the individual claims.
Read moreHMRC steps up the pace with new taskforces
We have already had the offshore disclosure facility, the new disclosure opportunity, the Liechtenstein disclosure facility and the new regime for offshore penalties.
Read moreCost of 'root cause' rule changes unknown
The FSA's confirmation that the PPI complaints handling guidance relating to root cause analysis will be applied to all complaints handling from 1 September has clarified what the FSA expects of firms.
Read moreRichard Burger appointed Partner at RPC
As Head of RPC's Regulatory Group, I am delighted to announce the appointment of Richard Burger as Partner.
Read moreFOS maximum award limit to rise to £150k
A month later than planned, the FSA announced on 27 May that the proposals set out in CP 10/21 would be implemented.
Read moreDecline in FSA performance against service standards – as expected
At a time when financial services firms are not only under more scrutiny from the FSA but also require their regulator to be as effective and efficient as possible, the FSA's level of performance has declined.
Read moreA digest of recent news (1) - UK judgments
For one reason and another, the blog has been unable to report on much of the recent news. This entry is an attempt to remedy the situation. Normal service should be resumed shortly.
Read moreBank of Scotland fined for root cause failings
Far sooner than I expected, on Wednesday the FSA sent a strong message to the complaints handlers in every regulated firm that the rules on root cause analysis mean what they say.
Read moreFinal responses by 1 June for complaints for over £100k
There is likely to be a small but not insignificant flurry of final responses sent before 1 June regarding high value complaints as firms try to avoid the likely increase in the FOS award limit from £100k to £150k which will apply from January 2012.
Read moreDirector of SFO talks tough on corrupt foreign companies
Richard Alderman, Director of the SFO, says he will use the Bribery Act to tackle corrupt foreign companies as the SFO's top priority.
Read moreChristopher Lunn – the saga continues!
Readers may be familiar with the ongoing saga of Christopher Lunn & Co and HMRC.
Read moreFSA suitability seminar: 'capacity for loss' is key
Yesterday's FSA Retail Conduct Risk Seminar on assessing suitability went under the title 'Establishing the risk a customer is willing and able to take and making a suitable investment selection'.
Read moreOFT confirms a lack of competition amongst UK auditors
The OFT announced on Tuesday its provisional conclusion that features of the audit market were not working well, stating its intention to consult further on whether the matter should be referred to the Competition Commission for an in-depth investigation.
Read moreA prudent approach to regulation
The Bank of England and the FSA have today published a paper explaining the approach the new Prudential Regulation Authority will take to the regulation of deposit takers – banks, building societies, credit unions and investment firms.
Read moreFOS complains about 'entrenched', 'legalistic' positions
In celebrating the achievement of dealing with a million frontline enquiries, Chief Ombudsman, Natalie Ceeney notes in today's annual review for 2010/11 that there are encouraging signs of improvements in (non-PPI) complaints handling.
Read moreCASS crusade gets personal: CF10 fined and banned
The FSA's commitment to personal enforcement action as part of its senior management responsibility drive was confirmed today by the publication of the Final Notice against David McGrath, formerly of ActivTrades.
Read moreEU warning to financial services industry to keep its house in order
EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia today warned that ex ante regulation of the financial services industry is no substitute for competition compliance.
Read moreThe Tribunal considers the meaning of 'power' over documents
An interesting case has just been heard by the First-tier Tribunal ('FTT'). The FTT held that a taxpayer had documents in its 'power', for the purposes of Section 20 Taxes Management Act 1970 (now repealed), despite not holding them or having a legally enforceable right to them.
Read moreUK close to Swiss tax deal
There has been much comment and speculation in the media recently on the landmark tax agreement between the UK and Switzerland which is close to signing (finalisation of the agreement is expected before the end of June 2011).
Read moreSupreme Court decision in Tower MCashback
The Supreme Court's eagerly awaited decision in Tower MCashback has now been released (the importance of the case is reflected in the fact that it was considered by seven Supreme Court Justices).
Read moreAre privacy injunctions too restrictive?
Has privacy law gone too far? It’s not just the editor of the Daily Mail who thinks so.
Read moreBBA abandons PPI judicial review
The BBA statement - that the banks will not appeal the judicial review decision in BBA v FSA & FOS - refers to "matters of important principle which we will be taking forward in other ways with the authorities".
Read moreMeteor launches judicial review of FOS ruling
I read with interest yesterday's industry press reports that Meteor Asset Management is to launch a judicial review of an adverse FOS award relating to Lehmans structured products - but I wonder if it will get off the ground.
Read moreLloyds Banking Group sets aside £3.2bn for PPI as rules bite
Shocking estimates of the likely increased costs to the industry of PPI mis-selling arising from changes to the PPI complaints handling and root cause rules look set to be surpassed.
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