Press and Media
News, views and comment - RPC in the media.
Insurtech investment being stepped up – number of insurance patents filed jumps 40% in a year
Investment in insurtech is being stepped up, as the number of insurance-related patents filed worldwide jumped 40% last year, to 917 in 2017 (to Dec 31) from 657* in 2016
Read moreAverage fine for data breaches doubles to £146,000 in just a year
The average value of fines issued by the Information Commissioner’s Office for failing to protect against data breaches has doubled to £146,000 in the year to September 30 2018, up from £73,000 the year before.
Read moreCraft beer boom sees trade marks jump 20% to record high
The craft beer boom has seen the number of new trade marks registered in the UK for beer brands rise by 20%, to a record high of 2,372 in 2017, up from 1,983 the previous year*, shows research from RPC, the City-headquartered law firm.
Read moreUK cryptocurrency regulations could take up to two years based on comparable regulatory extensions
UK regulation of the cryptocurrency market would take two years to introduce based on comparable extensions of the FCA’s remit.
Read moreRPC hires white-collar crime Partner into Regulatory team
Sam Tate joins firm in September from financial crime consultancy, Exiger.
Read moreHMRC paid informants over £343,000 for intelligence on tax evasion in the last year
HMRC paid informants more than £343,000 in 2017/18 for providing information on potential tax evasion as HMRC goes to increasingly extreme lengths to bolster its investigations.
Read moreRPC adds professional indemnity Partner to leading Insurance team
Highly recommended in the directories, Rhian Howell is a leading professional negligence lawyer with significant experience dealing with claims against lawyers and construction professionals. She is also experienced in handling disciplinary and regulatory matters on behalf of professionals.
Read moreHacking prosecutions fall for a further year despite the threat of cyber crime
The number of computer hacking prosecutions fell for the second successive year in 2017, despite the ever-increasing threat to businesses and individuals
Read moreValue of UK e-retail M&A deals up 14-fold in the last year
M&A activity has been driven by deals targeting luxury fashion e-retailers, as both luxury brands and retailers look to rapidly expand their online sales presence.
Read moreRPC retains 82% of trainees from 2016 intake
This marks another year of strong retention rates for the City-based law firm.
Read moreUK trade marks for spirits rise 41% in one year as popularity of artisan spirits surges
The number of trade marks registered for spirits and liqueurs in the UK has jumped 41% to 2,210 in 2017, up from 1,570 the previous year* as demand for artisan spirits grows.
Read moreHMRC faced 36% more Judicial Reviews last year as it adopts a more aggressive approach towards taxpayers
HMRC has in recent years become more aggressive in dealing with taxpayers, which has led to an increase in taxpayers challenging HMRC in the High Court where it has overstepped its authority or acted unfairly.
Read moreRPC sponsors this week’s Instech2020 conference - placing technology at the forefront of the insurance industry
RPC is sponsoring the Instech2020 conference, at the BT Centre on Wednesday July 11th - an industry-leading event showcasing and discussing the technology at the forefront of the insurance industry.
Read moreWhere high culture meets Big Data
High culture will meet Big Data head on at an upcoming fine art “treasure hunt” hosted by City-headquartered law firm, RPC
Read moreRetail sector insolvencies show no sign of slowing with 7% increase in a year
The retail sector continues to suffer from a high cost base whilst the shift in sales from the high street to the internet continues to pick up pace.
Read moreRPC hires highly-ranked commercial contracts Partner to growing IP, Tech and Media Group
RPC has hired leading commercial contracts lawyer Paul Joukador into its growing IP, Technology and Media Group in London.
Read more15% rise in number of M&A deals in the retail sector last year
The number of UK retail sector M&A deals* has jumped 15% in the last year to 37 up from 32 in 2016/17 (year end March 31).
Read moreRPC appoints two new Directors to its Business Services team
RPC has promoted Kate Gregg and Ed FitzGerald as Directors in its Business Services team.
Read more19% jump in HMRC demands to accountants and other professional advisers for confidential information on clients suspected of tax crimes
There was a 19% increase in the number of HMRC requests to professional services firms for confidential information on clients it wants to investigate for suspected tax crimes.
Read moreThe number of controversial Accelerated Payment Notices HMRC admits it issued in error hits 6,000
In total, HMRC has issued more than 79,000 APNs since their introduction in August 2014. Adam Craggs, Partner at RPC, says such high numbers of APNs being withdrawn raises questions over whether HMRC is exercising this draconian power with sufficient care.
Read more64% fall in individuals referred to the FCA’s Regulatory Decisions Committee
There has been a sharp fall in the number of individuals working in financial services being referred to the FCA’s Regulatory Decision Committee, dropping 64% to 13 in 2017
Read more25 cartel members blow the whistle in the UK on illegal price fixing in bid for softer sentences
Competition and Markets Authority proactively cracking down on cartel-related activity
Read moreRPC announces Gender Pay Gap figures
City-headquartered professional services firm RPC has announced its 2017 Gender Pay Gap figures for the UK.
Read moreCopyright disputes from sports and music rights holders continue to flood High Court
Five of the Top 10 High Court claimants are football or music rights holders
Read moreSales at UK’s biggest online retailers jump 23% in a year
Growth of mobile commerce helping fuel ‘anywhere, anytime’ retailing.
Read moreThree RPC insurance partners announced as winners of Client Choice Awards 2018
Insurance partners Gavin Reese, Paul Castellani, and Antony Sassi recognised for excellent client care and service quality
Read moreValue of UK litigation funders’ "war chests" hits £1 billion - up 42% in a year
Litigation funders ramp up case sourcing strategies to deploy the extra capital
Read moreTop 10 industry highlights for 2018: RPC’s Annual Insurance Review
RPC, the City-headquartered professional services firm, has selected 10 industry highlights expected to impact the insurance market in 2018 as part of its Annual Insurance Review. The insights are based on the expertise and experience of individuals and teams in RPC’s market-leading insurance practice.
Read moreRPC's Corporate Insurance team advises Citynet in latest insurance sector corporate transaction
In the latest of a series of Lloyd's and London market broker deals, the RPC team has advised Citynet, the Lloyd's of London broker, and the selling shareholders, on the deal announced in December with Carlyle-backed PIB Group.
Read moreRPC partners with The University of Law to launch apprenticeship programme
Partnering with The University of Law (ULaw) – one of the UK's leading providers of legal education and training – and apprenticeship specialists Damar Training, RPC will be recruiting up to four apprentice paralegals.
Read morePost-crisis low in individuals banned from financial services by FCA
The FCA’s tough approach to individual responsibility is paying off
Read moreInsurance team to build RPC's London offering
New team includes two new Partners and is expected to expand the firm's international offering
Read moreRetail M&A falls but pipeline suggests deals are around the corner
Only 16 M&A deals in retail in the past year, but Tesco/Booker, Co-op/Nisa deals suggest bumper year to come
Read moreDisputes over football and music copyright dominate in High Court
Football and music bodies were the top three most frequent claimants in the High Court last year*, as the two industries look to protect their intellectual property.
Read moreUK financial services trade marks hit record high as fintech investment grows
This rise in trade mark activity has been partly propelled by new financial products being launched in the fintech sector.
Read more71% jump in regulator alerts over medical devices
There has been a 71% jump in regulatory 'alerts' over medical devices in the past year, says City-headquartered professional services firm, RPC.
Read moreRPC's growing Hong Kong Commercial Disputes team adds strength with new Partner
Banking and finance litigator Jonathan Crompton joins the Asian office as a Partner
Read moreHong Kong financial disputes Partner relocates to London
After three years Jonathan Cary returns to RPC's London office to strengthen team
Read moreSimon Laird takes seat on instech advisory board
RPC's Head of Insurance joins conversation at the heart of InsurTech
Read moreRPC named as Rising Law Firm of the Year in Hong Kong
Professional services firm RPC has won a top award after being handed the title of Rising Law Firm of the Year at the 2017 Asian Legal Business Awards.
Read moreRPC hires former Hedge Fund COO and General Counsel to expand growing Funds team
City-headquartered professional services firm RPC has hired James Kaufmann as a Legal Director in its Funds team.
Read moreBeer trade marks rise by 19% in a year as more capitalise on the craft beer revolution
Trade mark registrations for beer brands rise by 104% to highest level since 2007
Read moreRansomware now 25% of cyber-attacks as hackers target UK businesses
Ransomware is now the most likely cyber-threat to UK businesses, with a quarter of all major cyber-attacks involving an attempt to make businesses pay a ransom to get their data back
Read moreRPC advises Park Place Technologies on third major UK acquisition in a year
City-headquartered law firm RPC has advised US-based data centre maintenance provider Park Place Technologies on its third major UK acquisition in a year, as it completes the purchase of competitor NCE Group.
Read moreHackers target retail industry as cyber-attacks double in just one year
The number of retail businesses reporting data breaches to the Information Commissioner's Office has doubled in just one year, jumping from 19 in 2015/16 to 38 in 2016/17*, says City-headquartered law firm, RPC.
Read moreCyber crime prosecutions fall as under-resourced police struggle with increasingly complex threat
Only 57 prosecutions under Computer Misuse Act last year despite 1.9 million crimes. Cyber insurance ‘critical’ for businesses.
Read moreRPC secures High Court win for Hammerson in £15m dispute
Result brings to an end the eight-year high profile dispute; first reported case on Nickle Sulphide (NiS) inclusions
Read moreLatest intake sees RPC retain 82% of Trainees
Latest intake sees RPC retain 82% of Trainees
Read moreRPC names Karen Hendy as Head of Corporate
Appointment of new head comes set against global expansion
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