Neil Woodford, once celebrated as a leading UK fund manager, continues to face scrutiny and legal challenges following the 2019 collapse of his Woodford Equity Income Fund (WEIF), which left approximately 300,000 investors with significant losses. Earlier this year, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) issued a warning notice to Woodford and his company, Woodford […]
Neil Swift has been quoted in the Law Society Gazette responding to the Serious Fraud Office’s (SFO) newly released guidance aimed at corporations and businesses on how to report suspected fraud or corruption. The guidance, a first for the SFO, sets out clear expectations for how corporates can engage with the agency when concerns […]
As the UK government and regulators pin hopes on PISCES to revive equity capital markets, concerns are emerging across the financial sector about its potential implications for investors, companies, and traditional banking models. Today, James Tyler was quoted in Reuters, with his commentary subsequently syndicated across several major internal outlets, including The Daily Mail, […]
Head of International Keith Oliver and Legal Researcher Niall Prior have contributed a chapter to CDR: Essential Intelligence – Fraud, Asset Tracing & Recovery 2025, published today. The publication gives a comprehensive overview of the practice of fraud, asset tracing and recovery litigation in a number of countries around the world. It works towards […]
The FCA’s proposed Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System (PISCES) seeks to provide private companies with a platform to raise capital and create a secondary market for shares. However, the platform lacks traditional safeguards, such as market abuse regulations and insider dealing laws, potentially exposing investors to risks like fraud and unfair trading practices. […]
On 25 March 2025, Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini won their second acquittal in a Swiss fraud case over a £1.75 million FIFA payment from 2011. Michal Platini is considering suing Swiss authorities, as he blames the case for ruining his chances of leading FIFA and may seek compensation. His lawyer criticised the decade-long […]
In November last year, the government released guidance on the new corporate criminal offence of failure to prevent (FTP) fraud. In the first of a series of four articles, we analysed what companies and their advisers need to know about this significant development. In the second instalment, we explained how ESG fraud is likely to be […]
A recent review led by Jonathan Fisher KC has proposed the introduction of an “Intensive Disclosure Regime” (IDR) designed to address the challenges of managing extensive digital material in complex fraud cases. The IDR aims to foster early engagement between prosecutors and defense lawyers, ensuring smoother resolution of disclosure issues. In a thought-provoking article […]
Private prosecutions have long played a role in the criminal justice system, allowing individuals and organisations to bring cases where public prosecutors may not act. However, concerns around accountability, fairness, and potential conflicts of interest have led to increasing scrutiny of their regulation. In this article for LexisNexis, Rachel Cook analyses the recent consultation, […]
The European Commission’s recent proposals to simplify sustainability reporting and due diligence obligations could significantly impact companies’ compliance with new frameworks. While aimed at improving competitiveness, the changes risk creating legal uncertainty and could hinder transparent sustainability data, which is vital for investors looking to make informed decisions. The proposed changes are a step back […]
