Transition to net zero in the UK and in many other jurisdictions relies heavily upon consumer and investor pressure, combined with environmental social governance (ESG) disclosure requirements. While there are some sectors of the economy which are well placed to deliver in this regard, the development sector being one, there is a Wild West elsewhere, […]
With more businesses using sustainability as a marketing tool, in a bid to attract environmentally aware consumers or to secure investment in environmental, social and governance (ESG)-related funds, it was only a matter of time before “green” or “eco-friendly” claims would attract the regulators’ attention. In July 2022, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) […]
Fraud, bribery and corruption (FBC) in sport are nothing new. INTERPOL notes that criminal offences in sport “are a way for organized syndicates to generate high profits and launder their illegal proceeds, with limited risk of detection”. In recent times, the spotlight has been on sports with circular balls, with a host of scandals rocking […]
In the Spring of 2020, Eleanor Williams, a young girl from Barrow-in-Furness, in Cumbria, published pictures on social media of her alleged injuries, claiming she had been the victim of an Asian grooming gang. The allegations sent shockwaves through her community, even leading to social unrest and incidents of hate crime. However, Police investigations showed […]
The UK’s approach to whistleblowing needs reforming. Currently, the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (PIDA) offers the only legislative “protection” for those reporting wrongdoing. However, this is limited to employment situations, such as speaking out against an employer, and offers no protection to those raising concerns about clients, suppliers, contractors and other parties. Self-employed workers […]
On 14 March 2023, Mr Justice Jay handed down judgment in LLC Synesis v Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs [2023] EWHC 541 (Admin). The case is the first to come before the UK courts under the Court Review provision under section 38 of the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 (SAMLA). […]
Our client, a young man from a wealthy and prominent overseas family, was found not guilty of all charges against him following a two-week trial at Southwark Crown Court in February 2023. Accusations made by his former girlfriend had resulted in a six-count indictment, including allegations of sexual assault, false imprisonment and rape. He was […]
Eugene Shvidler, a billionaire who has been associated with oligarch Roman Abramovich, has launched the first challenge to the UK’s Russian sanctions regime in a London court. Peters & Peters, which represents Shvidler, filed the claim last month, arguing that the UK had made “significant errors” in assessing his relationship with Abramovich. Michael O’Kane told […]
The Skatteforvaltningen (the Danish Customs and Tax Administration) (SKAT) litigation, by which the Danish tax authorities have been pursuing very extensive claims of alleged tax fraud, is one of the most significant currently before the English court. It has produced scores of judgments of varying usefulness to those engaged in more constrained proceedings. Notwithstanding the […]
Three French NGOs – Oxfam France, Friends of the Earth France and Notre Affaire à Tous – are bringing proceedings in France against BNP Parisbas, one of Europe’s largest financial institutions, in connection with its financing of fossil fuel polluters. The trio is arguing that the bank is failing to comply with its obligations under […]
