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The Competition and Markets Authority has dramatically increased its enforcement activity, imposing over £5.7M in fines in early 2026 and accelerating investigation timelines under new statutory duties. Businesses face heightened scrutiny across consumer protection practices, from advertising to commercial operations, requiring immediate attention to compliance frameworks and rapid-response capabilities.

The Supreme Court has ruled that a director breached his fiduciary duty by concealing information from fellow board members during a company sale process, even though he genuinely believed his actions would maximize shareholder value. This landmark decision clarifies that directors cannot act unilaterally on significant matters and must involve the entire board in decision-making, regardless of their personal convictions about what serves the company's best interests.

The Fair Employment Tribunal in Belfast has issued its first ruling on discrimination and harassment claims involving gender critical beliefs as a form of political opinion. While the claimant was unsuccessful, this landmark decision provides crucial early guidance for Northern Ireland employers navigating the complex intersection of gender critical beliefs and workplace discrimination law.