United Kingdom: Compliance

Right to work checks are often treated as a routine onboarding task. That is a mistake. For any UK employer, failing to carry out checks properly can lead to significant penalties.

The UK's Financial Conduct Authority has published its final policy statements on cryptoasset regulation, marking a pivotal moment after years of extensive consultation. With over 1,000 pages of rules and guidance now finalized, firms face a compressed timeline to prepare applications before the authorization gateway opens on September 30, 2026. This briefing examines the key improvements made by the FCA, identifies remaining uncertainties, and highlights critical areas where firms should focus their implem

The UK's Investment Security Unit has issued its first outright prohibition under the National Security and Investment Act 2021, signaling a more interventionist approach to foreign investment screening. With call-in activity extending beyond mandatory notification cases and substantive conditions being attached to clearances, the enforcement landscape is evolving rapidly. In-house teams managing cross-border M&A transactions need to understand how these developments affect deal timelines, compliance obliga

This comprehensive round-up examines the latest developments in UK, EU, and U.S. sanctions and export controls, covering new designations, enforcement actions, licensing updates, and policy shifts. The analysis explores how sanctions regimes are evolving to address evasion networks, cryptocurrency use, and compliance challenges across multiple jurisdictions.

There is no standard immigration tribunal appeal and no automatic oral hearing. Instead, the employer must challenge the suspension by submitting written representations to UK Visas and Immigration.

The distinction between data controllers and processors under data protection law is becoming increasingly problematic in the age of AI and new technologies. Courts and regulators are trending toward finding parties to be controllers rather than processors to ensure individual protection, creating significant legal and reputational risks for organizations that fail to carefully analyze their true role in data processing relationships.

The UK Government has launched a consultation on zero-hours contract reforms under the Employment Rights Act 2025, proposing three new rights for qualifying workers: guaranteed hours offers, reasonable notice of shifts, and payment for short-notice cancellations. With responses due by August 25, 2026, the consultation explores critical details including hours thresholds, reference periods, and enforcement mechanisms that will fundamentally reshape how businesses manage flexible workforces.

The Financial Conduct Authority has finalized its policy position on the UK's new cryptoasset regime, establishing comprehensive rules for trading platforms and market abuse prevention. UK qualifying cryptoasset trading platforms will serve as gatekeepers, conducting due diligence and managing admissions while implementing surveillance measures to detect and prevent market manipulation. The regime introduces significant disclosure requirements and monitoring obligations that will reshape how cryptoassets ar

Christopher Avellaneda and Karen Butler examine the evolving regulatory landscape for investment managers in 2026, exploring how governance, valuations, conflicts of interest, sanctions, cryptoassets and retailisation will shape compliance expectations. The discussion reveals why demonstrating effective governance and practical oversight has become both a regulatory and commercial imperative for firms navigating these developments.