An update on legal and regulatory developments for UK public companies....more
2/2/2026
/ Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Reporting ,
Listing Rules ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Business Practices ,
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) ,
UK
On 8 December 2025, the GC100 published guidance to support UK companies that wish to hold virtual-only shareholder meetings — in anticipation of the government’s proposed update to the Companies Act 2006 to clarify that...more
12/10/2025
/ Alternative Investment Markets (AIM) ,
Companies Act ,
Consultation ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Dual Class Share Structures ,
Financial Reporting Council (FRC) ,
New Guidance ,
Public Limited Companies (PLC) ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Remuneration ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Shareholder Meetings ,
Takeover Code ,
UK ,
UK Companies Acts ,
UK Takeover Panel ,
Virtual Meetings
On 21 October 2025, the UK government announced it will introduce reforms that would reduce corporate reporting and governance compliance burdens on UK listed companies. ...more
11/4/2025
/ Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Reporting Council (FRC) ,
Insider Information ,
Listing Rules ,
Market Abuse ,
New Legislation ,
Prospectus ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Reporting Requirements ,
UK
FCA Proposes to Relax Disclosure Requirements for Share Buybacks -
On 10 September 2025, the FCA published its quarterly consultation paper No.49, which proposed (among other things) amendments to its UK Listing Rules...more
10/1/2025
/ Consultation ,
Directors ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Foreign Private Issuers ,
Legal Advice Privilege ,
Listing Rules ,
Market Abuse ,
Proposed Amendments ,
Public Limited Companies (PLC) ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Share Buybacks ,
Shareholder Litigation
On 7 August 2025, the FCA published its review of share buybacks in UK listed equities, which analysed data on share buybacks executed for FTSE 350 issuers, as well as feedback from banks, issuers, investor representatives,...more
9/3/2025
/ Banks ,
Capital Markets ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Dividends ,
EU Market Abuse Regulation (EU MAR) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FTSE ,
Listing Rules ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Share Buybacks ,
UK
On 15 July 2025, the FCA published PS25/9 and PS25/10 outlining its final rules for the new Public Offers and Admissions to Trading regime, which will supersede the existing UK Prospectus Regulation from 19 January 2026....more
8/1/2025
/ Deregulation ,
Digital Securities ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Final Rules ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Initial Public Offering (IPO) ,
Prospectus Regulation (PR3) ,
Public Offerings ,
Regulatory Burden ,
Share Buybacks ,
Takeovers ,
Trading Policies ,
UK
On 5 June 2025, the GC100 and Investor Group published an updated version of their Directors’ Remuneration Reporting Guidance. This revision reflects evolving best practices and incorporates changes introduced by the...more
7/2/2025
/ Amended Regulation ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporations Code ,
Directors ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Executive Compensation ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Guidance Update ,
Listing Rules ,
New Guidance ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sustainability ,
UK
On 3 June 2025, the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) published the UK Stewardship Code 2026. The new Code, effective from 1 January 2026, aims to foster long-term sustainable value creation and improve engagement quality...more
6/6/2025
/ Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Taxes ,
Corporate Transparency Act ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Financial Reporting ,
Financial Reporting Council (FRC) ,
Fraud ,
Investors ,
Market Participants ,
New Legislation ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Securities Regulation ,
Stewardship Code ,
UK
On 14 April 2025, the FCA published its updated regulatory initiatives grid, which sets out its regulatory pipeline — the first update since the new UK government came to power. The new grid outlines the expected timings of...more
An overhaul of the UK consumer law landscape is on the horizon, with the consumer law provisions of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 set to take effect on 6 April 2025....more
4/7/2025
/ Antitrust Provisions ,
Consumer Contracts ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
Enforcement ,
Enterprise Act 2002 ,
New Legislation ,
New Regulations ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Subscription Services ,
UK ,
UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)
On 14 March 2025, the FCA published Primary Market Bulletin 54, which raised concerns around the leaking of inside information by individuals at a company or by its advisers on live M&A transactions. The FCA specifically...more
4/2/2025
/ Acquisitions ,
Board of Directors ,
Confidential Information ,
Contract Terms ,
Corporate Governance ,
Diversity ,
Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
FTSE ,
Insider Trading ,
Mergers ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Target Company ,
UK
On 6 February 2025, the House of Lords Financial Services Regulation Committee published a report titled “Naming and shaming: how not to regulate”....more
3/17/2025
/ Corporate Governance ,
Criminal Prosecution ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Enforcement Priorities ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Securities Violations ,
UK
In recent years, we have seen more class action securities claims against UK listed companies — akin to US style “stock-drop” litigation.
These claims are typically brought by groups of investors, backed by financing...more
2/6/2025
/ Class Action ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Investors ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Securities Litigation ,
Stock Drop Litigation ,
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) ,
UK
On 15 November 2024, the FCA released Primary Market Bulletin 52, offering guidance on compliance with MAR and DTR requirements, particularly in identifying and disclosing inside information, managing shareholder...more
12/3/2024
/ Compliance ,
Consultation ,
Corporate Culture ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Reporting Council (FRC) ,
Fraud ,
Insider Information ,
Market Abuse ,
New Guidance ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Shareholders ,
Stewardship Code ,
Transparency ,
UK ,
White Collar Crimes
On 8 October 2024, the Investment Association (IA) updated its Principles of Remuneration (and supporting guidance) (the IA Principles). These principles, and the accompanying guidance, are significantly more flexible and...more
On 6 September 2024, the Capital Markets Industry Taskforce (CMIT) published the Capital Markets Of Tomorrow report (CMOT). CMOT sets out the “UK elevator pitch” for the reformed UK capital markets, engages in some judicious...more
10/4/2024
/ Capital Markets ,
Climate Change ,
Economic Growth ,
Entrepreneurs ,
Foreign Private Issuers ,
FTSE ,
Investment Opportunities ,
Listing Rules ,
Listing Standards ,
Pension Funds ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Retail Investors ,
Sponsors ,
Stewardship Code ,
UK
On 13 August 2024, the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), as part of a cross-regulatory group comprising the FCA, Companies House, HMRC and Charity Commission for England and Wales, published a discussion paper on the future...more
Major UK Listing Reforms Cut Red Tape for Listed Companies -
The FCA’s radical overhaul of the UK’s listing framework came into effect on 29 July 2024. All premium listed commercial companies have automatically been...more
8/6/2024
/ Business Entities ,
Capital Raising ,
Listing Standards ,
MiFID II ,
New Guidance ,
Prospectus ,
Public Limited Companies (PLC) ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Sponsors ,
Stewardship Code ,
UK
On 29 May 2024, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) issued a statement on good practices to be followed in relation to pre-close calls with research analysts. The calls take place immediately before the close...more
FCA Issues Reminders on Annual Reporting and LTIP Disclosure Requirements -
On 22 May 2024, the FCA published Primary Market Bulletin 49 (PMB 49) reminding listed companies of certain continuing obligations under the...more
6/5/2024
/ Annual Reports ,
Bribery ,
Corporate Governance ,
Criminal Convictions ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Employee Incentive Plans ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Statements ,
Incentives ,
Listing Rules ,
Public Officials ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Sustainability ,
UK ,
UK Bribery Act
On 10 April 2024, the FCA published its consultation paper (CP24/7) on payment optionality for investment research. This followed the Investment Research Review’s report from summer 2023, which recommended that the FCA should...more
The English High Court found that a current risk of unfair trial in Russia justified declining to enforce Russian exclusive jurisdiction clauses.
The English High Court has cleared the way for major aviation insurance...more
5/1/2024
/ Aircraft ,
Aviation Industry ,
Commercial Leases ,
Contract Termination ,
Exclusive Jurisdiction ,
Insurance Industry ,
Material Adverse Change Clauses (MACs) ,
Reinsurance ,
Russia ,
UK ,
Ukraine
On 5 March 2024, the Pre-Emption Group (PEG) published its first report monitoring the use of its updated Statement of Principles on the disapplication of pre-emption rights for UK listed companies. The Principles were...more
4/5/2024
/ Board of Directors ,
Corporate Governance ,
Diversity ,
Enforcement ,
Enforcement Guidance ,
Ethnicity ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
FTSE ,
Information Reports ,
Listing Standards ,
Minorities ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
UK
On 23 February 2024, the Investment Association (IA) issued its annual letter to FTSE 350 remuneration committee chairs providing an update on the IA’s Principles of Remuneration and emerging views on remuneration matters....more
3/6/2024
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Board of Directors ,
Capital Markets ,
Climate Change ,
Competition ,
Corporate Governance ,
Cybersecurity ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Reporting ,
Financial Reporting Council (FRC) ,
Investors ,
London Stock Exchange ,
Pensions ,
Proxy Voting Guidelines ,
Remuneration ,
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) ,
UK
On 20 December 2023, the FCA published consultation paper CP23/31 setting out detailed proposals for the new UK listing regime....more