In October 2024, HM Treasury (HMT) published a consultation paper amid perceived concerns related to the “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) sector, including uninformed consumer decisions, affordability checks and levels of...more
The Treasury (HMT) launched a consultation and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published a call for input in April 2025 kick-starting a review of the UK’s regulatory regime for Alternative Investment Fund Managers...more
HM Treasury has confirmed its approach to the regulation of Buy-Now Pay-Later (BNPL) lending in its response to the October 2024 consultation. On 19 May 2025, Government also laid draft legislation before Parliament. Given...more
HM Treasury published its long-anticipated consultation on Phase 1 of the proposed reform of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (CCA) on 19 May 2025. The consultation signals a significant move away from prescriptive legislation...more
HM Treasury published on 15 May 2025 the legal framework which will govern the establishment and operation of the Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System (PISCES), a new type of intermittent private...more
In an exciting week for consumer credit lawyers, in addition to the consultation paper on the reform of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (CCA), we also have HM Treasury’s response to the feedback it received from the 61...more
UK Financial Insights from Katten is a monthly newsletter highlighting key noteworthy developments potentially affecting financial markets and funds in the UK and Europe....more
Government consults on the first stage of reforming the UK consumer credit regime, covering information requirements, sanctions, and criminal offences....more
On 19 May 2025, HM Treasury published its consultation response on the regulation of certain buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) products, setting out its final position, and laid a draft statutory instrument before Parliament to effect...more
Key developments of interest over the last month include: draft legislation to regulate BNPL credit in the UK (in contrast to the de-prioritising of enforcement of BNPL regulatory breaches in the US); final confirmation of UK...more
The Ninth Commencement Regulations–the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (Commencement No. 9) Regulations 2025–under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (FSMA 2023) were made and have been published. The Ninth...more
On 19 May 2025, HM Treasury released a suite of publications as part of its ongoing efforts to modernise the UK’s consumer credit framework. These include the Consumer Credit Act Reform – Phase 1: May 2025 Consultation, the...more
In this weekly update, we summarise the most notable updates in the UK sanctions world...more
The HM Treasury (HMT) has published a draft of The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Cryptoassets) Order 2025, together with an accompanying policy note... ...more
On 7 April 2025, the United Kingdom’s HM Treasury opened a consultation (the Consultation) on proposals to streamline the regulatory framework for alternative investment fund managers (AIFMs). Alongside the Consultation, the...more
Ahead of the commencement of the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), key building blocks for its regulatory framework are moving into place. Following consultations in 2023 and 2024, draft legislation and a policy...more
The UK’s sanctions regimes remain dynamic as they continue to respond to geopolitical changes. In recent weeks, the UK has enhanced its Russia sanctions, despite the uncertain direction of the international sanctions on...more
While recent announcements have focussed on the government’s growth agenda, HM Treasury (HMT) has also now pressed ahead with publishing final draft regulations limiting the rights for banks and other payment service...more
The UK Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) has published its annual plan and budget for 2025/26. The foreword by Aidene Walsh, Chair of the PSR, references the government's announcement to incorporate the PSR into the FCA and...more
On 29 April, UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the publication by HM Treasury of near-final legislation to bring cryptoassets within the scope of the UK’s regulatory perimeter. Shortly after, on 2 May, the UK Financial...more
U.S. Companies Continue Stablecoin Payment Integrations, Product Launches - According to a recent press release, a major multinational payment card services company has announced several new programs to support global...more
The UK government has published long-awaited draft legislation setting out how the regulatory perimeter will be expanded to include cryptoassets, with the introduction of new regulated activities relating to cryptoassets,...more
On 29 April 2025, HM Treasury published near-final draft legislation establishing a financial services regulatory regime for cryptoassets in the UK, along with a policy note explaining the intended policy outcomes of the...more
On 29 April, UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveiled draft legislation aimed at regulating cryptoassets at the International Fintech Growth Summit (IFGS) in London, sponsored by Latham & Watkins. The proposed legislation...more
Welcome to your weekly update from the A&O Shearman Pensions team, covering all the latest legal and regulatory developments in the world of workplace pensions....more