Business Law and Corporate Law

As internal investigations surge amid heightened regulatory enforcement and whistleblower complaints, organizations face mounting pressure to handle complex inquiries spanning financial misconduct, HR disputes, and cross-border compliance challenges.

Commercial Energy Performance Certificates are transitioning from routine compliance documents to critical enforcement targets in 2026. With authorities intensifying scrutiny of MEES violations and multi-metric EPC assessments on the horizon, landlords face mounting pressure to proactively manage energy ratings or risk substantial fines, leasing restrictions, and diminished asset values.

The expected stabilisation at the beginning of the year has not materialised, in some part due to the geopolitical developments that have been delivered by the USA.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published a multi‑firm review examining the use and effectiveness of market soundings by wholesale banks on transactions in UK listed shares.

Macfarlanes offers a distinctive approach to serving private capital managers by integrating top-tier legal expertise with complementary non-legal services. This combination creates a comprehensive solution designed specifically for the unique needs of private capital firms.

Private capital markets are evolving rapidly as businesses seek alternative financing beyond traditional bank lending. Mark Evans of Mayer Brown discusses how private credit providers, hybrid capital structures...

The Financial Conduct Authority has published a consultation paper proposing to eliminate mandatory waiting periods between IPO prospectus publication and the release of pre-deal investment research...

Regulators and Approved Reporting Mechanisms (ARMs) face the complex challenge of determining which financial transactions must be reported under MiFIR regulations. The Financial Instruments Reference Data Systems (FIRDS) serves as the critical infrastructure enabling this determination, but how exactly does this system work and what are its limitations?

This monthly newsletter from Katten highlights critical regulatory developments affecting UK and European financial markets, including reforms to the Senior Managers and Certification Regime, new short-selling rules, and changes to the National Security and Investment Act. The publication examines how these evolving frameworks balance regulatory accountability with reduced administrative burden for financial services firms.

HMRC has proposed sweeping new reporting requirements for close companies that would mandate detailed disclosure of all transactions with participators, extending far beyond the current framework which only captures loans triggering tax charges. The consultation raises critical questions about the burden on privately-owned groups and private equity structures, where intra-group transactions could generate extensive reporting obligations despite no underlying tax liability.

Companies operating employee share plans and management incentive arrangements must prepare and submit annual returns to HMRC by 6 July 2026, with penalties starting at £100 for late filing.

In Aabar Holdings S.à.r.l. & Ors v. Glencore Plc [2026] EWHC 877 (Comm), the Commercial Court has confirmed that legal advice privilege applies to any “intra-client” document that is sent between or created...