Business Law and Corporate Law

This weekly bulletin covers key regulatory developments across financial services, including the European Banking Authority's response to the MiCA review consultation, updates on financial inclusion strategy from the UK Treasury Committee, and new guidelines on third-party risk management. The bulletin also addresses private credit regulation, taxonomy disclosures, competition concerns in commodity trading, and findings from the FCA's market study on pure protection products and money mule activity.

The United Kingdom and United States are constructing a digital finance corridor through the Transatlantic Taskforce for Markets of the Future, moving beyond traditional regulatory frameworks toward practical interoperability. This initiative encompasses cross-border experimentation with tokenised assets, common approaches to settlement finality, stablecoin regulation, and a multi-money ecosystem, raising critical questions about whether Europe's comprehensive regulatory architecture can compete with jurisd

Agentic AI is poised to revolutionise employee share trading by autonomously executing transactions based on broad financial mandates. But when an algorithm exercises investment judgement rather than simply following fixed instructions, UK market abuse rules, dealing codes and financial services regulations create complex new compliance challenges that companies must address before automation becomes standard practice.

Antonia and Jonny Philp transformed a painful personal experience into a purpose-driven skincare company that supports healthcare professionals facing the same challenges. Through their innovative business model, they've delivered hundreds of thousands of months of free hand care to NHS workers while building a family and a brand with genuine impact.

Rothera Bray's Commercial Property team has successfully advised Emmanuel House Support Centre on the purchase of its Nottingham city centre premises, marking a significant milestone as the homelessness charity celebrates 50 years of service. The acquisition provides the charity with long-term security to continue supporting vulnerable individuals facing housing insecurity and homelessness.

The Charities Aid Foundation's World Giving Report reveals that two-thirds of charities are experiencing increased demand for services while facing significant funding challenges. With restricted funding streams and depleting reserves, many organizations struggle to maintain operations, raising critical questions about the sector's long-term sustainability and the need for more flexible funding approaches.

Before expanding, taking investment, franchising or licensing a business, it is essential to confirm that the brand is clear to use, properly owned and capable of protection in priority markets.

Domestic franchising, (i.e. national franchising within the UK) contributes £19.1 billion to the economy annually. There are now a record 1,009 franchise systems operating across the country, up 8% since 2018...

The NBA and FIBA have announced a joint European basketball league launching in October 2027, with 12 franchises across major European cities and franchise fees ranging from $500M to $1B.

The UK Government has withdrawn its initial draft Code of Practice on tipping after facing criticism from trade unions, launching a fresh consultation on revised rules that aim to give workers greater input into tip distribution. While the Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces new consultation requirements for tipping policies, the timeline for implementation has been pushed back, leaving employers in a state of uncertainty about future compliance obligations.

Stewarts Law Firm provides its expert response to the Department for Transport and Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles consultation on safety principles. The firm's submission addresses critical regulatory considerations for the future of autonomous vehicle deployment in the UK.

The Financial Conduct Authority has identified a significant protection gap in the UK market, with 59% of adults never having considered financial protection products. This comprehensive regulatory update examines the FCA's integrated programme of remedies, alongside critical developments in audit standards and vulnerable consumer support requirements that will reshape how financial services firms operate through 2027.