News & Views

On 24 May 2024, the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCC) Bill received Royal Assent after a tough passage through the legislative process and it comes into effect later this year.

With the UEFA European Championship underway in Germany, the team at O’Connors has been looking at a different type of competition that’s making a big impact on football, and professional sports in general across Europe: competition law.

Liverpool and London-based law firm, O’Connors, has issued a warning to professional advisers arranging Warranty & Indemnity (W&I) insurance policies in the context of corporate transactions to pay close attention to policy wordings or risk leaving clients unprotected. The warning comes as significant claims are now coming in and policy wordings are being tested by the courts.

It is estimated that cybercrime cost the UK economy around £27 billion in 2022, rising to £30.5 billion in 2023 and expected to increase again in 2024. On a global scale, the figure is in the multi-trillions. So, it’s not surprising that legislators are looking at how best to tackle this problem - especially within the financial sector.

The UK government will shortly commence its long-awaited consultation into a UK captive insurance regime. For some time, the UK insurance industry has been calling for the government to promote the development of regulatory guidelines which will support the growth of UK-based captive insurance vehicles, following six years of steadily rising insurance premiums.

Applying for Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC) status is something that amateur sports clubs should consider when deciding upon the most suitable legal structure for the club. In this article, we explore what CASC status is, who is eligible to apply for it, how to apply for it and the main benefits of it.

In November 2023, the FCA published its updated proposals on how cryptoassets will be regulated within the UK through Discussion Paper 23/4. With the announcement back in April 2022 that the Government plans to become a ‘global hub for cryptoassets trade and investment’, it is no surprise that they are working on getting the regulatory framework into shape. This latest paper sets out Phase 1 of the series of measures proposed, with stablecoins being the first cryptoasset to be fleshed out under the new regime.

On 26 October 2023, the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill received Royal Assent, and the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (‘ECCT Act’) was published. The ECCT Act makes significant changes to the Companies Act 2006.

The nineteenth century actor-philosopher Will Rogers once said that you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Heads of terms in an M&A transaction are a good example of this as they set the tone for the whole relationship between the parties.

As King Charles draws a lungful of bracing Sandringham air before wishing us all a Merry Christmas, many in the legal profession will be reflecting on 2023 as a year of mixed blessings.