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2 weeks ago | 
ashurst.com | Will Chalk |Rob Hanley
In AGC Update, Issue 63 - Item 10, we noted that directors of companies registered with Companies House (including overseas directors of both UK companies and UK 'establishments') will, from 8 April 2025, be able to verify their identity on a voluntary basis. Companies House guidance on how to do so can be accessed here. How can a director voluntarily verify their identity?
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2 weeks ago | 
ashurst.com | Sophie Law
On 3 April 2025, the UK's financial sanctions authority, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), published the second of its sector-specific assessments of threats and vulnerabilities relating to UK financial sanctions (read our summary of the first threat assessment here).
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2 weeks ago | 
ashurst.com | Jack Burnett |Tim West
Dispute resolution and football are increasingly natural bedfellows. The amounts at stake at the top end of the English game are such that, in addition to traditional on and off field tactics, well advised clubs are considering their legal rights as part of their overall strategies.
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2 weeks ago | 
ashurst.com | Jack Burnett |Tim West
Dispute resolution and football are increasingly natural bedfellows. The amounts at stake at the top end of the English game are such that, in addition to traditional on and off field tactics, well advised clubs are considering their legal rights as part of their overall strategies.
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1 month ago | 
ashurst.com | Jake Green
The Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (the AFM) has fined BUX B.V. (BUX) €1.6 million for, in their view (!), breaching inducement rules (see the AFM's full decision here). In short, and simplified, BUX made payments to: "finfluencers" for driving traffic (new customers) to sign up for services; and existing customers for referring new clients who opened and funded accounts with BUX (i.e. a "refer-a-friend" scheme). We consider the AFM's decision to be wrong on every level.
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1 month ago | 
ashurst.com | Will Chalk |Rob Hanley
The Financial Reporting Council has published revised guidance on the 'Going concern basis of accounting and related reporting, including solvency and liquidity risks' having concluded its consultation launched in August 2024 (see AGC Update, Issue 55 – Item 7 for more on the consultation; the feedback statement can be found here).
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1 month ago | 
ashurst.com | Jeff Lynn
What you need to know Applications are now open to offshore wind proponents in Australia for a "Transmission & Infrastructure Licence" (TIL) to assess the feasibility of and to construct offshore wind transmission infrastructure. Guidance for TIL applications has also been published, following consultation on draft guidance in April 2024. The new TIL application pathway has opened at a time while many feasibility licence holders are preparing and consulting on proposed management plans.
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1 month ago | 
ashurst.com | Paul Wilson |Amaya Pinto Fernandez |Amaya Fernández
Proposed reforms to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) have stalled, with the Federal Government's "Stage 2" reform Bills failing to pass the Senate. At the Queensland level, a broad range of amendments to the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld) commenced in June 2024. Key changes include an offence for breaching the general environmental duty, expanded notification obligations, and a new statutory enforcement tool.
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2 months ago | 
ashurst.com | Sophie Law
On 13 February 2025, the UK's financial sanctions authority, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), published the first in a series of sector-specific assessments of threats and vulnerabilities relating to UK financial sanctions under the Economic Crime Plan 2. The first report focusses on financial services, in particular banks (both retail and wholesale) and non-bank payment service providers (including neo or challenger banks) (NBPSPs)1 .
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2 months ago | 
ashurst.com | Will Chalk |Rob Hanley
Based on what they are seeing in the market, our global governance, sustainability, and risk advisory experts have published their priorities for Boards in 2025. Some priorities have evolved because of challenges encountered last year, while new priorities address emerging issues and opportunities. We hope that these priorities will serve as a catalyst for meaningful discussion and debate within your organisation.