What is on the SRA’s radar this year?

At the Law Society’s Risk and Compliance Annual Conference on March 12, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) discussed its key regulatory priorities amidst a rapidly evolving legal landscape. The conference provided a platform to discuss pressing compliance challenges and the SRA’s strategic focus areas. The SRA underscored its commitment to upholding high standards of professional […]

EU sanctions Garantex. Is this a watershed moment for crypto?

The EU took a big step in its financial battle against Russia. It imposed sanctions on Garantex, a Russian cryptocurrency exchange closely tied to sanctioned Russian banks. This marks the first time the EU has directly sanctioned a crypto exchange and highlights global finance’s increasing scrutiny on digital assets.  The move is part of the […]

How a cryptocurrency managed to lose $1.5B. It’s easier than you think

A cautionary tale that involves North Korean hackers and lapses in crypto security.  The New York Times reports on a fascinating and frightening story of the cryptocurrency exchange Bybit which lost $1.5 billion to North Korean hackers. It all happened last month when Ben Zhou, Bybit CEO, logged in to approve what seemed like a […]

What do you need to know about the EU’s new Anti-Money Laundering Authority?

EU AMLA is a regulatory body designed to centralize and strengthen anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CTF) supervision across EU member states. Set to be fully operational by late 2025, many are saying its establishment indicates a bold step on the part of the EU in the fight against financial crime.  So, what do you […]

The ethical challenges of AI washing

The rise of artificial intelligence is leading to deceptive marketing practices. Buyer beware  The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has created immense opportunities for businesses. But there are significant ethical issues as well that businesses are slowly becoming aware of. One of the latest issues is “AI washing,” where companies exaggerate the capabilities of their […]

Is the concern around proliferation financing getting worse? Businesses want to know

Proliferation financing (PF) is becoming a bigger problem for businesses in the UK and EU, and the consequences of getting caught up in it can be devastating. What exactly is proliferation financing? Essentially, it’s when money, goods or services are used, knowingly or unknowingly, to support the development of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). Think […]

Key trends in GDPR enforcement in 2024. Is this the year that it got personal?

The latest edition of DLA Piper’s GDPR Fines and Data Breach Survey has once again highlighted the evolving landscape of data privacy enforcement in Europe. In 2024, regulators across the continent imposed a total of €1.2 billion in fines, bringing the cumulative total since the introduction of GDPR in 2018 to a whopping €5.88 billion. […]