Crypto has become a global money laundering machine
Cryptocurrency has long been promoted as a technological innovation that would democratise finance, reduce friction and increase transparency. The reality appears to be far less optimistic. Recent data indicates that crypto has become a highly efficient, industrial-scale money laundering infrastructure and one that is growing faster than regulators can effectively manage. According to new findings […]
AML compliance in 2026: What UK law firms are asking now
At our recent VinciWorks AML Core Group meeting, a clear picture emerged of how the AML landscape is shifting for UK law firms. The discussion moved beyond technical compliance and focused on how firms are responding in practice to regulatory transition, increased supervisory scrutiny, and growing operational complexity. The questions below reflect the real issues […]
From policy to practice: Insights from the AML Core Group
In this quarter’s VinciWorks AML Core Group meeting, the discussion kept returning to the same point: AML compliance is no longer business as usual for law firms. It’s now at the top of the regulatory agenda. The AML Core Group sessions bring together UK legal professionals and compliance experts to discuss the latest developments in […]
When GDPR doesn’t apply: What a train announcement can (and can’t) teach us about data protection
GDPR is often treated as a catch-all mechanism for resolving any dispute that feels “data-related”. But a recent judgment from the Austrian Federal Administrative Court (BVwG), read alongside developments in Poland, is a useful reminder of something privacy professionals sometimes forget. GDPR has limits. It does not regulate everything, and it is not designed to […]
How Ruja Ignatova built a $4b fraud and why it matters for crypto and AML
In 2014, a new cryptocurrency emerged with the idea that it would revolutionise the financial world. It was called OneCoin. Its founder, Dr Ruja Ignatova, a Bulgaria-born German citizen, positioned herself as a visionary leader in the digital currency space. She was charismatic, articulate, and media-savvy and she quickly gained global attention, even earning the […]
When AI meets healthcare: The compliance challenges of GPT Health
Big AI models are rapidly moving into regulated sectors, and healthcare is no exception. Recent developments show regulators in the US and Europe increasing scrutiny of AI use in healthcare and life sciences, while insurers and healthcare providers accelerate AI adoption despite uneven governance readiness. This combination of regulatory pressure and rapid deployment helps explain […]
AI regulation in Europe: Enforcement is fragmented, the rules are shifting and businesses are caught in the middle
For many businesses, the EU AI Act still feels like a future problem. Something complex, unfinished, and safely parked behind unanswered questions about regulators, guidance, and enforcement. That assumption is quickly becoming outdated. As of January 1st, Finland became the first EU member state with fully operational AI Act enforcement powers. While much of Europe […]
UK tightens laws on AI-generated sexual deepfakes. What organisations need to know
The UK government has moved decisively to criminalise the creation of non-consensual intimate images using AI, bringing forward provisions of the Data (Use and Access) Act (DUAA) that were previously expected to come into force more gradually. From this week, creating or requesting the creation of AI-generated intimate images without consent is a criminal offence, […]
One sanctions list. What does the UK’s 2026 change mean for your compliance framework?
From January 28, 2026, the UK Sanctions List will become the single authoritative source for all UK sanctions designations. At the same time, the OFSI Consolidated List of Asset Freeze Targets will be retired and will no longer be updated. While this may look like an administrative tidy-up, it is actually a material compliance […]