AI delayed, GDPR dismantled and big tech wins big. Will “Digital Omnibus” rewrite Europe’s digital future?
In a political shockwave reverberating across Europe, the European Commission has simultaneously unveiled: A last-minute “AI Omnibus” proposal delaying the AI Act’s core high-risk obligations A sweeping GDPR reform package that privacy advocates warn could gut Europe’s digital rights What should have been a routine regulatory update has erupted into what noyb calls “the […]
When Crypto’s promise becomes a shadow economy
Cryptocurrency was once hailed as a radical, positive force for financial freedom, a way to bypass traditional banks, democratize access and innovate the future of money. But a sweeping new investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) reveals a darker truth: Many major crypto platforms are deeply entangled with illicit finance, letting money […]
Gibraltar at a crossroads: What two landmark inquiries reveal about a jurisdiction under strain
For a tiny jurisdiction perched at the mouth of the Mediterranean, Gibraltar has spent the past few years at the centre of a storm. What began as a police investigation into alleged sabotage of a national security system has spiralled into one of the most consequential governance reckonings the territory has ever faced. Two major […]
SFDR 2.0 is coming. What does it mean for UK businesses?
On November 6, the financial markets took note of a leaked draft proposal from the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) , dubbed SFDR 2.0, signalling what looks to be a sweeping overhaul of the EU’s sustainable-finance disclosure regime. For UK businesses, especially those with EU‐facing funds or sustainability-linked products, this is highly relevant. While the […]
Source of Funds and Wealth: The SRA’s latest thematic review and what it means for law firms
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has released a new Thematic Review of Source of Funds and Wealth Compliance and its findings are both revealing and urgent. Despite over seven years of the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 being in force, the SRA remains concerned by persistently high levels of non-compliance across the legal sector. Why […]
Europe’s data revolution: What do the GDPR digital omnibus and AI Act reforms mean for UK businesses?
The EU is quietly entering a new era of digital regulation, one that could reshape how data protection and AI governance work across Europe. Three interconnected developments are driving this shift: A leaked draft of the “GDPR Digital Omnibus”, which may introduce a new lawful basis for AI model training. The Digital Omnibus proposal […]
The £9.1m warning or what law firms can learn from the Jeremy Bennett AML fine
When a solicitor of more than three decades’ standing is fined for breaching money laundering regulations, it’s time for the legal profession to recognise that no one is immune from compliance failure. The recent case of Jeremy Bennett, a former owner and solicitor at Sheffield-based 7 Legal and Finance Limited, has become a cautionary […]
AML in practice: What the Law Society’s SARs review means for Scottish legal firms
The Law Society of Scotland’s Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) Thematic Review, published in partnership with the UK Financial Intelligence Unit (UKFIU), marks one of the most comprehensive examinations of how Scottish legal practices handle their anti-money laundering (AML) reporting obligations. This is more than a technical report. It’s a practical mirror held up to […]
The SRA releases its 2025 AML annual report. What does it mean for your firm?
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) just published its latest anti-money laundering (AML) annual report, and it offers a comprehensive snapshot of where the sector stands and where it’s heading. It provides data, analysis and clear expectations from the regulator at a time when AML enforcement, technology, and regulatory change are converging. For firms, this […]