Sanctions evasion in Silicon Valley: Inside GVA Capital’s $216 million penalty
The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed its maximum statutory penalty — a staggering $215.9 million — on San Francisco-based venture capital firm GVA Capital Ltd. for “egregious” and deliberate violations of US sanctions against Russia. This case is not only a milestone in sanctions enforcement but a resounding wake-up call […]
Sanctions in the frame: The art world’s terrorist financing problem
The UK art and luxury goods markets are now under the microscope of sanctions enforcement and terrorist financing regulations, alongside the professional services that work with them. A new threat assessment from the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), released in June 2025, lays bare the vulnerabilities of Art Market Participants (AMPs) and High Value […]
FCPA enforcement rebooted: Coping with the Trump Administration’s compliance whiplash
In February 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order instructing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to pause enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), marking a sharp departure from decades of bipartisan commitment to global anti-corruption efforts. Now, just four months later, the administration has not only reversed course but recalibrated how, why, […]
Higgs v Farmor’s School: New guide to protected belief at work
What happens when an employee expresses controversial beliefs outside of work? The Court of Appeal’s ruling in Higgs v Farmor’s School has brought fresh clarity to one of the most complex areas of employment law: how far freedom of speech and belief goes in the workplace. In this landmark case, now confirmed by the […]
June 2025 FATF Grey List updates – guide to high risk jurisdictions
Following the FATF plenary in June 2025, VinciWorks has released its updated guide for all of the high risk jurisdictions for money laundering. This guide includes all of the jurisdictions subject to increased FATF monitoring, alongside countries on the EU’s High Risk Third Countries. This guide also includes those jurisdictions which have recently been […]
How L&D teams can build a thriving Community of Practice at work
Workplace learning isn’t just about formal training or top-down instruction. Some of the most impactful development happens peer-to-peer; through spontaneous knowledge exchange, real-time problem solving, and shared curiosity. That’s where Communities of Practice (CoPs) come in. A well-supported CoP can be a game-changer for workplace learning, especially for L&D professionals looking to drive upskilling, […]
Whistleblower reform in the UK: A new horizon or another false dawn?
The UK may be on the cusp of a transformative shift in how whistleblowers are protected, and corporate obligations. Labour MP Gareth Snell’s Office of the Whistleblower Bill is the latest – and potentially most significant – years-long attempt to overhaul the country’s whistleblowing framework. Although the second reading of the legislation is scheduled […]
Who is a lawyer? Will the Jonathan Reynolds case change legal regulation?
Who gets to call themselves a solicitor? In England and Wales, the title is legally protected, but as the case of Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds shows, enforcement is far from robust. Despite never qualifying, Reynolds repeatedly referred to himself as a solicitor in speeches, campaign materials, and online profiles. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) investigated, […]
Ransomware attack lands data processor with a £3m fine
With the UK data protection landscape on the cusp of change with the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 and the forthcoming Cyber Security and Resilience Bill set to further embed the crucial link between cyber and data protection, the £3.7m fine against Advanced Computer Software Group serves as an important reminder about the need […]
Hidden red flags: What major bribery cases reveal about compliance failures
Corporate bribery is no longer a quiet scandal. From the halls of government ministries to the boardrooms of multinational enterprises, the past decade has exposed an astonishing array of global corruption cases, with billions of fines levied and years of prison time handed down. Each new bribery scandal, such as the recent prosecution of […]
