Key provisions of the Data (Use and Access) Act coming into force today – 20 August 2025
Today, 20 August 2025, several important parts of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (DUAA) officially come into effect. These changes mark the start of the law’s gradual implementation, following its passage in June. For compliance teams, data privacy professionals, and legal advisers, today’s updates require immediate attention and some practical adjustments. Although […]
Human rights, geopolitics and corporate risk: Lessons from the Chapman Taylor case
Chapman Taylor, a UK-based global architecture firm, has been reported to the UK National Contact Point (NCP) for alleged breaches of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises due to a construction project in Azerbaijan. This little known rule opens the door to a potential litany of human rights complaints against UK businesses, with wide-ranging consequences […]
Bennett Verby is the first prosecution for failure to prevent tax evasion, but won’t be the last
Eight years after the Criminal Finances Act 2017 created new strict liability corporate offences for the failure to prevent the facilitation of tax evasion, HMRC has finally brought its first prosecution. The case, announced on 14 August 2025, centres on Bennett Verby Ltd, a Stockport accountancy firm, accused of enabling fraudulent claims worth more than […]
What’s New in Astute LXP – August 2025 Update (v3.4.2)
We’re excited to roll out Astute LXP v3.4.2 on August 14, 2025. This month’s release brings a fresh wave of usability improvements, template refinements, and behind-the-scenes optimisations to help you manage learners and compliance more efficiently than ever. Key Enhancements New Pending Enrolments ReportEasily track learners who are queued for enrolment with a dedicated “Pending […]
When regulators come for the compliance officer: CCO survival guide
For many chief compliance officers (CCOs), the greatest fear isn’t just a regulatory fine against their firm, it’s finding themselves in the regulator’s crosshairs. In recent years, the SEC has shown a willingness to pursue CCOs personally, holding them accountable not only for their own misconduct but for the firm’s operational failures, ignored warning signs, […]
Compliance lessons from the first FCPA declination of Trump’s second term
The US Department of Justice’s first Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) declination in almost a year marks more than just the resolution of a single bribery investigation. It is the first such case since President Donald Trump, in February 2025, temporarily halted enforcement of the anti-bribery law, later resuming it in a narrower form. This […]
Could a family law case trigger a failure to prevent fraud investigation?
The recent Court of Appeal decision in Helliwell v Entwistle [2025] EWCA Civ 1055/1071 has been watched closely by family lawyers for its implications on prenuptial agreements and financial disclosure. But beyond family law, the case also raises uncomfortable questions for legal professionals about fraud risk, anti-money laundering obligations, and from 1 September 2025, potential […]
The tax time bomb? When failure to prevent tax evasion meets crypto compliance
Since 2017, the UK’s Criminal Finances Act has created strict liability offences for firms that fail to prevent the criminal facilitation of tax evasion. The law has never been tested in court, until now. HMRC has finally brought its first prosecution under this framework. Stockport‑based accountancy firm Bennett Verby is due to face trial at […]
How UK AML is changing in 2025: What it means for compliance
The UK’s anti-money laundering framework is heading for one of its most important updates in years. The publication of the 2025 National Risk Assessment (NRA) and the government’s formal response to the Money Laundering Regulations (MLRs) consultation together mark a clear turning point in how AML is regulated and enforced. This is not just […]
Cannabis compliance: navigating risk and opportunity in a high-growth industry
Cannabis is no longer a fringe industry. Yet for financial institutions, investment firms, and professional services providers, engaging with cannabis-related businesses (CRBs) remains a high-risk, legally ambiguous area. The core compliance challenge? Cannabis may be legal locally, but remains a controlled substance federally in the US and other key jurisdictions, triggering anti-money laundering (AML) risks, […]