Health and safety in 2026: The legislative shifts your compliance team should prepare for
UK health and safety requirements are changing in 2026. A range of laws will require faster hazard remediation, stronger professional competence, tighter environmental controls and greater organisational accountability. Housing, waste, product safety and workplace culture all face meaningful shifts during 2026. These changes share a common thread: a move toward transparency, data integrity, and demonstrable […]
Russia added to the EU AML High-Risk List: What compliance teams need to know
The European Commission has formally added Russia to the EU’s list of high-risk third countries with strategic deficiencies in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CFT). The designation, finalised in December 2025, marks one of the most consequential updates to the EU’s AML framework in recent years. It carries significant implications for financial institutions, regulated professional […]
The EU’s new anti corruption directive: What comes next
The European Union has reached political agreement on its first comprehensive criminal law framework to address corruption across all 27 Member States. The deal, finalised in early December 2025 after more than two years of negotiation, represents a significant structural shift in how the bloc defines and prosecutes corruption. Although the final text reflects substantial […]
Cryptocurrency becomes legal property in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
On 2 December 2025, the Property (Digital Assets etc) Act received royal assent, meaning cryptocurrencies and stablecoins have officially been recognised as legal property under English law. Until now, common law had often treated digital tokens as property, but only through scattered judgments. This legislative change not only clarifies the legal status of these assets […]
November compliance news round-up
What’s in this update? UK regulators intensify enforcement on harassment, mental health, bribery, and money laundering, highlighting gaps in employer preparedness. EU AML and GDPR updates tighten compliance requirements, with new rules impacting UK firms operating in the bloc. US regulators increase scrutiny on privacy, fraud, and sanctions, with new CCPA obligations and expanded data […]
More FCA naming and shaming? What the High Court’s ruling in CIT v FCA means for business
In a landmark ruling on 23 October 2025, the High Court dismissed the first judicial review challenge to the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) discretion to publicly announce investigations, including naming firms under investigation. The case, CIT v Financial Conduct Authority (No. 1) [2025] EWHC 2614 (Admin), offers significant insights into how the FCA applies its […]
The CMA’s new enforcement era: What UK compliance teams need to know
The UK Competition and Markets Authority has entered a new phase of consumer protection enforcement. On 18 November, it used the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 for the first time to launch direct consumer law enforcement against eight major companies. At the same time, it issued advisory letters to one hundred businesses across […]
What’s new in Astute LXP – November 2025 update (v3.4.5)
This month’s release is a smaller one, but it brings meaningful improvements aimed at making everyday administration clearer, safer, and more predictable. We’ve made an important enhancement to enrolment rules, improved re-enrolment speeds, and fixed several issues across videos, certificates, emails and reporting. These updates are designed to reduce confusion, prevent mistakes, and give […]
Global election tracker 2026: What compliance teams should be watching
From Asia-Pacific to the Americas and Europe, several major economies will choose new governments or renew fragile coalitions throughout 2026. For compliance professionals, elections shape the regulatory climate organisations must operate in for years afterwards. A change in government frequently means a shift in enforcement appetite, supervisory expectations, budget priorities, sanctions policy, labour protections, ESG […]