Merrill Lynch fined $7.5m: When AML thresholds become a governance problem
Merrill Lynch’s $7.5m SEC penalty has prompted a familiar debate: are financial penalties large enough to change behaviour at major financial institutions? It is a fair question. But the more useful compliance lesson is not only about the size of the fine. It is about what happens when a firm’s own AML testing shows that […]
Gambling Commission asks industry to cut regulatory burdens
The Gambling Commission has launched a formal invitation for the gambling industry to submit proposals on how to reduce the burdens associated with gambling regulation. The call, which opened on 26 June 2026, is not a consultation. Instead, the Commission is asking operators and other stakeholders to identify areas where regulatory requirements, guidance, technical standards, […]
No conviction, still public: what London Mining shows about reputational risk in corruption investigations
In bribery and corruption cases, the biggest risk is often seen as the final outcome: conviction, acquittal, fine or imprisonment. But the collapsed London Mining case is a reminder that reputational exposure can begin long before any final ruling. In some cases, names, allegations, investigative decisions and internal records can become public even where no […]
UK and US sanctions: new joint guidance points to closer enforcement coordination
OFSI and OFAC have published new joint guidance comparing the UK and US sanctions regimes, giving businesses a useful side-by-side overview of where the two systems align and where they differ. The publication follows a January 2026 meeting in London between the UK’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation and the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets […]
OFSI’s £1m Sabre fine shows sanctions compliance is not just a finance issue
The UK’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation has issued a penalty of more than £1m against Sabre Global Technologies Limited, a travel technology company, for breaches of UK financial sanctions against Russia. The case is a reminder that sanctions compliance is not just a concern for banks, law firms or financial institutions. Any organisation that […]
Neurodiversity tribunal claims are rising. Is your workplace ready?
Neurodiversity is no longer a side issue for employers. Tribunal cases involving neurodivergent conditions have almost doubled in five years, while Ministry of Justice figures show disability discrimination remains one of the largest Employment Tribunal complaint categories. At the same time, a VinciWorks survey found that 35% of HR, L&D and compliance professionals say managers […]
Canada’s proposed forced labour import ban shows modern slavery law is moving beyond transparency
Canada has introduced new legislation aimed at strengthening its ban on goods made with forced labour. If passed, Bill C-35, the Ban on Importing Goods Made with Forced Labour Act, would create a standalone import control regime and give Canadian authorities stronger tools to stop goods linked to forced labour from entering the country. The […]
US Supreme Court expands Helms-Burton liability, making Cuba sanctions exposure riskier for companies
A recent US Supreme Court decision has significantly altered the risk landscape for businesses that currently operate in, or have previously engaged with, Cuba. In Havana Docks Corp v Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, the Court adopted a broader interpretation of Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, materially expanding potential liability for “trafficking” in property confiscated […]
What the FTI Consulting settlement tells us about sanctions compliance training
Sanctions enforcement is moving fast, and the latest OFAC settlement with FTI Consulting is another reminder that sanctions risk is rarely limited to a simple name match on a screening system. On 1 June 2026, the US Office of Foreign Assets Control announced a $1.05 million settlement with FTI Consulting over apparent violations of US […]