Press & media

News, views and comment - RPC in the media.

RPC Partner speaks to the Westminster Media Forum on the future of UK online advertising regulation

Published on 31 July 2019

Olly Bray took to brandishing his Love Island water bottle at the Westminster Media Forum recently, to illustrate the issues raised by influencer marketing regulation.

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Top risks to the retail industry in 2019: RPC’s Retail Compass Summer edition 2019

Published on 19 July 2019

RPC, the City-headquartered law firm, has launched its Summer 2019 Retail Compass, its guide to the upcoming legal and policy changes affecting the retail industry.

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FCA investigations into individuals double in 2018

Published on 01 July 2019

FCA investigations into individuals have doubled in the last year, with the number of cases involving individuals being referred to the FCA’s Regulatory Decisions Committee (RDC) rising to 27 in 2018 (year end Dec 31) from 13 the year before*, says RPC, the City-headquartered law firm.

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RPC adds Partner to Restructuring and Insolvency team

Published on 26 June 2019

RPC has hired restructuring and insolvency partner Paul Bagon to work across its commercial, corporate and disputes practices. Paul has spent the majority of his career practising insolvency and restructuring law in leading international law firms including Weil, Gotshal & Manges. He has worked on some of the largest and most high profile recent global restructurings and insolvencies.

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Football and music disputes continue to dominate UK High Court

Published on 17 June 2019

Football and music bodies continue to be the most active users of the UK High Court, as they crack down on businesses breaching copyright law, shows new research from RPC, the City-headquartered law firm.

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RPC digital marketing executive breaks world powerlifting record

Published on 07 June 2019

Moya Williams – a digital expert in law firm RPC's Brand, Marketing & Sales team – broke the world record for the deadlift* at the recent All England Powerlifting Championship, held in Northampton.

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Royal accolade for Link, the cross industry LGBT+ network

Published on 05 June 2019

Link, the LGBT+ network for the insurance industry, which launched in 2013, has received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the equivalent of an MBE and the highest accolade given to volunteer groups in the UK.

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RPC secures highly-regarded commercial disputes Partner in Hong Kong

Published on 01 June 2019

Charles Allen, former Head of Commercial Litigation and International Arbitration at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe in Hong Kong, joins the team at RPC

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RPC Premier Law secures disputes team from Clyde & Co Clasis

Published on 01 June 2019

The team is led by Partner Gerald Yee who joins RPC's Singapore office on 1 June.

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Average ICO fine jumps 14% in a year to £143,000 in the wake of GDPR

Published on 28 May 2019

The average fine levied by the Information Commissioner’s Office has risen 14% in the year since the introduction of GDPR, rising from £125,000 in 2017/18 to £143,000 in 2018/19*, says City-headquartered law firm RPC.

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FCA investigations into directors of financial services companies jump 29% in a year

Published on 20 May 2019

The number of investigations opened by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) into directors of financial services companies jumped 29% to 58 in 2018* (year to December 2018), up from 45 in 2017

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24% fall in the number of M&A deals in the retail sector last year

Published on 20 May 2019

The number of UK retail sector M&A deals has fallen by 24% in the last year, to 27 in 2018/19 (year to March 31 2019) from 37 the year before.

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65 hacking prosecutions last year, up from 47 – but still too small a percentage of reported cybercrimes

Published on 16 May 2019

Over 17,900 incidences of computer hacking reported in the UK in 2018. However, despite the rise last year, the number of prosecutions still represents less than 1% of reported cybercrimes in the UK.

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City law firm RPC advises NYSE-listed Allison Transmission on its acquisition of an electric vehicle technology specialist, Vantage Power

Published on 15 May 2019

This transaction continues our strong record of advising on significant tech deals

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RPC makes up six new Partners in 2019 round

Published on 01 May 2019

RPC welcomes Charles Buckworth, Rachel Healey, Ben Mark, Peter Sugden, Robert Waterson and Alan Williams to the Partnership following completion of its annual promotions process.

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HMRC issues another 1400 demands to accountancy and law firms in relation to clients suspected of tax evasion

Published on 18 March 2019

HMRC issued another 1,414 requests to accountants, lawyers and other professional services firms last year* demanding information on clients that it wants to investigate for suspected tax evasion, says RPC, the City-headquartered law firm.

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RPC seals strategic alliance with US law firm

Published on 26 February 2019

Our insurance practice has entered into a strategic alliance with US firm, Hinshaw & Culbertson. Headquartered in Chicago Illinois, Hinshaw & Culbertson has 21 offices across the United States including in New York, Massachusetts, Florida and California and has a strong insurance sector focus.

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Data breaches reported by financial services firms rise 480% in a year to 145

Published on 26 February 2019

The number of data breaches reported by UK financial services firms to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) increased 480% in 2018, to 145 up from just 25 in 2017, shows research from RPC, the City-headquartered law firm.

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Recalls of unsafe food jump 40% in a year as concerns rise over allergy deaths

Published on 25 February 2019

Recalls of unsafe food products in the UK have jumped by 40% from 145 to 203 in the last year as concerns rise over poorly-labelled foods causing allergy-related deaths, says RPC, the City-headquartered law firm.

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Government consultation on airport alcohol sales risks unnecessary red tape and costs for retailers

Published on 21 January 2019

The Government’s potential restriction on sales of alcohol at airports risks adding unnecessary red tape and costs to one of the UK retail and leisure industry’s biggest success stories, says RPC, the City-headquartered law firm.

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RPC Premier Law Partner appointed Senior Counsel at Singapore Bar

Published on 18 January 2019

Partner Siraj Omar has been appointed Senior Counsel by the Chief Justice of Singapore.

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GDPR introduction sees whistle-blower reports on data breaches rise 165%

Published on 17 December 2018

The number of whistle-blower reports received by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) about potential data breaches at businesses has increased 165% since the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in May.

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RPC Hong Kong office relocation for future growth plans

Published on 07 December 2018

RPC is pleased to announce that our Hong Kong team is moving to a brand new office at One Taikoo Place in early January 2019.

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International legal network Terralex announces RPC chair

Published on 03 December 2018

TerraLex has announced that Tim Brown Partner at RPC, the City-headquartered law firm, has been elected as Chair of the global network. Tim replaces Harry P. Trueheart of Nixon Peabody.

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RPC joins forces with diversity organisation Aspiring Solicitors

Published on 23 November 2018

New partnership will play integral role in opening up access to the law for underrepresented groups

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28% rise in number of individuals being banned from financial services by the FCA

Published on 13 November 2018

There has been a 28% rise in the number of individuals being banned from working in the financial services industry by the FCA last year, increasing to 23 in 2017/18 (September 20), up from just 18 the previous year.

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Insurtech investment being stepped up – number of insurance patents filed jumps 40% in a year

Published on 07 November 2018

Investment in insurtech is being stepped up, as the number of insurance-related patents filed worldwide jumped 40% last year, to 917 in 2017 (to Dec 31) from 657* in 2016

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Average fine for data breaches doubles to £146,000 in just a year

Published on 30 October 2018

The average value of fines issued by the Information Commissioner’s Office for failing to protect against data breaches has doubled to £146,000 in the year to September 30 2018, up from £73,000 the year before.

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Craft beer boom sees trade marks jump 20% to record high

Published on 22 October 2018

The craft beer boom has seen the number of new trade marks registered in the UK for beer brands rise by 20%, to a record high of 2,372 in 2017, up from 1,983 the previous year*, shows research from RPC, the City-headquartered law firm.

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UK cryptocurrency regulations could take up to two years based on comparable regulatory extensions

Published on 11 October 2018

UK regulation of the cryptocurrency market would take two years to introduce based on comparable extensions of the FCA’s remit.

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RPC hires white-collar crime Partner into Regulatory team

Published on 05 September 2018

Sam Tate joins firm in September from financial crime consultancy, Exiger.

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HMRC paid informants over £343,000 for intelligence on tax evasion in the last year

Published on 29 August 2018

HMRC paid informants more than £343,000 in 2017/18 for providing information on potential tax evasion as HMRC goes to increasingly extreme lengths to bolster its investigations.

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RPC adds professional indemnity Partner to leading Insurance team

Published on 22 August 2018

Highly recommended in the directories, Rhian Howell is a leading professional negligence lawyer with significant experience dealing with claims against lawyers and construction professionals. She is also experienced in handling disciplinary and regulatory matters on behalf of professionals.

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Hacking prosecutions fall for a further year despite the threat of cyber crime

Published on 20 August 2018

The number of computer hacking prosecutions fell for the second successive year in 2017, despite the ever-increasing threat to businesses and individuals

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Value of UK e-retail M&A deals up 14-fold in the last year

Published on 07 August 2018

M&A activity has been driven by deals targeting luxury fashion e-retailers, as both luxury brands and retailers look to rapidly expand their online sales presence.

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RPC retains 82% of trainees from 2016 intake

Published on 07 August 2018

This marks another year of strong retention rates for the City-based law firm.

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UK trade marks for spirits rise 41% in one year as popularity of artisan spirits surges

Published on 30 July 2018

The number of trade marks registered for spirits and liqueurs in the UK has jumped 41% to 2,210 in 2017, up from 1,570 the previous year* as demand for artisan spirits grows.

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HMRC faced 36% more Judicial Reviews last year as it adopts a more aggressive approach towards taxpayers

Published on 25 July 2018

HMRC has in recent years become more aggressive in dealing with taxpayers, which has led to an increase in taxpayers challenging HMRC in the High Court where it has overstepped its authority or acted unfairly.

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RPC sponsors this week’s Instech2020 conference - placing technology at the forefront of the insurance industry

Published on 11 July 2018

RPC is sponsoring the Instech2020 conference, at the BT Centre on Wednesday July 11th - an industry-leading event showcasing and discussing the technology at the forefront of the insurance industry.

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Where high culture meets Big Data

Published on 06 June 2018

High culture will meet Big Data head on at an upcoming fine art “treasure hunt” hosted by City-headquartered law firm, RPC

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Retail sector insolvencies show no sign of slowing with 7% increase in a year

Published on 24 May 2018

The retail sector continues to suffer from a high cost base whilst the shift in sales from the high street to the internet continues to pick up pace.

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RPC hires highly-ranked commercial contracts Partner to growing IP, Tech and Media Group

Published on 22 May 2018

RPC has hired leading commercial contracts lawyer Paul Joukador into its growing IP, Technology and Media Group in London.

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15% rise in number of M&A deals in the retail sector last year

Published on 09 May 2018

The number of UK retail sector M&A deals* has jumped 15% in the last year to 37 up from 32 in 2016/17 (year end March 31).

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RPC appoints two new Directors to its Business Services team

Published on 26 April 2018

RPC has promoted Kate Gregg and Ed FitzGerald as Directors in its Business Services team.

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19% jump in HMRC demands to accountants and other professional advisers for confidential information on clients suspected of tax crimes

Published on 26 April 2018

There was a 19% increase in the number of HMRC requests to professional services firms for confidential information on clients it wants to investigate for suspected tax crimes.

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The number of controversial Accelerated Payment Notices HMRC admits it issued in error hits 6,000

Published on 25 April 2018

In total, HMRC has issued more than 79,000 APNs since their introduction in August 2014. Adam Craggs, Partner at RPC, says such high numbers of APNs being withdrawn raises questions over whether HMRC is exercising this draconian power with sufficient care.

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64% fall in individuals referred to the FCA’s Regulatory Decisions Committee

Published on 16 April 2018

There has been a sharp fall in the number of individuals working in financial services being referred to the FCA’s Regulatory Decision Committee, dropping 64% to 13 in 2017

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25 cartel members blow the whistle in the UK on illegal price fixing in bid for softer sentences

Published on 06 April 2018

Competition and Markets Authority proactively cracking down on cartel-related activity

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RPC announces Gender Pay Gap figures

Published on 29 March 2018

City-headquartered professional services firm RPC has announced its 2017 Gender Pay Gap figures for the UK.

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Copyright disputes from sports and music rights holders continue to flood High Court

Published on 12 March 2018

Five of the Top 10 High Court claimants are football or music rights holders

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