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Thinking - Blog

Unpacking the Building Safety Act's industry overhaul

Published on 06 Mar 2024. By Zoe Eastell, Partner and Zack Gould-Wilson, Senior Associate

On June 28, 2022, the Building Safety Act 2022 received royal assent, bringing about the biggest change to building safety in 40 years.

Press and Media

The Times recognises RPC among Best Law Firms 2024

Published on 30 Oct 2023.

International law firm, RPC, has been recognised by The Times in its Best Law Firms 2024 report, an annual ranking of the top 250 law firms in England and Wales.

Thinking - Blog

The El Niño year and impact on subsidence claims

Published on 13 Jul 2023. By Andrew Roper, Partner and Aimee Talbot, Knowledge Lawyer

Insurers should be bracing for a wave of subsidence claims arising from the increasingly warm weather. The UN’s World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has declared that an El Niño climate event is in progress, which helps explain why June 2023 was the hottest on record in the UK.

Thinking - Blog

Building on renewable energy #3 – Anaerobic Digestion

Published on 24 Sep 2020.

Anaerobic digestion is the process by which biodegradable materials are broken down in a controlled environment. Whilst being broken down, the materials emit gas (which can be used as a source of renewable energy), and produce heat (which can also be harnessed on or near-to site). The process also leaves a waste material (digestate), which can be used as fertiliser, contributing to the circular economy.

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Thinking - Publication

Green claims update: June 2025

Published on 26 Jun 2025. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner, Technology, Media & Telecoms Sector Lead and Ciara Cullen, Partner, Retail & Consumer Sector Lead and Hettie Homewood , Senior Associate and Sophie Tuson, Senior Associate, Environment and Climate Change Practice Lead

Welcome to our round-up of the key legal and regulatory developments relating to green claims.

Thinking - Publication

Green claims update: April 2025

Published on 17 Apr 2025. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner, Technology, Media & Telecoms Sector Lead and Ciara Cullen, Partner, Retail & Consumer Sector Lead and Hettie Homewood , Senior Associate and Sophie Tuson, Senior Associate, Environment and Climate Change Practice Lead

Welcome to our round-up of the key legal and regulatory developments relating to green claims.

Thinking - Publication

What if the CEO asks me about… our exposure to packaging fees under EPR?

Published on 01 Apr 2025. By Sophie Tuson, Senior Associate, Environment and Climate Change Practice Lead and Ciara Cullen, Partner, Retail & Consumer Sector Lead and Harpreet Kaur, Associate

The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) (EPR) Regulations 2024 (EPR Regulations) came into force on 1 January 2025. They will affect most businesses that supply packaging in the UK, particularly brand owners of branded packaged products, and those who import branded products into the UK from overseas.

Thinking - Publication

What if the CEO asks me about… the EU's Omnibus Directive?

Published on 19 Mar 2025. By Sophie Tuson, Senior Associate, Environment and Climate Change Practice Lead and Rosamund Akayan, Senior Knowledge Lawyer and Connor Cahalane, Partner - Corporate and Thomas Jenkins, Of Counsel and Kelly Thomson, Partner, ESG Strategy Lead

On 26 February 2025, the EU Commission published its proposed Omnibus Directive, aiming to simplify EU rules, boost competitiveness and reduce the perceived regulatory burden on businesses, particularly SMEs. Here, we break down the key takeaways for busy in-house teams and discuss what we can expect next from the EU Parliament and Council.

Thinking - Blog

Leveraging ABC frameworks for ESG compliance

Published on 06 Mar 2025. By Kelly Thomson, Partner, ESG Strategy Lead and Patrick Brodie, Patrick Brodie, Partner, Head of Employment, Engagement & Equality and Sophie Tuson, Senior Associate, Environment and Climate Change Practice Lead and Thomas Jenkins, Of Counsel and Sarah Barrie, Associate and Eve Matthews, Associate

With ESG regulations evolving rapidly, businesses are facing increasing obligations, ranging from supply chain due diligence (CSDDD, EU Deforestation Regulation) to corporate reporting (CSRD, ISSB).

Thinking - Blog

FRC thematic review: climate-related financial disclosures by AIM and large private companies

Published on 04 Mar 2025. By Connor Cahalane, Partner - Corporate and Sophie Tuson, Senior Associate, Environment and Climate Change Practice Lead and Rosamund Akayan, Senior Knowledge Lawyer

On 21 January 2025, the FRC published a thematic review of climate-related financial disclosures (CFD) by AIM and large private companies, following the first cycle of mandatory reporting.

Thinking - Publication

Green claims update: February 2025

Published on 27 Feb 2025. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner, Technology, Media & Telecoms Sector Lead and Ciara Cullen, Partner, Retail & Consumer Sector Lead and Hettie Homewood , Senior Associate and Sophie Tuson, Senior Associate, Environment and Climate Change Practice Lead

Welcome to our round-up of the key legal and regulatory developments relating to green claims.

Thinking - Publication

Green claims update: December 2024

Published on 17 Dec 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner, Technology, Media & Telecoms Sector Lead and Ciara Cullen, Partner, Retail & Consumer Sector Lead and Hettie Homewood , Senior Associate and Sophie Tuson, Senior Associate, Environment and Climate Change Practice Lead

Welcome to our round-up of the key legal and regulatory developments relating to green claims.

Thinking - Publication

Green claims update: October 2024

Published on 31 Oct 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner, Technology, Media & Telecoms Sector Lead and Ciara Cullen, Partner, Retail & Consumer Sector Lead and Hettie Homewood , Senior Associate and Sophie Tuson, Senior Associate, Environment and Climate Change Practice Lead

Welcome to our round-up of the key legal and regulatory developments relating to green claims.

Press and Media

Navigating retail's sustainable revolution as ESG shapes the industry's future

Published on 02 Oct 2024. By Kimberley Nanson, Senior Communications Manager and Caroline Copland, Head of Marketing Communications

As the retail regulatory landscape continues to develop at pace and affordability and sustainability remain important for consumers, ESG poses a variety of opportunities and challenges for those in the retail and consumer market.

Thinking - Publication

Green claims update: September 2024

Published on 26 Sep 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner, Technology, Media & Telecoms Sector Lead and Ciara Cullen, Partner, Retail & Consumer Sector Lead and Hettie Homewood , Senior Associate and Sophie Tuson, Senior Associate, Environment and Climate Change Practice Lead

Welcome to our round-up of the key legal and regulatory developments relating to green claims.

Thinking - Blog

Navigating the ISSB’s sustainability disclosure standards: practical insights

Published on 26 Sep 2024. By Sophie Tuson, Senior Associate, Environment and Climate Change Practice Lead and Connor Cahalane, Partner - Corporate

The global sustainability reporting landscape is evolving fast. In 2025, the UK government will consult on new sustainability reporting standards for large and listed companies based on the ISSB’s sustainability disclosure standards.

Thinking - Publication

Staying green and true: navigating the new FCA anti-greenwashing rule

Published on 30 Aug 2024. By Mike Newham, Partner and Sophie Tuson, Senior Associate, Environment and Climate Change Practice Lead and Catherine Zakarias-Welch, Knowledge Lawyer

In an era where sustainability is now firmly on the investor agenda and under increasing scrutiny, the FCA has recently introduced a new 'anti-greenwashing' rule to prevent firms from exaggerating the green or social credentials of their products and services. The implications of the new rule are significant, with the risk of regulatory action and civil claims for non-compliance. Against this backdrop, IR professionals can play a key role in helping ensure transparency with investors, raising the firm's profile in the sustainability space and mitigating legal risk.

Thinking - Blog

The EU's Green Claims Directive

Published on 24 Jul 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner, Technology, Media & Telecoms Sector Lead and Ciara Cullen, Partner, Retail & Consumer Sector Lead and Hettie Homewood , Senior Associate and Sophie Tuson, Senior Associate, Environment and Climate Change Practice Lead

The EU's proposed Green Claims Directive (GCD) sets out expansive new rules for companies making green claims in the EU.

Thinking - Blog

Context is everything – key takeaways on green claims from the CMA's recent consumer law conference

Published on 18 Jul 2023. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner, Technology, Media & Telecoms Sector Lead and Hettie Homewood , Senior Associate and Praveeta Thayalan, Senior Knowledge Lawyer

On 28 June 2023, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) held a highly anticipated conference on consumer law and enforcement. RPC's Senior Partner Oliver Bray was invited to speak on green claims alongside a stellar panel comprising Anna Jewitt (CMA), Justine Grimley (Advertising Standards Authority (ASA)), Tim Rowe (Financial Conduct Authority), and Rupert Earle (Bates Wells).

Thinking - Blog

Climate-related financial disclosures: what companies and LLPs need to know about the UK's new mandatory rules

Published on 10 May 2022.

The UK's new climate-related financial disclosures: mandatory requirements to come clean

Thinking - Blog

How to comply with the FCA's new diversity and inclusion targets for listed companies

Published on 05 May 2022. By Connor Cahalane, Partner - Corporate and Karen Hendy, Partner, Head of Corporate & Commercial

The FCA has finalised its new rules on diversity and inclusion on listed company boards and executive committees. The rules, which are set out in the FCA's policy paper PS22/3: Diversity and inclusion on company boards and executive management, are substantially in line with the proposals set out in the FCA's consultation paper CP 21/24. In scope listed companies are required to include a statement in their annual financial report on whether they have met specific board diversity targets on a ‘comply or explain’ basis, as at a chosen reference date within their accounting period.

Thinking - Blog

'Big Plastic' is an emerging climate risk and a ticking time-bomb for litigation

Published on 14 Apr 2022. By Lucy Dyson , Partner

The tangible commitment to plastics regulation and action will likely trigger a new wave of plastics-related litigation.

Thinking - Blog

ESG claims in the banking and financial markets Sector: will "greenwashing" claims soon be common in the UK?

Published on 14 Feb 2022. By Chris Ross, Partner

Environmental, Social and Governance "ESG" funds are an attractive avenue for investors seeking responsible investment choices.

Thinking - Blog

Lloyd's' focus on a more sustainable future

Published on 07 Dec 2021. By Lauren Murphy, Senior Associate

Lloyd's published its first Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report at the end of last year and while this is a fairly new focus area for Lloyd's it noted that: a) in its history it has a long record of contributing to communities and helping them to recover from disaster; and b) the role that insurance plays in protecting society and supporting global economic growth.

Thinking - Blog

The rise of ESG finance

Published on 01 Oct 2021. By Sukh Ahark, Partner, Co-head of India Desk

ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) finance remains a hot topic and continues to grow rapidly, with Bloomberg predicting the $2.2 trillion ESG debt market to hit $11 trillion by 2025, based on the rate of growth during the past five years.

Thinking - Publication

What if the CEO asks me... about ESG-linked financing facilities

Published on 28 Sep 2021. By Edward Colville, Partner and Sukh Ahark, Partner, Co-head of India Desk

As focus moves from short term lockdown liquidity on to longer term financing needs, loan facilities linked to ESG and sustainability targets are back in the news.

Thinking - Blog

Balance on the board: Eight things UK PLCs need to know about the FCA's diversity targets

Published on 27 Sep 2021. By Karen Hendy, Partner, Head of Corporate & Commercial and Connor Cahalane, Partner - Corporate

The Financial Conduct Authority's proposals will mean UK listed companies need to disclose whether their boards and senior management teams meet new gender and ethnic diversity targets.

Thinking - Blog

FCA set to expand climate-related reporting rules

Published on 17 May 2021. By James Parsons, Associate

The FCA has revealed it will consult on plans to require asset managers, life insurers and FCA-regulated pension schemes to meet climate-related disclosure rules. In doing so, the FCA is expanding the scope of firms required to report on climate-related risks in accordance with the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosure (TCFD).

Thinking - Blog

Time for public companies to come clean: New UK climate-related disclosures and ESG guidance

Published on 03 Feb 2021. By Connor Cahalane, Partner - Corporate

Companies listed on the London Stock Exchange's Main Market will need to include a statement in their annual report confirming if they have made climate-related disclosures consistent with the recommendations of Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). Companies planning to IPO, or move from AIM to the Main Market, are also affected by these new Listing Rules.

Thinking - Blog

Regulatory Pulse - 26 June 2025

Published on 26 Jun 2025. By Tom Wild, Senior Associate and Charlotte Thompson, Associate and Jake Cotterill, Associate

Bringing you up to speed on developments in solicitors' regulation every fortnight.

Thinking - Blog

Regulatory Pulse - 6 June 2025

Published on 06 Jun 2025. By Tom Wild, Senior Associate

Bringing you up to speed on developments in solicitors' regulation every fortnight.

Thinking - Blog

Regulatory Pulse - 19 May 2025

Published on 19 May 2025. By Tom Wild, Senior Associate

Phew, it's been a busy couple of weeks! Let's bring you up to speed.

Thinking - Blog

Regulatory Pulse - 9 May 2025

Published on 09 May 2025. By Tom Wild, Senior Associate

Welcome to the second edition of RPC Pulse. A concise look at regulatory developments for solicitors, delivered to your inbox every fortnight.

Thinking - Blog

Regulatory Pulse - 24 April 2025

Published on 24 Apr 2025. By Tom Wild, Senior Associate

Welcome to the first edition of RPC Pulse. A concise look at regulatory developments for solicitors, delivered to your inbox every fortnight.

Thinking - Blog

Tooling v Engie: a glimpse into the future of the motor finance litigation?

Published on 31 Mar 2025. By Alison Thomas, Associate and Rachael Healey, Partner

On 21 March 2025, the Court of Appeal handed down an expedited judgment in Expert Tooling and Automation Ltd v Engie Power Ltd [2025] EWCA Civ 292, a case which, like one of the three linked motor finance cases due to be heard at the Supreme Court this week (Johnson v FirstRand Bank Limited), dealt with 'half secret' commissions. In Tooling the Court of Appeal took the opportunity to expand upon and further explain some of its reasoning in Johnson.

Thinking - Blog

SRA unlimited fining powers

Published on 24 Feb 2025. By Shanice Holder, Associate and Tom Wild, Senior Associate and Graham Reid, Partner

The biggest development in solicitors' regulation in 2025 is undoubtedly the SRA's new approach to financial penalties. For the first time in history, the SRA will wield unlimited fining powers, and it proposes to use them in a way which could transform the financial consequences of regulatory breaches.

Thinking - Podcast

The Year to Come – 2025 – Financial Services and Accountants trends and developments we expect to see in 2025

Published on 13 Feb 2025.

Welcome to Money Covered, a monthly podcast from RPC aimed at those dealing with complaints, claims and risk management in the financial services sector.

Thinking - Publication

FOS Complaints Newsletter - January 2025

Published on 30 Jan 2025. By Rachael Healey, Partner and David Allinson, Partner and George Smith, Partner and Esme Watson, Senior Associate and Shauna Giddens, Senior Associate

Welcome to the FOS complaints quarterly newsletter. In this second of our quarterly FOS complaints newsletters we look at recent developments which have already impacted, or are likely to impact, future developments and trends.

Thinking - Blog

Undertakings and summary judgment

Published on 30 Jan 2025. By Jo Makin, Senior Associate and Will Sefton, Partner, Head of the Lawyers Liability and Regulatory Group

The recent decision in the case of Social Money Limited v Attwells Solicitors LLP [2024] EWHC 3288 (Ch) provides some interesting considerations on a number of matters relating to the giving of undertakings and attempts to seek to obtain summary judgment in that regard.

Thinking - Blog

High Court overturns SRA intervention

Published on 17 Dec 2024. By Will Sefton, Partner, Head of the Lawyers Liability and Regulatory Group and Michelle Peacock, Associate and Aimee Talbot, Knowledge Lawyer

A recent High Court decision saw the court overturn the SRA's intervention in a regulated law firm: only the second decision of its kind in 20 years.

Thinking - Blog

Oakwood Solicitors Ltd v Menzies – Supreme Court decision on 'payment' of solicitors' bills

Published on 29 Nov 2024. By Will Sefton, Partner, Head of the Lawyers Liability and Regulatory Group and Victoria Lawman, Trainee Solicitor

In their recent Judgment in Oakwood Solicitors Ltd v Menzies [2024] UKSC 34 the Supreme Court overturned the Court of Appeal decision. The Supreme Court held that deducting fees, payable under a statutory bill, is not a 'payment' within the meaning of section 70 Solicitors Act 1974 (the Act); even when deducted with the client's knowledge and consent.

Thinking - Publication

FOS Complaints Newsletter - October 2024

Published on 25 Oct 2024. By Rachael Healey, Partner and David Allinson, Partner and George Smith, Partner and Esme Watson, Senior Associate and Shauna Giddens, Senior Associate

Welcome to the FOS complaints quarterly newsletter. We have pulled together FOS complaints data going back to 2018 when FOS first started publishing complaints data at a product/service level to bring you an overview of what we are seeing in terms of complaints and uphold rates so we can draw trends from the data. FOS complaints data runs from April to March and so the first quarter of any year covers April to June.

Thinking - Blog

Growth vs. client care: SRA’s warning on mergers and the risk to public trust

Published on 26 Sep 2024. By Kirstie Pike, Partner and Aimee Talbot, Knowledge Lawyer and Victoria Lawman, Trainee Solicitor

We consider the key takeaways from the SRA's warning notice to firms growing by merger, which urges firms to keep client interests central to their decision-making processes.

Thinking - Blog

SRA consults the legal sector on proposed changes to their fining framework

Published on 30 Jul 2024. By Will Sefton, Partner, Head of the Lawyers Liability and Regulatory Group and Victoria Lawman, Trainee Solicitor

The SRA is conducting a consultation from the 28 June to 20 September 2024 on their proposed changes to the SRA Fining Guidance. The regulator is seeking feedback in response to the new unlimited fining powers granted under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA 2023).

Thinking - Blog

Fixing up the rules: changes to the fixed recoverable costs regime coming soon to a White Book near you!

Published on 20 Feb 2024. By Will Sefton, Partner, Head of the Lawyers Liability and Regulatory Group and Aimee Talbot, Knowledge Lawyer

Practitioners are eagerly awaiting the first decisions to see how the Court deals with tricky issues such as the effect of the transitional provisions and assignment of a complexity band. In the meantime, the Civil Procedure Rules Committee and the Ministry of Justice have been busy refining the rules and the 163rd update to the Civil Procedure Rules has been published. We've read it all so that you don't have to and explain below what's new in the world of FRC.

Thinking - Blog

Vehicle finance – FOS driving review forward, but is anyone behind the wheel?

Published on 08 Feb 2024. By David Allinson, Partner

In this article, David Allinson, Partner at RPC, has teamed up with Alex Barry, Claims Director at Collegiate Management Services Ltd, to consider a recent Financial Ombudsman Service decision concerning discretionary commission arrangements and vehicle finance loans. FOS has now published a small number of Final Decisions on this topic, which have been picked up by Martin Lewis (MoneySavingExpert.com) and the FCA, and could have wide-ranging consequences for a number of different professions and their insurers.

Thinking - Blog

Severe consequences: severance of success fee provisions in a CFA not allowed

Published on 27 Nov 2023. By Graham Reid, Partner and Georgia Durham, Associate

In Diag Human v Volterra Fietta [2023] EWCA Civ 1107 , the Court of Appeal held that a firm of solicitors that had entered into an unenforceable conditional fee agreement (CFA) could not obtain payment by severing the offending terms of the agreement and nor was payment on a quantum meruit basis permitted for public policy reasons. The consequence of this was that their clients were entitled to the return of sums paid on account.

Thinking - Blog

Navigating professional risks and opportunities facing the legal profession in an ever-changing legal and commercial landscape

Published on 17 Nov 2023. By Scott Ashby, Partner and Aimee Talbot, Knowledge Lawyer

The legal profession is undergoing significant changes, driven by a range of challenges and opportunities. In recent years, the legal landscape has experienced a period of transformation, marked by unforeseen challenges and emerging horizons. This transformation has been propelled by factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, evolving regulations, the increasing prominence of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues, and the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI). In this article, we examine the risks that lawyers face due to these factors, including the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) focus on addressing toxic workplaces and sexual misconduct, cultural shifts, and the implications of AI.

Thinking - Blog

Key considerations crime and D&O insurers cannot a-fraud to ignore

Published on 15 Nov 2023. By James Wickes, Partner

The UK government is committed to reforming corporate criminal liability and making it "quicker and easier" to prosecute companies involved in fraudulent conduct. These reforms will no doubt be welcomed by many where the nature and scale of fraud in the UK has evolved significantly and now constitutes more than 40% of all offences in England and Wales. However, it will inevitably have an impact on insurers, especially the D&O insurance market.