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EBA encourages banks to pool their resources for cloud audits

Published on 02 Jun 2017. By Joseph Byrne, Senior Associate

The EBA has set out that banks are no longer required to provide their auditors (or themselves) with an independent right to audit their cloud service providers.

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A mutual break-up? – Old Mutual drops IT supplier IFDS

Published on 05 May 2017. By Joseph Byrne, Senior Associate

Old Mutual Wealth has ditched its IT supplier, International Financial Data Services, on £450 million platform project.

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Licensors beware – BlackBerry wins refund of royalties from Qualcomm

Published on 02 May 2017. By Joseph Byrne, Senior Associate

Smartphone chip supplier Qualcomm has been ordered to pay back $814.9 million to BlackBerry as part of a binding interim arbitration settlement.

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Digital comparison tools: the CMA decides against a market investigation reference

Published on 30 Mar 2017. By Melanie Musgrave, Of Counsel

Six months after the CMA launched its market study into digital comparison tools, it has decided not to make a market investigation reference, but will focus on four areas of possible concern in a second phase of its market study.

Thinking - Blog

Blockchain technology for contracts: Above the law?

Published on 23 Mar 2017.

A recent report by the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) explores how blockchain technology could continue to develop and impact on a number of key areas of everyday business and life in general. One area explored by the EPRS report relates to the use of blockchain for so-called 'smart contracts'.

Thinking - Blog

Licensees beware - SAP wins victory against Diageo for breach of software licence agreement

Published on 08 Mar 2017.

In a significant ruling for software customers and providers, the High Court found that Diageo breached the "Named User" pricing mechanism of its software licence agreement with SAP.

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Online Sales and Price-Fixing

Published on 01 Dec 2016. By Melanie Musgrave, Of Counsel

The CMA recently issued a warning to online retailers against price-fixing and using automated re-pricing software to facilitate such arrangements.

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Digital comparison tools under review

Published on 12 Oct 2016. By Melanie Musgrave, Of Counsel

The UK's CMA has launched a market study into price comparison tools, such as price comparison websites and smartphone apps. The aim is to establish what action, if any, is required to improve how this market works. The CMA has until 28 March 2017 to decide whether to open an in-depth market investigation.

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Blocking the blockers: EU prohibits network-wide ad-blocking

Published on 12 Sep 2016. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner

Mobile phone operators' plans to introduce network-wide ad-blocking technology are in jeopardy following new guidance from EU telecoms regulators, a move which highlights the divide between content providers and telecoms companies in their attitude towards ad-free content.

Thinking - Blog

Drones: don't fly out of bounds (legally)

Published on 27 Jul 2016.

Various commercial industries have already woken up to the myriad opportunities offered by drone technologies. Whilst the regulatory regime evolves, it is important that companies don’t fall foul of the law.

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Price fixing online – a new competition authority warning

Published on 18 Jul 2016. By Melanie Musgrave, Of Counsel

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority ("CMA") has released an open letter to suppliers and retailers warning against online practices which constitute price fixing.

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Update: High Court provides guidance on termination for contracting parties

Published on 27 Jan 2016.

In the recent case of C&S Associates Ltd v Enterprise Insurance Company Plc [2015] EWHC 3757 (Comm) the High Court considered a number of issues that will be of interest to contracting parties, including:

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FCA Publish Draft Guidance on Cloud Services

Published on 30 Nov 2015. By Mark Crichard, Partner

The FCA has recently published draft guidance for firms outsourcing to the cloud and other third party IT services. This comes as part of the FCA's work on "Project Innovate" which aims to tackle issues stifling innovation within the regulatory sector.

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FCA to examine use of big data in insurance

Published on 26 Nov 2015.

This week, the FCA has issued a "call for inputs" around how insurance firms use big data.

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Cyber fraud – a new hope?

Published on 23 Nov 2015.

We have previously warned of the threat posed by fraudsters who are targeting solicitors’ client accounts to misappropriate funds.

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The Modern Slavery Act: what you need to know about the new reporting obligation

Published on 10 Nov 2015.

The Modern Slavery Act 2015 (the Act) came into force on 26 March 2015. At a high level it aims to improve law enforcement tools, strengthen criminal penalties and deliver better protection and support for victims.

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Do you know you're being tracked?

Published on 05 Oct 2015. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner

Do you own a smart phone? Do you always have WiFi enabled? If your answers to both these questions are yes, your movements were most probably tracked on your way into work today.

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EU Consultation on standards for a Digital Single Market

Published on 24 Sep 2015.

On 23 September 2015, the European Commission launched a public consultation on information and communications technology ("ICT") standards for creation of a Digital Single Market.

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Update: IT Suppliers beware! Your right to terminate on a customer insolvency is changing…

Published on 16 Sep 2015.

In September 2013 we reported on the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 which provided the Government with the power to extend the law regarding the supply of essential services to insolvent customers.

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Article 29 Working Party keeps up the pressure on data reform discussions

Published on 02 Sep 2015.

The EU data protection reform package has entered its decisive phase. The first trilogue between the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council of Ministers began on 24 June 2015 but, even at this late stage, there are many key concepts still to be finalised.

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Transparency by design – putting FOIA at the forefront of public sector outsourcing contracts

Published on 20 Aug 2015.

Earlier this year, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) published a guidance document recommending some steps for public authorities (Authorities) to take when entering into outsourcing arrangements to help them comply with their freedom of information obligations.

Thinking - Publication

Technology and cyber risk update

Published on 29 Jul 2015.

Drones – issues for casualty insurers

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Digital content under the new Consumer Rights Act

Published on 14 May 2015. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner

The Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA) comes into force on 1 October 2015. It will reform consumer law in the UK, in particular by setting up new consumer rights and remedies in respect of digital content.

Thinking - Blog

UK cyber security: insure against 'rapid, highly damaging and public' threats

Published on 06 May 2015. By Mark Crichard, Partner

Cyber attacks present a daily threat to UK businesses and have become more destructive in recent years with data breaches and hacks frequently making front page news.

Thinking - Blog

Court of Appeal opens the door to 'distress-only' data breach claims where no financial loss

Published on 21 Apr 2015.

In an important ruling, the Court of Appeal confirms that misuse of private information is a tort and rules on the meaning of "damage" under s13 of the Data Protection Act ("the DPA"), allowing claimants to recover compensation for "distress" resulting from a breach of the Act without also having to prove pecuniary losses.

Thinking - Blog

Supreme Court clarifies the limits on contractual discretion

Published on 30 Mar 2015. By David Cran, Partner, Head of IP & Tech

A recent decision of the Supreme Court1 has confirmed that the limits on contractual discretion include a requirement to take relevant issues into account and that the discretion is not exercised irrationally.

Thinking - Blog

CMA call for information on use of online reviews

Published on 12 Mar 2015.

Online reviews: love them or hate them, there is no escape. Products, services, large multinationals, SMEs, online or offline, almost everyone is being judged these days.

Thinking - Blog

ICO fines online travel insurer £175,000 for failing to keep customers’ personal information secure

Published on 03 Mar 2015. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner

The Information Commissioners Office (the “ICO”) has fined Staysure.co.uk Limited (“Staysure”), an online travel insurance company, £175,000 for its failure to comply with the seventh data protection principle, after IT security failings allowed hackers to access up to 100,000 customer financial records.

Thinking - Blog

New powers to audit NHS authorities' data protection compliance

Published on 04 Feb 2015. By Mark Crichard, Partner

From 1 February 2015, the ICO will be able to subject public healthcare organisations to compulsory audits of their data protection compliance under section 41A of the Data Protection Act 1998.

Thinking - Blog

New UK Procurement Rules Published for Consultation

Published on 09 Oct 2014. By Mark Crichard, Partner

Draft new Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and a Consultation Document on UK Transposition of the new EU Procurement Directives have recently been published by the Cabinet Office. This paves the way for the 2014 Directives to be implemented in the UK early next year.

Thinking - Blog

FCA COMPLETES THEMATIC REVIEW OF MOBILE BANKING AND PAYMENTS

Published on 07 Oct 2014. By Mark Crichard, Partner

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has recently published its findings following its thematic review of mobile banking and payments.

Thinking - Blog

EU Consultation on Cloud Computing and Software

Published on 30 Sep 2014. By Mark Crichard, Partner

The EU has opened a public consultation to help define future research priorities in the areas of Cloud Computing and Software (including Open Source). Any and all stakeholders are invited to submit their views by 10 October 2014.

Profile

Sophie Hudson

Trainee Solicitor

Thinking - Publication

PLC QTRLY - Q4 2024

Published on 23 Jan 2025. By Connor Cahalane, Partner, Head of Public Companies and James Channo, Partner and Karen Hendy, Partner, Head of Corporate

This is our regular quarterly update to help our listed company clients and other market participants keep up to date with key developments relevant to issuers on the Main Market and AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.

Thinking - Publication

Regulatory Radar - Winter 2025

Published on 06 Jan 2025. By Gavin Reese, Partner, Head of Regulatory

Welcome to the Winter 2025 edition of RPC's bi-annual Regulatory Radar – a guide to the key regulatory changes worth having on your radar.

Thinking - Publication

Lawyers Covered - December 2024

Published on 19 Dec 2024. By Will Sefton, Partner and Head of the Lawyers Liability and Regulatory Group and Carmel Green, Partner and Victoria Lawman, Trainee Solicitor and Richard Seymour, Associate and Robyn Crowter, Associate and Samantha Cresswell, Associate and Helen Young, Associate and Dilara Devin, Associate

What could be more festive than our December edition of Lawyers Covered – so here it is, a gift from the Lawyers Liability and Regulatory Group at RPC, to all of you, our lovely readers! And it’s a bumper edition with links to 3 full articles as well as our usual snippets. Happy holidays!

Thinking - Blog

Privacy developments – looking back and looking forward

Published on 19 Dec 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner and Jon Bartley, Partner and Joe Lippitt, Partner and Praveeta Thayalan, Knowledge Lawyer

In this article, we give you a high-level snapshot of the key data protection and privacy developments in the UK and EU in 2024 as well as developments we anticipate for 2025.

Thinking - Publication

Financial Crime Time - Your update from RPC: 2024 Q4

Published on 17 Dec 2024. By Adam Craggs, Partner and Michelle Sloane, Partner

Welcome to the latest edition of our round-up of news making the headlines in the world of financial crime and compliance. Our aim is to give you an easily digestible, bite-sized overview of issues that are of interest and which may affect your business.

Thinking - Publication

Lawyers Covered - November 2024

Published on 29 Nov 2024. By Will Sefton, Partner and Head of the Lawyers Liability and Regulatory Group and Carmel Green, Partner and Victoria Lawman, Trainee Solicitor and Richard Seymour, Associate and Robyn Crowter, Associate and Samantha Cresswell, Associate and Helen Young, Associate and Dilara Devin, Associate

It can be tough for busy lawyers to find enough time to service clients, make it safely through the regulation obstacle course, win new work and keep up-to-date with developments, but we've got you covered! Welcome to the November edition of our Lawyers Liability & Regulatory Update, in which we highlight the last month's key developments affecting lawyers and the professional risks they face.

Event

The future of financial crime under the new Labour government

27 Nov 2024

Join Lord Peter Hain, Labour peer and former government minister, and Sam Tate, Head of White Collar Crime and Compliance at RPC, as they discuss the practical implications of the future of financial crime prevention and enforcement under the new Labour government.

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Digital operational resilience: the UK regulatory landscape

Published on 15 Nov 2024. By Richard Breavington, Partner

Operational Resilience in the supply chain has become an undeniable priority for all financial service providers across the continent.

Thinking - Publication

Regulatory Radar: quick takes - November 2024

Published on 11 Nov 2024. By Gavin Reese, Partner, Head of Regulatory

Welcome to the November 2024 of our bi-monthly Regulatory Radar: quick takes, which pulls together the latest developments from across the UK's regulators.

Thinking - Blog

Failure to prevent fraud: key guidance released

Published on 08 Nov 2024. By Sam Tate, Partner and Thomas Jenkins, Senior Associate and Robert Semp, Associate

On 6 November 2024, the Home Office released its much-anticipated guidance on the new failure to prevent fraud offence and the procedures that organisations can implement to prevent associated persons from committing fraud offences. Running to 44 pages, this guidance is crucial as it provides a framework for large organisations to establish effective fraud prevention measures.

Thinking - Publication

Lawyers Covered - October 2024

Published on 28 Oct 2024. By Will Sefton, Partner and Head of the Lawyers Liability and Regulatory Group and Carmel Green, Partner and Caroline Shiffner, Senior Associate and Victoria Lawman, Trainee Solicitor and Helen Kerr, Senior Associate

It can be tough for busy lawyers to find enough time to service clients, make it safely through the regulation obstacle course, win new work and keep up-to-date with developments, but we've got you covered! Welcome to the October edition of our Lawyers Liability & Regulatory Update, in which we highlight the last month's key developments affecting lawyers and the professional risks they face.

Thinking - Blog

ClientEarth challenges claims made by BlackRock in its sustainable funds

Published on 28 Oct 2024. By James Wickes, Partner and Catherine Zakarias-Welch, Knowledge Lawyer

Not only are regulators clamping down on greenwashing but, as previously highlighted, ClientEarth, a non-profit international environmental law organisation, also has this issue squarely in its sights.

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Government consults on regulation of Buy-Now Pay-Later products

Published on 25 Oct 2024. By Whitney Simpson, Of Counsel and Lucy Hadrill, Associate

In 2021, HM Treasury announced its intention to regulate certain unregulated buy-now pay-later (BNPL) products in the UK. This followed recommendations made in the Woolard Review which raised concerns about the increased use of BNPL products during the pandemic and the significant risk that these unregulated credit products could cause consumer harm.

Thinking - Blog

FCA consults on changes to the payments safeguarding regime

Published on 24 Oct 2024. By Whitney Simpson, Of Counsel and Lucy Hadrill, Associate

Under the Payment Services Regulations 2017 (PSRs) and the E-Money Regulations 2011 (EMRs) payment institutions (PIs), electronic money institutions (EMIs), small EMIs and credit unions are required to protect "relevant funds" which they receive when making a payment or in exchange for e-money that has been issued. Current safeguarding requirements are set out in the PSRs and EMRs, with guidance contained in the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) Approach Document.

Thinking - Publication

PLC QTRLY - Q3 2024

Published on 15 Oct 2024. By Connor Cahalane, Partner, Head of Public Companies and James Channo, Partner and Karen Hendy, Partner, Head of Corporate

This is our regular quarterly update to help our listed company clients and other market participants keep up to date with key developments relevant to issuers on the Main Market and AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.

Thinking - Publication

Lawyers Covered - September 2024

Published on 26 Sep 2024. By Kirstie Pike, Partner and Carmel Green, Partner and Sarah Herniman, Associate and Charlotte Thurlow, Associate and Nick Cumming, Associate and Victoria Lawman, Trainee Solicitor

It can be tough for busy lawyers to find enough time to service clients, make it safely through the regulation obstacle course, win new work and keep up-to-date with developments, but we've got you covered! Welcome to the August edition of our Lawyers Liability & Regulatory Update, in which we highlight the last month's key developments affecting lawyers and the professional risks they face.

Thinking - Publication

Financial Crime Time - Your update from RPC: 2024 Q3

Published on 25 Sep 2024. By Adam Craggs, Partner and Michelle Sloane, Partner

Welcome to the latest edition of our round-up of news making the headlines in the world of financial crime and compliance. Our aim is to give you an easily digestible, bite-sized overview of issues that are of interest and which may affect your business.