The UK’s Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) of the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) published strategic export controls statistics for 2024. As a reminder, the ECJU issues (or manages) five types of export control/trade...more
On 6 April 2025, the unfair commercial practices provisions of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCC Act) entered into force, ushering in a new enhanced consumer enforcement regime administered by the...more
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is taking significant steps to update its approach to merger control following both the coming into force of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Act on 1...more
Recent geopolitical events have prompted further changes in the European Union (EU) and UK sanctions regimes against Russia, Belarus and Syria....more
In our last update on the Digital Markets Competition and Consumer Act (DMCC Act), we outlined some of the key consumer protection enhancements set to come into force in the UK. In particular, the DMCC Act sets out new rules...more
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCC) became law on 24 May 2024. This is the third update in our trilogy series on the DMCC. As we explained in our last update, the DMCC represents a major shift in UK...more
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCC), which became law on 24 May 2024, represents a major shift in UK digital, competition and consumer protection regulation....more
Shortly before the UK Parliament was prorogued on 30 May 2024, the long-awaited Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCC) received Royal Assent on 24 May 2024....more
Following introduction into the UK Parliament in 2023, the long-awaited Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCC) received Royal Assent on 24 May 2024. The legislation passed as part of the parliamentary ‘wash-up’...more
On 10 April 2024, the UK government updated its guidance on export controls regarding breaches of relevant legislation. In addition to encouraging voluntary disclosures by businesses in respect of export control violations,...more
Following an almost yearlong review into artificial intelligence (AI) foundation models, and the publication of its initial report in October 2023, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published an updated...more
On 12 March 2024, the UK Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) announced that UK export control regulations would be amended to introduce new controls on the export of emerging technologies and provide a number of technical...more
On 18 December 2023, the European Council adopted its 12th package of sanctions against Russia. The comprehensive new package includes additional trade restrictions, stricter asset freeze obligations, energy restrictions and...more
The UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) recently published important guidance on the meaning of ‘ownership and control’ in the context of UK...more
The transition towards a net zero economy remains an important focus of the UK government’s internal and foreign policy. With the conclusion of COP28 (the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference), this client alert...more
Just shy of two years since the UK National Security and Investment (NSI) Act entered into force, on 13 November 2023, the UK government published a Call for Evidence on the functioning, scope and performance of the regime....more
Like many regulators across the globe, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has been hypervigilant in watching the development of the artificial intelligence (AI) foundation model market.
Following a five-month...more
On 31 August 2023, the UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) used its new disclosure enforcement power for the first time, issuing a report against Wise Payments Limited for breach of financial sanctions. The...more
On 31 August 2023, the UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) used its new disclosure enforcement power for the first time, issuing a report against Wise Payments Limited for breach of financial sanctions. The...more
On 4 May 2023, the United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced the launch of an initial review of the market for artificial intelligence foundation models. Through this initial review, the CMA aims to...more
The UK government recently published its second edition of Market Guidance Notes on the National Security and Investment (NSI) regime, which includes new additions and amendments to the previously published guidance of 19...more
On 30 March 2023, HM Treasury and the Home Office published the Economic Crime Plan 2 for 2023 to 2026. The three-year plan builds on the first Economic Crime Plan published in 2019 and commits the UK government to:...more
We finally have sight of the long-awaited Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill. Warning: It is a sizeable and ambitious piece of legislation, but the following is our summary take on the key competition and...more
Following the US Department of Justice’s first criminal conviction for labor market antitrust violations in October 2022, and with scrutiny of labor agreements increasing internationally, the UK Competition and Markets...more
On 10 November 2022, the UK’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) published its 2021 – 2022 Annual Review. In this alert, we’ve summarised its main takeaways. The publication of the Annual Review comes at a...more