The EU Anti-Corruption Directive is set to come into force in a few months’ time and will take effect in mid-2028. It will harmonize bribery and corruption rules across the Single Market, as well as raise the prospect of better enforcement in those EU countries that have—so far—taken a decidedly lax approach to investigating and prosecuting serious corporate crime.
Regulatory Policy
Posted inRegulatory Policy
Virginia bans sale of personal location data
Businesses operating in Virginia are barred from selling consumers’ precise location data, under legislation signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Abigail Spanberger.
Posted inAccounting & Auditing
U.K. audit regulator launches new supervisory model, but wider audit reform questions remain
The U.K. audit regulator has announced a major “evolution” of its audit supervisory model, promising to introduce a more proportionate, effective, and integrated framework.
Posted inCryptocurrency and Digital Assets
Crypto rules may diverge across jurisdictions, but EU’s MiCA likely to prove most attractive
One of the most common ways for a jurisdiction to attract the attention—and investment—of a particular industry is to offer them a regulatory regime that is different and provides enough scope for players in the sector to leverage opportunities for growth.
Posted inRegulatory Enforcement
SEC enforcements dropped in 2025
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) pursued fewer enforcement actions in 2025—an intentional outcome, the commission said.
Posted inRegulatory Policy
New DOJ fraud division means broad realignment of resources and attorneys
A new U.S. Department of Justice division will lead investigations of government fraud, and take over duties—and staff, and funds– currently handled by other DOJ divisions and government agencies, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced.
Posted inFinancial Services
Hong Kong wants to know if your bank has a culture problem
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s Bank Culture Reform program is now in its eighth year. The message for compliance teams everywhere is that regulators are moving from prescribing rules to evaluating whether culture actually works.
Posted inFinancial Services
FinCEN proposes overhaul AML rules, would end 2024 risk assessment requirements
A rule overhaul proposed by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network is designed to reduce compliance burden and would free up banks from tracking all but the most egregious illicit financial activities.
Posted inRegulatory Policy
EU and U.K. asset managers must adapt for T+1 settlement now to start testing in 2027
On Oct. 11, 2027, the EU, U.K., and Switzerland will move to T+1 securities settlement. The date may seem distant, but the challenges are considerable.
Posted inAnti-Bribery
How to establish an anti-corruption and anti-bribery compliance program
The U.K. unveiled a new Anti-Corruption Strategy in December 2025, just as the EU unveiled its first Anti-Corruption Directive. Both jurisdictions have signalled that they are keen to push back on rising risks of corruption. But many organizations have no formal anti-corruption measures. Where should compliance start?
