UK’s deregulation drive raises compliance risk, say top lawyers
The United Kingdom’s latest effort to encourage regulators to pare down rules to attract companies and investment as a way to stimulate the economy has received mixed reviews from lawyers.
That’s because the drive to scrap regulations not only brings into question which rules should be deemed defunct and why, but more importantly, whether the UK’s system of regulators acting as both watchdogs and market cheerleaders is conflicted and flawed. Relaxing regulatory scrutiny to make business run more smoothly could create the opposite effect.
“Deregulation could bring an increase in risk,” warned Parham Kouchikali, a partner at law firm Taylor Wessing. “We expect there could be an uptick in investigations and disputes in the next three to five years as a result.”
Related articles
-
PremiumUK regulator’s efforts to coax self-reporting fraud could fall flat, experts warn
To both clean up corporate behaviour and rack up its own enforcement record, the UK’s anti-bribery agency has seemingly largely guaranteed companies a pass from prosecution if they spill the beans on their misconduct. There’s only one problem: experts believe businesses may still stand a better outcome if they front ...
-
PremiumDelayed UK antitrust case underscores compliance, reputational risks
Antitrust infringement cases in the United Kingdom can run on for years, but there’s a question whether issuing fines that are dwarfed by the revenues of those organisations involved is a worthy deterrent—particularly if they are imposed over a decade after the misconduct ended. It’s also debatable whether the first ...
-
ArticleGeopolitical risks among compliance concerns for metals, mining companies
Companies working in the metals and mining sectors face increased compliance checks due to efforts to clamp down on abuses in the supply chain, while “volatile” geopolitical changes make sourcing and transporting raw materials more difficult and expensive.
More from Regulatory Policy
-
ArticleProsecutions of bribery, health fraud and market tampering are DOJ top priorities
Serious bribery, health care fraud and crimes that threaten U.S. investors are top enforcement priorities of the Trump Department of Justice, (DOJ), according to the acting head of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division.
-
ArticleU.K. to introduce mandatory ransomware reporting, raising risk of ‘box-ticking’ compliance
The U.K. will require companies to report ransomware payments, but experts warn this could lead to “box-tick” compliance rather than real cyber-resiliency, since it’s cheaper.
-
ArticleMore than 100 ‘anticompetitive’ federal regulations poised for the chopping block
About 125 federal regulations deemed anticompetitive by President Trump are poised for possible elimination, following recommendations delivered Wednesday to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).