Caroline Black, Consultant at Gherson Solicitors LLP, comments in a recent Finextra article examining how social media, financial influencers and generative AI are reshaping access to financial information and creating new regulatory risks. Caroline highlights the growing gap between technological development and regulation, noting that firms are already using generative AI to produce financial promotions … Continued
The Financial Conduct Authority’s new non-financial misconduct rules come into effect on 1 September 2026, extending existing conduct standards to around 37,000 non-bank financial firms, including asset managers and insurers. The rules cover bullying, harassment and violence at work, while separate fitness and propriety guidance may also make certain conduct outside the workplace relevant. In … Continued
Caroline Black, Consultant at Gherson Solicitors LLP, has been quoted in Law360 in an article examining how the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence by wealth managers could amplify financial crime and regulatory risks. The article, “AI Use By Wealth Managers Ramps Up Financial Crime Risk”, considers the implications of growing AI adoption against the backdrop … Continued
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has strengthened its international presence with new Financial Services Attachés in India and the UAE. The appointments form part of the FCA’s wider international strategy, with the new representatives expected to support cooperation with regulatory counterparts and help advance the UK’s financial services interests in these key markets. Increased focus … Continued
Thomas Cattee Partner and Head of White-Collar Crime at Gherson LLP, has been quoted in The Banker, an FT publication, in an article examining recent changes to the UK’s approach to crypto regulation. The article, “Crypto groups welcome softening of UK regulation”, considers recent developments announced by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Bank … Continued
If you run a crypto business in the UK, hold some personal digital assets or have simply been waiting to see whether the UK would ever settle on a workable set of rules for this sector, 30 June 2026 was the day you would have been waiting for. On that date, the Financial Conduct Authority … Continued
What are Unexplained Wealth Orders? Unexplained Wealth Orders (UWOs) remain one of the UK’s most significant civil asset recovery tools under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA). Although they are used relatively infrequently, they continue to play an important role in investigations involving suspected illicit wealth, money laundering and serious organised crime. This guide … Continued
If you are a director, founder or senior officer in a company operating in the cryptoasset space — particularly one with an international footprint — you should be aware of a significant change in the enforcement landscape over the past two years. As a consequence, the risk of liability has increased exponentially and is now … Continued
CIFAS and SIRA markers are both fraud prevention tools used across the UK’s financial services sector. They are used in separate databases, however, and are managed by different organisations and operate under different rules. Both can cause severe disruption in situations where the affected individual attempts to obtain insurance, banking products or credit. This article … Continued
Introduction In July 2026, HM Treasury published the second annual Economic Crime Levy Report, covering the financial year 2024–25. The report details how £96.9 million collected from entities subject to the Money Laundering Regulations was spent across six core deliverables and what that spending has produced. For those who have followed Gherson’s work in this … Continued
A SIRA marker is a fraud indicator recorded on the National SIRA database operated by Synectics Solutions. It is used by insurers, banks and other financial services providers across the UK to flag individuals linked to suspected fraud. If a SIRA marker has been placed against your name, it can significantly affect your ability to … Continued
Reading time: 10 minutes In a series of previous blogs, Gherson’s White-Collar Crime team has been tracking the evolution of the UK’s cryptocurrency regulatory landscape. Starting from our initial examination of the HM Treasury Consultation Paper in February 2023, we have provided regular updates and have analysed the regulatory developments in this fast-moving area, including … Continued