Professional and financial risks

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Money Covered: The Week That Was – 10 April 2026

Published on 10 April 2026. By Rachael Healey, Partner and David Allinson, Partner and George Smith, Partner and Kirstie Pike, Partner and Kate Hill, Partner

Woman looking up to the sky

Welcome to The Week That Was on 10 April 2026, a round-up of key events in the financial services sector over the last seven days.

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Money Covered: The Week That Was – 2 April 2026

Published on 02 April 2026. By Rachael Healey, Partner and David Allinson, Partner and George Smith, Partner and Kirstie Pike, Partner and Kate Hill, Partner

Woman looking up to the sky

Welcome to The Week That Was on 2 April 2026, a round-up of key events in the financial services sector over the last seven days.

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TPR publishes guidance for trustees dealing with Virgin Media issues – a practical approach

Published on 01 April 2026. By James Parsons, Associate

Man hiking on mountain

The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has published guidance for trustees to address historic pension scheme alterations impacted by the decision in Virgin Media Ltd v NTL Pension Trustees II Ltd & Ors [2024] EWCA Civ 843. Schemes can now resolve any uncertainty by obtaining retrospective actuarial confirmation in respect of past alterations impacted by the judgment (alterations lacking actuarial confirmation or evidence of the same), as permitted by the Pension Schemes Bill.

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FRC Annual Plan and Budget 2026/2027 – the FRC's plans for the next 12 months

Published on 01 April 2026. By Rachael Healey, Partner

Two men cycling in woods

We are now in the second year of the FRC's three-year plan (for 2025-2028) and the FRC's Annual Plan notes that the FRC's "purpose and strategic objectives remain unchanged".

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Lawyers Covered - March 2026

Published on 31 March 2026. By Rachael Healey, Partner and Carmel Green, Partner and Sophie Hannaway , Senior Associate and Lauren Paterson, Associate and Georgia Durham, Associate and Charlotte Thompson, Associate and Alice Tittensor, Senior Associate and Sally Lord, Knowledge Counsel – Insurance and Litigation and Aimee Talbot, Knowledge Lawyer

People talking and smiling in a corridor

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 our March 2026 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.

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Money Covered: The Week That Was – 27 March 2026

Published on 27 March 2026. By Rachael Healey, Partner and David Allinson, Partner and George Smith, Partner and Kirstie Pike, Partner and Kate Hill, Partner

Woman looking up to the sky

Welcome to The Week That Was on 27 March 2026, a round-up of key events in the financial services sector over the last seven days.

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FOS reform: clarity, consistency, and a 10-year cut-off

Published on 25 March 2026. By David Allinson, Partner and Damien O'Malley, Associate

Corporate building

The Government has announced a package of reforms to the Financial Ombudsman Service aimed at improving the speed, predictability, and consistency of complaint resolution.

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FCA to progress its review of Model Portfolio Service (MPS) firms this year

Published on 25 March 2026. By Daniel Parkin, Associate and Faheem Pervez, Senior Associate

Corporate building

On 4 March 2026, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published its annual Regulatory Priority report for consumer investments and confirmed that it will progress its review of Model Portfolio Service (MPS) firms in 2026 as part of its regulatory priorities.

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Money Covered: The Week That Was – 20 March 2026

Published on 20 March 2026. By Rachael Healey, Partner and David Allinson, Partner and George Smith, Partner and Kirstie Pike, Partner and Kate Hill, Partner

Polar bear family

Welcome to The Week That Was on 12 December 2025, a round-up of key events in the financial services sector over the last seven days.

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Money Covered: The Week That Was – 13 March 2026

Published on 13 March 2026. By Rachael Healey, Partner and David Allinson, Partner and George Smith, Partner and Kate Hill, Partner

Woman shopping

Welcome to Money Covered: The Week That Was on 13 March 2026. Keep informed with our round-up of key events in the financial services sector over the last seven days.

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Regulatory Pulse - 11 March 2026

Published on 11 March 2026. By Tom Wild, Senior Associate and Tim Shepherd, Partner and Graham Reid, Partner and Nick Bird, Partner and Samantha Cresswell, Associate

Little boy touching purple flower

The seismic Mazur decision concerning the activities which non-solicitors may lawfully perform in litigation reached the Court of Appeal in February. At stake is the ability of firms lawfully to staff matters with legal executives and paralegals under the supervision of a solicitor (or other authorised or exempt person), with the economies and cost savings which that entails, not to mention the careers of those affected. Across three days of submissions, CILEx argued in favour of a less restrictive interpretation of the rules, with the SRA and Law Society taking the opposing position.

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Lawyers’ liability, when is a claim "brought" and limitation traps - Lukins v Quality Part X Ltd

Published on 09 March 2026. By Rachael Healey, Partner and Sally Lord, Knowledge Counsel – Insurance and Litigation

The decision in Lukins v Quality Part X Ltd Ravensale Ltd [2026] EWHC 301 (KB) is a stark illustration of how procedural missteps around electronic filing can expose solicitors to lost litigation claims.

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Setting priorities – the FCA publishes its areas of focus for consumer investments in 2026

Published on 09 March 2026. By David Allinson, Partner

Two men cycling in woods

This week, the FCA published its Regulatory Priorities for Consumer Investments. The intention is that these publications will be published annually and replace portfolio letters. This serves as a useful summary of what the FCA's been doing and its intentions for the near future.

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Money Covered: The Week That Was – 6 March 2026

Published on 06 March 2026. By Rachael Healey, Partner and David Allinson, Partner and George Smith, Partner and Kate Hill, Partner

Woman shopping

Welcome to The Week That Was on Money Covered: The Week That Was – 6 March 2026, a round-up of key events in the financial services sector over the last seven days.

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Money Covered: The Week That Was – 27 February 2026

Published on 27 February 2026. By Rachael Healey, Partner and David Allinson, Partner and George Smith, Partner and Kate Hill, Partner

A woman wearing a Virtual Reality headset

Welcome to The Week That Was on 27 February 2026, a round-up of key events in the financial services sector over the last seven days.

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Lawyers Covered - February 2026

Published on 26 February 2026. By Catrin Davies, Partner and Carmel Green, Partner and Sally Lord, Knowledge Counsel – Insurance and Litigation and Krista Murray, Senior Associate and Aimee Talbot, Knowledge Lawyer

People talking and smiling in a corridor

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 our February 2026 Lawyers Liability & Regulatory Update, in which we highlight the last month's key developments affecting lawyers and the professional risks they face.

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Appointed Representatives: Treasury proposes a new regulatory framework and extension of FOS' jurisdiction

Published on 25 February 2026. By Ben Simmonds, Associate and Faheem Pervez, Senior Associate and Whitney Simpson, Of Counsel

Two men cycling in woods

On 12 February 2026, HM Treasury opened a consultation setting out its proposals for reforming the Appointed Representative (AR) regime (the Proposals). Should the Treasury proceed with implementing the Proposals, firms will require a new FCA permission to appoint ARs if they do not already have them. There will also be an extension of FOS' jurisdiction to deal with complaints against ARs for acts and omissions which fall outside the regulated activities for which the principal has accepted responsibility.

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Money Covered: The Week That Was – 20 February 2026

Published on 20 February 2026. By Rachael Healey, Partner and David Allinson, Partner and George Smith, Partner and Kate Hill, Partner

Colleagues in the office

Welcome to The Week That Was on 20 February 2026, a round-up of key events in the financial services sector over the last seven days.

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Keeping systems in check: pensions administrator liable for errors in automated system

Published on 18 February 2026. By Rachael Healey, Partner and Alison Thomas, Associate and Shauna Giddens, Senior Associate

The Pensions Ombudsman (TPO) has recently determined that pensions administrators can be held liable for errors made by an automated system. The recent decision (CAS-90501-T3V1) following a complaint by Mrs K against her employer (the NHS) and the pensions administrator (the NHS Business Servies Authority (NHS BSA)), saw TPO find that NHS BSA were liable for inaccurate pensions estimates provided to Mrs K by her employer, who had utilised the NHS BSA's automated system to prepare the estimate.

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FRC issues guidance for actuaries to deal with Virgin Media issues

Published on 16 February 2026. By Rachael Healey, Partner and James Parsons, Associate and Shauna Giddens, Senior Associate

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has issued practical, non-prescriptive guidance to actuaries tasked with reviewing historic pension scheme alterations impacted by the decision in Virgin Media Ltd v NTL Pension Trustees II Ltd & Ors [2024] EWCA Civ 843.

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Updated FRC guidance increases expectations on directors

Published on 16 February 2026. By Lauren Butler, Associate and Melanie Redding, Senior Associate

Corporate building

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has issued updated guidance on the application of the strategic report requirements introduced into The Companies Act 2006 by 'The Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors' Report) Regulations 2013' (the Guidance). The strategic report provides information for shareholders to assist with assessing how the directors have performed their duty to promote the success of the company. The Guidance places increased requirements on directors and sets out how directors' performance of their duty to promote the success of their company is to be assessed.

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Money Covered: The Week That Was – 13 February 2026

Published on 13 February 2026. By Rachael Healey, Partner and David Allinson, Partner and George Smith, Partner and Kate Hill, Partner

Man on the phone

Welcome to The Week That Was on 13 February 2026, a round-up of key events in the financial services sector over the last seven days.

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Money Covered: The Week That Was – 6 February 2026

Published on 06 February 2026. By Rachael Healey, Partner and David Allinson, Partner and George Smith, Partner and Kate Hill, Partner

Polar bear family

Welcome to The Week That Was on 6 February 2026, a round-up of key events in the financial services sector over the last seven days.

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Money Covered: The Week That Was – 30 January 2026

Published on 30 January 2026. By Rachael Healey, Partner and David Allinson, Partner and George Smith, Partner and Kirstie Pike, Partner and Kate Hill, Partner

Man on the phone

Welcome to The Week That Was on 30 January 2026, a round-up of key events in the financial services sector over the last seven days.

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Lawyers Covered - January 2026

Published on 27 January 2026. By Catrin Davies, Partner and Carmel Green, Partner and Sally Lord, Knowledge Counsel – Insurance and Litigation and Krista Murray, Senior Associate and Aimee Talbot, Knowledge Lawyer

People talking and smiling in a corridor

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 our January 2026 Lawyers Liability & Regulatory Update, in which we highlight the last month's key developments affecting lawyers and the professional risks they face.

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Dodgy disclosure but not quite dishonesty

Published on 27 January 2026. By Simy Khanna, Partner and Sally Lord, Knowledge Counsel – Insurance and Litigation

The recent Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) decision in the case of Solicitors Regulation Authority v Nasar Hussain (Case No. 12688-2024) offers important lessons for practitioners involved in personal injury litigation and professional regulation. The case arose from Mr Hussain’s personal injury claim, which the trial judge dismissed on the basis of Mr Hussain's “fundamental dishonesty”. However, the SDT ultimately concluded that Mr Hussain’s conduct, while falling short of the standards expected of solicitors, did not amount to dishonesty.

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Money Covered: The Week That Was – 23 January 2026

Published on 23 January 2026. By Rachael Healey, Partner and David Allinson, Partner and George Smith, Partner and Kirstie Pike, Partner and Kate Hill, Partner

Man on the phone

Welcome to The Week That Was on 23 January 2026, a round-up of key events in the financial services sector over the last seven days.

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Regulatory Pulse - 23 January 2026

Published on 23 January 2026. By Tom Wild, Senior Associate and Tim Shepherd, Partner and Graham Reid, Partner and Nick Bird, Partner and Samantha Cresswell, Associate

Driving through a tunnel

The High Court has overturned the high-profile decision to sanction a solicitor for the alleged misuse of the 'without prejudice' label in correspondence. The scathing judgment criticised the Tribunal's judgment as "insufficiently analysed and reasoned, vitiated by misdirection and error of law, and unfair".

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FOS Complaints Newsletter - January 2026

Published on 22 January 2026. By Rachael Healey, Partner and David Allinson, Partner and George Smith, Partner and Matthew Watson, Partner and Faheem Pervez, Senior Associate and Rebekah Bayliss, Associate

Butterfly

Welcome to the FOS complaints quarterly newsletter. In this January 2026 FOS complaints newsletter we look at recent developments which have already impacted, or are likely to impact, future developments and trends.

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Money Covered: The Week That Was – 16 January 2026

Published on 16 January 2026. By Rachael Healey, Partner and David Allinson, Partner and George Smith, Partner and Kirstie Pike, Partner and Kate Hill, Partner

Woman looking up to the sky

Welcome to The Week That Was on 16 January 2026, a round-up of key events in the financial services sector over the last seven days.

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Money Covered: The Week That Was – 9 January 2026

Published on 09 January 2026. By Rachael Healey, Partner and David Allinson, Partner and George Smith, Partner and Kirstie Pike, Partner and Kate Hill, Partner

Man wearing glasses

Welcome to The Week That Was on 9 January 2026, a round-up of key events in the financial services sector over the last seven days.

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Court of Appeal considers scope of duty in buyer-funded developments case

Published on 06 January 2026. By Graham Reid, Partner and Krista Murray, Senior Associate and Sarah Herniman, Associate

On 5 January 2026, the Court of Appeal handed down judgment in Afan Valley Ltd v Lupton Fawcett LLP [2026] EWCA Civ 2 (the “Judgment”). The case concerned allegedly negligent advice by lawyers in connection with the regulatory implications of certain proposed buyer-funded property development schemes (the “Schemes”). Some twenty-two Schemes, and £68,000,000 of investor monies, were involved.

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Money Covered: The Week That Was – 19 December 2025

Published on 19 December 2025. By Rachael Healey, Partner and David Allinson, Partner and George Smith, Partner and Kirstie Pike, Partner and Kate Hill, Partner

Welcome to The Week That Was on 19 December 2025, a round-up of key events in the financial services sector over the last seven days.

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Lawyers Covered - December 2025

Published on 19 December 2025. By Kirstie Pike, Partner and Carmel Green, Partner and Susan Periselneris, Senior Associate and Poppy Hay, Senior 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 valued readers! Happy holidays!

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Regulatory Pulse - 18 December 2025

Published on 18 December 2025. By Tom Wild, Senior Associate and Tim Shepherd, Partner and Graham Reid, Partner and Nick Bird, Partner

Signpost pointing in different directions

The SRA suffered two defeats before the Tribunal in unrelated SLAPPs cases. On 8 December 2025, a partner at Hamlins LLP was cleared of allegations that he misled another solicitor as to the strength of his client's case. Four days later, the SDT summarily dismissed a SLAPP allegation against a partner at Carter-Ruck, holding that the SRA's case was "based on hindsight rather than evidence of professional misconduct".

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Money Covered: The Month That Was - the FCA's Vehicle Finance Redress Scheme Consultation

17 December 2025

In this episode, Mel is joined by David Allinson to discuss the FCA’s proposed section 404 consumer redress scheme for vehicle finance, focusing on discretionary commission arrangements, the scheme’s scope (regulated agreements from 2007 to November 2024), rebuttable presumptions of unfairness and loss, and an estimated £8.2bn in redress averaging about £700 per file.

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Money Covered: The Week That Was – 12 December 2025

Published on 12 December 2025. By Rachael Healey, Partner and David Allinson, Partner and George Smith, Partner and Kirstie Pike, Partner and Kate Hill, Partner

Polar bear family

Welcome to The Week That Was on 12 December 2025, a round-up of key events in the financial services sector over the last seven days.

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Money Covered: The Week That Was – 5 December 2025

Published on 05 December 2025. By Rachael Healey, Partner and David Allinson, Partner and George Smith, Partner and Kirstie Pike, Partner and Kate Hill, Partner

Two skiers looking at each other on a mountain

Welcome to The Week That Was on 5 December 2025, a round-up of key events in the financial services sector over the last seven days.

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Unfair prejudice claims & the "desirability test" for removing parties

Published on 03 December 2025. By Zoe Melegari, Senior Associate and Daniel Goh, Trainee Solicitor

Colourful buildings

The High Court has recently ruled that it is appropriate to remove parties as respondents to a petition under section 994 of the Companies Act 2006 (the Act) when no substantive remedy is sought against them, despite the wide jurisdiction in respect of relief afforded to unfair prejudice petitions. Further, it was held that section 994 should not be used as a means of seeking judgment on causes of action that are wholly distinct from the unfair prejudice claim itself.

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Lawyers Covered - November 2025

Published on 01 December 2025. By Will Sefton, Partner, Head of the Lawyers Liability and Regulatory Group and Carmel Green, Partner and Jake Mitchell, Associate

Two swimmers sitting on the beach talking

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 our November 2025 Lawyers Liability & Regulatory Update, in which we highlight the last month's key developments affecting lawyers and the professional risks they face.

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Money Covered: The Week That Was – 28 November 2025

Published on 28 November 2025. By Rachael Healey, Partner and David Allinson, Partner and George Smith, Partner and Kirstie Pike, Partner and Kate Hill, Partner

Man on the phone

Welcome to The Week That Was on 28 November 2025, a round-up of key events in the financial services sector over the last seven days.

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Money Covered: The Week That Was – 21 November 2025

Published on 21 November 2025. By Rachael Healey, Partner and David Allinson, Partner and George Smith, Partner and Kirstie Pike, Partner and Kate Hill, Partner

A person mountaineering

Welcome to The Week That Was on 21 November 2025, a round-up of key events in the financial services sector over the last seven days.

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Company founder successfully defends breach of duties claim in the High Court

Published on 18 November 2025. By Daniel Parkin, Associate and Zoe Melegari, Senior Associate

In Friend Media Technology Systems and another v Jonathan Friend and another [2025] EWHC 2897 (KB), the High Court dismissed a claim that a founder and former director had breached his duties or misused confidential information, following a disagreement with the new private equity owners.

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Money Covered: The Week That Was – 14 November 2025

Published on 14 November 2025. By Rachael Healey, Partner and David Allinson, Partner and George Smith, Partner and Kirstie Pike, Partner and Kate Hill, Partner

Polar bear family

Welcome to The Week That Was on 14 November 2025, a round-up of key events in the financial services sector over the last seven days.

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Money Covered: The Week That Was – 7 November 2025

Published on 07 November 2025. By Rachael Healey, Partner and David Allinson, Partner and George Smith, Partner and Kirstie Pike, Partner and Kate Hill, Partner

Woman looking up to the sky

Welcome to The Week That Was on 7 November 2025, a round-up of key events in the financial services sector over the last seven days.

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Money Covered: The Week That Was – 31 October 2025

Published on 31 October 2025. By Rachael Healey, Partner and David Allinson, Partner and George Smith, Partner and Kirstie Pike, Partner and Kate Hill, Partner

Woman shopping

Welcome to The Week That Was on 31 October 2025, a round-up of key events in the financial services sector over the last seven days.

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Lawyers Covered - October 2025

Published on 27 October 2025. By Will Sefton, Partner, Head of the Lawyers Liability and Regulatory Group and Carmel Green, Partner and Jake Mitchell, 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 our October 2025 Lawyers Liability & Regulatory Update, in which we highlight the last month's key developments affecting lawyers and the professional risks they face.

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Complying with Principle 6 - encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion

Published on 27 October 2025. By Catrin Davies, Partner and Nick Wood, Associate

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has issued updated guidance on Principle 6 of its Code of Conduct, which requires individuals and firms regulated by the SRA to act in a way that encourages equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). The updated guidance also provides clarity on how these obligations interact with other core principles, in particular Principle 2 (upholding public trust and confidence in the profession) and Principle 5 (acting with integrity).

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Money Covered: The Week That Was – 24 October 2025

Published on 24 October 2025. By Rachael Healey, Partner and David Allinson, Partner and George Smith, Partner and Kirstie Pike, Partner and Kate Hill, Partner

People talking and smiling in a corridor

Welcome to The Week That Was on 24 October 2025, a round-up of key events in the financial services sector over the last seven days.

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Money Covered: The Week That Was – 17 October 2025

Published on 17 October 2025. By Rachael Healey, Partner and David Allinson, Partner and George Smith, Partner and Kirstie Pike, Partner and Kate Hill, Partner

Woman looking up to the sky

Welcome to The Week That Was on 17 October 2025, a round-up of key events in the financial services sector over the last seven days.

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