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The UK public M&A market in 2026 has already surpassed 2025's total value in just eight months, driven by large-cap deals and a quest for transformational scale. Hostile tactics have become increasingly prominent as bidders appeal directly to shareholders amid persistent valuation gaps, while target boards leverage pre-offer processes to maximize value. This analysis examines the key trends, strategic themes, and tactical developments shaping this remarkable year for UK takeovers.

The National Security and Investment Act 2021 (NSIA) came into force on 4 January 2022, creating a standalone regime giving the UK Government broad powers to scrutinise – and potentially intervene in – acquisitions and investments on the grounds of protecting national security. Nearly five years on, the NSIA regime is well established. It replaced the national security aspects of the UK Government’s intervention powers under the Enterprise Act 2002 and operates alongside the UK merger control regime.

This Corporate Update bulletin examines the most significant UK legal developments of 2026, from capital markets reform and employment rights legislation to corporate criminal liability expansion and competition regime changes. The analysis covers ten major areas of corporate law evolution, alongside recent FCA guidance on regulatory announcements and a High Court decision on shareholder-director settlements.

Most businesses are familiar with the obligation to carry out ‘right to work’ checks on their direct employees, which is a mandatory requirement under section 15 of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 (“IANA 2006”).

As businesses increasingly deploy agentic AI systems capable of autonomous decision-making and actions, questions arise about supplier liability when AI agents malfunction or produce unexpected results. This article examines the contractual frameworks governing agentic AI relationships, revealing how standard IT contracts may inadequately address the unique risks of autonomous AI systems and exploring strategies for customers to better protect themselves against potential losses from AI agent failures.

Mergers & Acquisitions Comparative Guide for the jurisdiction of UK, check out our comparative guides section to compare across multiple countries

Directors face renewed scrutiny over their duties when companies trade at a loss, as the Court of Appeal clarifies the boundaries of fiduciary responsibility and the Insolvency Service reports record enforcement actions. Meanwhile, pension trustees grapple with complex affordability tests for inflation-linked increases, and employers confront stricter standards for part-time worker treatment and equal pay transparency.

The UK Government is implementing sweeping reforms to late payment laws that will fundamentally change how businesses manage supplier payments. These changes include substantial fines for persistent late payers, mandatory statutory interest rates, and a prohibition on payment terms exceeding 60 days. With enforcement powers granted to the Small Business Commissioner and a new binding adjudication system...

The UK government has proposed a fundamental shift from complex distributable profits calculations to a streamlined solvency-based regime for determining dividend legality. This consultation explores how companies would simply need to demonstrate that dividend payments won't affect their ability to continue as a going concern, potentially replacing decades of intricate accounting guidance with a more practical approach.

Fladgate is a leading law firm providing comprehensive legal services across multiple practice areas. The firm combines deep expertise with innovative approaches to deliver strategic solutions...

The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (the DUAA) officially became law in June 2025, with a phased enforcement model under which different provisions take effect at different times.

An FA tribunal has ruled that agent fee caps proposed by FIFA breach UK competition law and are unenforceable. We explain the FFAR, NFAR, and the tribunal decision.

A recent fine of €525,000 by the Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens (AP), the Dutch Data Protection Authority, has focused attention on one of the least discussed provisions of the GDPR – Article 27.

Carphone Warehouse has been fined £400,000 by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) for inadequacies in its data security measures that came to light following a cyber-attack.

When employers grant restricted securities to employees, understanding section 431 elections can significantly impact tax liabilities for both parties. This article examines how these elections work, the strict 14-day filing deadline, and demonstrates through detailed calculations why choosing to make this election could save substantial amounts in income tax and national insurance contributions.

The Autumn 2017 Budget has changed the venture capital trust investment landscape, introducing changes to the regime designed to restrict VCT funds' ...

Watch Shepherd and Wedderburn's Jamie McRorie explore the ESG implications of the energy transition in this webinar. He identifies how the energy transition and ESG fit together and how businesses...

Edinburgh-based Skyrora has made history by becoming the first UK-based company to receive a vertical launch licence.

A cross-unit team at Shepherd & Wedderburn has been instrumental in assisting US inward investor Mangata Edge with concluding investment documentation for a significant manufacturing facility, announced by Scottish Enterprise.

The Data Protection Authority in the Netherlands recently imposed a €290 million fine on Uber for breaching the EU GDPR requirement to have adequate transfer mechanisms in place...