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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.

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.

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”).

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.

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.

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

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.

The Easiest And Hardest Places To Do Business Around The World

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.

An employee share scheme allows a startup to offer team members equity in the company. This can be an employee share scheme that lets a startup grant team members equity in the business, helping attract and retain talent when salaries alone fall short. The Enterprise Management Incentive (EMI) scheme is the most widely used option, offering significant tax advantages for both companies and employees. This article unpacks EMI schemes.