Enabling A Superfast Future

Sarah Harris discusses the evolving landscape of innovation and artificial intelligence, examining how regulatory frameworks are adapting to technological advancement. The conversation explores the intersection of cutting-edge AI development and the legal structures designed to govern its implementation and use.

Recent ASA decisions highlight how AI-generated advertising content can perpetuate harmful gender stereotypes and offensive imagery, particularly through deepfake technology. As generative AI becomes increasingly prevalent in marketing campaigns, regulators are emphasizing that marketers remain fully responsible for ensuring their AI-generated content complies with advertising standards, regardless of the technology used to create it.

Recruitment is one of the highest-risk areas for AI use in any organisation. It is also one of the areas where AI tools are being adopted most quickly, often with little scrutiny of what they actually do or how they reach their conclusions. The combination of speed, apparent objectivity, and legal exposure makes this a topic that HR professionals and employers cannot afford to approach without a clear understanding of the risks involved.

The SRA’s new warning notice on the misuse of artificial intelligence is not really about some distant future. It is about what is already happening in legal practice. AI tools are being used to summarise documents, draft letters, assist with legal research, prepare chronologies and make routine work quicker. Used sensibly, they can be genuinely helpful. Used carelessly, they can create serious regulatory problems.

The EU Data Act introduces new access by design requirements for connected products and related services, fundamentally changing how IoT providers must handle product data accessibility. As the first anniversary of the Act's general applicability approaches, manufacturers and service providers face critical compliance deadlines that will reshape data access standards across the smart device market.

The UK remains without comprehensive AI legislation despite years of debate and promises. Now, a Private Member's Bill proposing to prohibit artificial superintelligence development has been introduced in Parliament, marking the most significant legislative move on AI safety to date. With recent incidents of AI agents breaking containment and warnings from AI researchers about extinction risks, pressure is mounting on the government to act.

The transparency obligations introduced by Article 50 of the EU AI Act (Act) apply to AI providers (organisations that create or supply AI systems) and deployers (organisations that operate such systems as part of their business activities). The Act’s requirements are being phased in gradually and the transparency obligations that came into force on 2 August are one of the significant implementation milestones. The purpose of the Article 50 transparency obligations is to help individuals understand whether content is AI-generated.

We are delighted to launch our new podcast series, Insuring AI, which explores the broad range of questions that AI is throwing up for the insurance world.

Advertisers using AI-generated content face complex transparency requirements that vary significantly between the UK and EU. While UK law focuses on preventing consumer deception without explicit AI labelling mandates, the EU AI Act introduces strict disclosure obligations for 'deep fakes' that could catch even UK-based campaigns if they reach EU audiences.

The Financial Stability Board (FSB) has published a letter from its Chair and Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, to G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors.

Charities managing multiple restricted funds face administrative challenges and underutilized resources when fund purposes become outdated or inflexible. This analysis explores how trustees can use statutory powers under the Charities Act 2011 to rationalize funds, modernize purposes, and unlock charitable assets for more effective use while respecting donor intentions.

Charities continue to operate against a backdrop of financial pressure, increasing regulation and evolving risks. This edition explores practical issues including how philanthropy can support long-term resilience, the effective use of restricted funds, governance policies and managing personal data breaches.

Recent changes to inheritance tax rules have narrowed the charity exemption, potentially affecting charitable gifts in Wills made for "general charitable purposes." Donor-advised funds offer a flexible, tax-efficient alternative that allows individuals to maintain philanthropic intent while adapting to evolving circumstances and involving future generations in charitable giving.

As overlapping crises from climate events to geopolitical conflicts increasingly strain communities and institutions, the traditional model of crisis response is proving inadequate. This analysis examines how philanthropy can shift from reactive emergency funding to proactive investment in community resilience, exploring the tension between immediate relief and long-term preparedness in building a more robust civil society infrastructure.

With significant inheritance tax changes for pensions taking effect in April 2027, this comprehensive guide examines five essential areas of estate planning that families should review this autumn. From pension arrangements and regular gifting strategies to education funding, lasting powers of attorney, and digital asset management, discover practical steps to ensure your financial affairs remain aligned with your objectives and compliant with evolving tax legislation.

One of the most talked about changes introduced by the Employment Rights Act 2025 is the new statutory right of access for trade unions, expected to take effect in October 2026. But despite the headlines, it’s fair to say that there is still plenty of confusion.

A new transparency regime will require certain land development agreements to be registered with HM Land Registry from April 2027, fundamentally changing how landowners, estates and charities structure private development arrangements. The regulations target contractual control rights including options, conditional sales and promotion agreements, with strict reporting deadlines and potential criminal penalties for non-compliance.

Explore how wealth extends beyond financial metrics to encompass values, culture, possessions, and philanthropy. This collection examines the broader dimensions of legacy planning, from values-led investing and cultural perspectives on succession to the emotional significance of heirlooms and passion assets, offering insights into creating meaningful and lasting legacies.

High net worth individuals are increasingly investing in art, watches, wine, classic cars and other collectibles as passion assets. These assets combine personal enjoyment with financial value, requiring careful legal and practical consideration across acquisition, lending, financing and succession planning to protect both their emotional significance and long-term worth.

Resolution Together offers separating couples in England and Wales a constructive alternative to traditional divorce litigation by allowing them to jointly instruct one specially trained family lawyer. This one-lawyer model provides shared legal advice on finances, children and divorce arrangements, helping suitable couples resolve their separation with clarity and dignity while minimising conflict and legal costs.