Spotlight On Fintech Video Series (Video)

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.

AI traffic cameras are camera systems that use artificial intelligence to analyse images of vehicles and their occupants. Their purpose is not simply to photograph a registration plate or record vehicle speed. Instead, they are designed to assess whether the driver appears to be holding or using a handheld mobile phone, whether a seatbelt appears to be missing or incorrectly worn, and in some systems whether other risky behaviours may be present.

Explore comprehensive legal insights and expert commentary across diverse practice areas, or tune in to informative podcasts featuring industry thought leaders. Stay informed with the latest developments shaping the legal landscape.

The Tech 10 video series brings critical technology questions to the boardroom, examining how AI, cybersecurity, data foundations, and tech modernization are reshaping business strategy. In this episode, industry experts discuss the realities of cyber incident response, revealing the disconnect between executive expectations and operational recovery capabilities, and why true resilience requires more than just technological solutions.

Scotland's hydrogen sector is advancing rapidly as developers and investors navigate the complex landscape of land rights, infrastructure requirements, and regulatory frameworks needed to achieve ambitious production targets. With 5GW targeted by 2030 and 25GW by 2045, the intersection of real estate, planning, and evolving EU standards will determine which projects successfully deliver low-carbon hydrogen production and export capabilities.

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.

The FCA's Consumer Duty consultation CP26/23 proposes clarifications on how firms should support vulnerable customers, maintaining core protections while introducing more proportionate, risk-based approaches tailored to each firm's role in the distribution chain.

The High Court has rejected expert testimony in a clinical negligence case where the expert failed to consider the full range of accommodation options and their respective advantages and disadvantages. This decision serves as a critical reminder that experts must address the spectrum of reasonable opinions on contested matters, not merely advocate for a single position that favors their instructing party.

For eligible companies, EMI options and growth shares each offer distinct advantages in employee equity incentives. But what happens when you combine them? This analysis explores how EMI can wrap contingent growth-share interests, the valuation principles that must be respected, and why the hurdle, exercise price and performance conditions need to be designed together to avoid accidentally over-gearing management's participation.

The Advisers' Sustainability Group has released comprehensive guidance aimed at helping financial advisers navigate the evolving sustainable finance landscape and build their capabilities in advising on products with sustainability claims. This practical resource comes amid significant regulatory developments, including the FCA's introduction of Sustainability Disclosure Requirements in 2024, marking a pivotal moment for the advice sector's approach to sustainable investment.

Cross-border lending in the mid-market presents unique challenges that require careful planning and attention to detail. What are the critical legal and structural considerations that lenders and borrowers must address early in the transaction process to ensure successful international financing arrangements?

The UK Government has introduced sweeping reforms to the regulatory framework governing medicines and medical devices through amendments to the Health Bill currently progressing through Parliament. These proposed changes would grant the Secretary of State new powers to establish a licensing regime for medical devices and enable faster regulatory updates in response to scientific and technological advances.

The decision in IC v AD demonstrates how a pre-nuptial agreement can significantly limit claims in matrimonial proceedings. This case offers valuable insights into the enforceability of pre-nuptial agreements and serves as a cautionary tale about the critical importance of precise drafting when preparing such agreements.

The European Commission has designated ChatGPT as a Very Large Online Search Engine under the Digital Services Act, marking the first time a generative AI assistant has been classified this way. This designation, alongside Reddit and Roblox being named as Very Large Online Platforms, introduces systemic risk assessment obligations, independent audits, and advertising transparency requirements that most AI products have not previously faced. What does this mean for other AI assistants with web-search capabil