Will The Levy Break, Or Break You First?

The Chancellor of the Exchequer faces the formidable challenge of delivering his first Budget amid economic headwinds, geopolitical instability, and a wave of ambitious government promises. With GDP growth forecast at just 1.1%, inflation at 3.4%, and public sector net borrowing exceeding £115 billion, can he balance fiscal responsibility with pledges to avoid raising Income Tax, National Insurance, or VAT while funding increased defence spending and social care reforms?

On 9 September 2026, the European Commission (the “Commission”) presented its proposal for a new Public Procurement Act, a significant reform of the EU public procurement framework...

BCL's latest sanctions round-up provides a comprehensive overview of recent UK and international developments in sanctions law, enforcement actions, and compliance requirements. This fortnightly summary examines new designations, licensing updates, and emerging trends that businesses and legal professionals need to monitor.

The UK government has significantly expanded its sanctions framework targeting Russia, introducing measures against individuals and entities involved in military supply chains, energy sectors, cryptocurrency networks, and alleged human rights violations. These developments reflect an evolving enforcement landscape with new powers, increased scrutiny of sanctions evasion, and landmark legal clarifications affecting businesses operating in sanctioned jurisdictions.

Many of our clients are service providers and construction companies in the offshore energy business and they often participate in public tender proceedings.

Angela Gregson of Weightmans and Sean Ryan of Whitney Moore compare Ireland's new foreign direct investment screening regime with the UK's established National Security and Investment Act, examining when notification is required, key procedural differences, and practical steps to navigate both frameworks. The analysis draws on recent annual reports to reveal how these regimes are operating in practice and what reforms are on the horizon.

On 2 April 2025 we published our FAQs titled “How can a regulated provider challenge a decision by Ofcom under the Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA)?”.

Other things being equal, an SMR should produce a unit of electricity at higher cost than a gigawatt-scale plant. That is the diseconomies of scale. Proponents accept the point but say other things are not equal.

The aesthetics and wellness markets are seeing explosive growth in peptide treatments, but many practitioners may not fully understand the complex regulatory framework governing these products. What begins as offering an innovative treatment could escalate into criminal investigations, frozen bank accounts, and asset forfeiture proceedings under proceeds of crime legislation.

The UK’s Serious Fraud Office announced a criminal investigation into possible money laundering arising from suspicions of corruption in Ukraine.

Partner John Binns and Principal Associate Alex Gorst examine significant developments in UK and international sanctions law, including new sectoral measures against Iran, proposed Israeli settlement sanctions, OFSI's £4.7 million Citibank penalty, and the US Treasury's intensified Operation Economic Outcast targeting Iranian networks.

The UK Government has codified the annual "Frozen Assets Review" under its sanctions regimes, through the Sanctions (EU Exit) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No 2) Regulations 2024 ("Amending Regulations").

BCL Solicitors' partners have earned recognition as leading lawyers in criminal investigations, while the firm's experts analyze high-profile cases and systemic reforms shaping the UK criminal justice system.

It is a pernicious feature of sanctions laws that they affect far more people than they target.

Welcome to BCL’s latest sanctions and export controls round-up, highlighting the key developments in UK and international sanctions

BCL's latest sanctions round-up provides a comprehensive overview of recent UK and international developments in sanctions law, enforcement actions, and compliance requirements. This fortnightly summary examines new designations, licensing updates, and emerging trends that businesses and legal professionals need to monitor.

The UK government has introduced significant changes to its sanctions framework, including new powers to target criminal networks, expanded enforcement capabilities...

The UK government has significantly expanded its sanctions framework targeting Russia, introducing measures against individuals and entities involved in military supply chains, energy sectors, cryptocurrency networks, and alleged human rights violations. These developments reflect an evolving enforcement landscape with new powers, increased scrutiny of sanctions evasion, and landmark legal clarifications affecting businesses operating in sanctioned jurisdictions.

This comprehensive round-up examines the latest developments in UK, EU, and US sanctions and export controls, covering new designations, enforcement actions, regulatory updates, and compliance guidance across multiple sanctions regimes including Russia, Iran, and global human rights measures.

BCL Solicitors' Senior Associate Ewelina James provides essential guidance on freezing orders, explaining their legal application, the circumstances under which courts grant them, and the critical steps both applicants and respondents must take when facing these powerful civil remedies.