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Are claims worth over £3bn out of time under the FCA’s proposed motor finance redress scheme?
In its proposed rules for a consumer redress scheme, the Financial Conduct Authority has assumed that few claims will be time-barred on the basis that s 32(1)(b) Limitation Act 1980 (deliberate concealment) will be engaged. In this article, Matthew Parker KC considers the further question of when under that provision the consumer could with reasonable diligence have discovered the relevant facts and the factual issues to which it gives rise.
10 January 2026The face value requirement for deeds in s 1(2)(a) of the Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1989
This article reproduces the note prepared by The City of London Law Society Financial Law Committee and dated 27 November 20251 on the face value requirement for deeds in s 1(2)(a) of the Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1989.
10 January 2026How can stablecoins move between regulatory systems?
As regulatory stablecoin regimes multiply, the fate of stablecoins, both in their potential and their risks, lies in how stablecoins can move between regulatory systems. This article shows that some major jurisdictions have approached this issue in quite different ways.
10 January 2026How long is your arm? The Motor Finance litigation and the impact on conduct of business
This article provides a critique of the decision of the UK Supreme in Hopcraft v Close Brothers addressing its impact on the multiple conduct of business regimes which have emerged over recent decades for various species of financial intermediation, and which aim to raise standards of behaviour and customer outcomes. The argument is that the decision of the Supreme Court should not be seen as erecting impediments to the effectiveness of those conduct regimes, or the appropriate development of common law and equitable principles in the financial service context.
10 January 2026Simplification, not deregulation: reframing financial regulation in the UK and the EU
The key argument of this article is that simplification and proportionate regulation can enhance legitimacy and clarity in financial regulation.
10 January 2026Progress through simplification: an opportunity to modernise the UK securitisation special purpose entity framework
This article proposes making certain targeted changes to UK law to facilitate securitisations using UK securitisation special purpose entities (SSPEs) by simplifying the legal framework in which they operate, including in some cases removing obsolete provisions from more than a century ago.
10 January 2026NAV and Holdco back leverage facilities: balancing stakeholder interests to maximise value creation
The rapid evolution of fund finance has propelled Net Asset Value and Holdco back leverage facilities (that is, facilities in which one or more holding companies below the fund enter the financing) to the forefront of liquidity and portfolio management for funds across asset classes. These facilities, which allow funds to borrow against the value of their underlying investments, have become increasingly sophisticated and prevalent. As the market matures, both limited partners and lenders are sharpening their focus on transparency, risk management and enforceability. This article explores the practical realities of collateral enforcement, the legal guardrails being adopted, and the value these facilities can unlock; balancing the perspectives and interests of limited partners, general partners, and lenders.
10 January 2026Fallout: the current cycle of post-M&A disputes
Despite confidence that the deal market is more buoyant than in recent years, the overall environment remains complex and demanding. Deals are reportedly more complex and time-consuming to negotiate, post-completion issues are said to arise more frequently, and these features are often attributed to the current headwinds facing M&A activity that may influence behaviour of market participants. Against this backdrop, this article examines aspects of M&A transactions that may be particularly vulnerable to dispute and looks ahead to how participants might protect themselves against litigation risk.
10 January 2026Planes, trains and … tractors: a new route to financing high value equipment in the mining, agriculture and construction sectors
Jacqueline Cook, Senior Finance Knowledge Lawyer at Mills & Reeve LLP and member of the Cape Town Convention Academic Project, looks at the current status of the MAC Protocol to the Cape Town Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment. With special thanks to William Brydie-Watson, Legal Officer at UNIDROIT and Duarte Pedreira, TF COP Task Force Chair.
10 January 2026Legal liability of deploying artificial intelligence in banking and finance
Financial Institutions have embraced AI systems in many aspects of its operations. However, the deployment of AI systems is not without risks. This article will analyse from a technological starting point, the legal risks and challenges posed by the deployment of AI systems in the banking and finance sector.
10 January 2026
