United Kingdom: Corporate/Commercial Law

Senior associate Faria Ali receives an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours 2026 list for her 15 years of charitable and voluntary service. From working with refugees and the UN Development Programme to serving as Vice-Chair of Muslim Aid and establishing diversity networks, her journey demonstrates how legal professionals can create meaningful impact beyond their practice.

The Charity Commission has issued a warning about increasingly sophisticated fraud attempts targeting charities and their trustees.

The Charities Aid Foundation's World Giving Report reveals global philanthropy trends from 60,000 donors across 105 countries, examining how different nations approach charitable giving. While Ireland leads in charity donations per capita at 68%, Nigeria emerges as the world's most generous country overall with 89% of its population contributing to various causes.

On 9 July 2026, the UK Takeover Panel (Panel) published consultation paper PCP 2026/1, setting out a number of proposed miscellaneous amendments to the Takeover Code (Code).

The EU General Court's decision in Crocs Inc v EUIPO reveals how even globally iconic product designs can be invalidated for lack of individual character, demonstrating that commercial success alone cannot protect intellectual property rights. This case highlights the critical need for product-as-brand businesses to implement staged IP strategies that evolve from design rights at launch to trade mark protection as brand recognition develops.

Transition service agreements (TSAs) are a core component of carve-outs. These agreements define and govern the services between sellers and buyers that enable operational separation by deal close.

HM Treasury has designated four major global cloud and technology providers as critical third parties under the UK's new operational resilience regime, granting financial regulators direct oversight powers over systemic services that could threaten financial stability. The designations mark the first implementation of rules established under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023, mirroring the EU's DORA framework while maintaining a targeted, risk-based approach to protecting the UK financial system f

The European Commission has imposed a historic €550 million fine on AliExpress for violations of the Digital Services Act, marking a significant enforcement action in the regulation of digital platforms. This unprecedented penalty raises critical questions about compliance obligations for major e-commerce platforms operating in the European Union and the Commission's approach to enforcing digital marketplace standards.

The FCA's second Enforcement Watch reveals a shift from initial forbearance to active scrutiny of Consumer Duty compliance, with 11 open investigations now underway. As the regulatory framework matures, firms face increasingly intensive supervisory intervention through VREQs and OIREQs, with fair value assessments emerging as a particular enforcement focus alongside product governance and vulnerable customer treatment.

Invest Europe has introduced new model Limited Partnership Agreement language that fundamentally shifts how private capital approaches defence investments in Europe. The proposal establishes that defence and dual-use activities should be permitted unless prohibited under international law, rather than restricted by default. This change reflects evolving geopolitical realities and NATO's commitment to invest 5% of GDP in defence by 2035, creating significant opportunities for private equity, venture capital,

The Cambridge life sciences cluster demonstrates remarkable resilience with a significant surge in equity fundraising during the first half of 2026. Investment activity has increased not only in total capital raised but also in the number of companies successfully securing funding, reflecting deep confidence in the region's innovation ecosystem. Infrastructure developments including expanded research hubs and improved transport connectivity signal a flourishing sector poised for continued growth.

Lydia Hartley, co-founder of Continue, discusses the growing role of resale in retail and how brands can unlock new commercial opportunities through the circular economy. She shares insights on shifting consumer behaviours, securing investment, building teams, and navigating growth in the competitive retail technology landscape.