United Kingdom: Corporate/Commercial Law

The Charity Commission has reminded charities that they should be preparing for the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) updated Equality Code of Practice for services, public functions and associations.

The Charity Commission's latest annual research reveals evolving patterns in public trust and trustee governance, highlighting both sustained confidence in charitable institutions and emerging challenges from societal polarization. While trust remains high at 57%, financial pressures and changing donor expectations are reshaping how the public engages with charities, with trustees facing knowledge gaps in key governance areas despite overall strong confidence levels.

The Charity Commission has revised its guidance on amending charity governing documents, introducing separate frameworks for different charity structures and expanding requirements around conflicts of interest, member consultation, and trustee benefits. These changes aim to clarify legal obligations and improve practical usability for charity administrators navigating constitutional amendments.

Private equity and venture capital investors conduct rigorous due diligence to uncover hidden risks that could derail deals, with many of the biggest threats stemming from intellectual property, legal ownership, and governance issues rather than financial metrics. Understanding these potential deal killers and addressing them proactively can significantly improve a scaling business's chances of securing investment, acquisition offers, or international expansion opportunities.

Ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages have outpaced every other segment in the beverage alcohol landscape over the past decade, sitting at the intersection of health and wellness, premiumization, and convenience. Winning in this category requires a fundamentally different operating model with compressed innovation cycles, social-first marketing, and rebuilt margin architecture around premium price points.

The High Court has confirmed that the court has power under section 125 of the Companies Act 2006 to order the creation of a company’s register of members in circumstances where the company...

Artificial intelligence is transforming corporate governance, requiring directors to navigate complex oversight challenges as AI systems become embedded across business operations. This article examines how established UK directors' duties apply in the context of AI adoption, exploring the practical implications for board-level decision-making and risk management. Directors must balance AI's strategic opportunities against emerging risks while maintaining effective human oversight and independent judgment.

The United Kingdom government has extended UK REACH transitional registration deadlines to 2029-2031, providing companies additional time to comply with chemical manufacturing and import regulations. This extension allows the government to develop the Alternative Transitional Registration model aimed at reducing data and financial burdens on businesses while maintaining chemical safety standards.

The UK Government has introduced new public procurement rules that double the weighting of social value criteria to 20% for contracts over £5 million, with trade union access and representation now explicitly factored into bid evaluations. This development creates a commercial incentive for employers to engage with unions, working in tandem with the Employment Rights Act 2025's new workplace access regime. Employers bidding for government contracts must now consider union relations not just as a compli

Innovate UK has announced its largest ever Women in Innovation cohort, backing 100 female founders with grants and business support to develop groundbreaking solutions across life sciences, digital technologies, and advanced manufacturing. Since 2016, the initiative has invested over £15 million in 260 exceptional female innovators while building a community of over 11,000 female business leaders.

Private equity and venture capital investors conduct rigorous due diligence to uncover hidden risks that could derail deals, with many of the biggest threats stemming from intellectual property, legal ownership, and governance issues rather than financial metrics. Understanding these potential deal killers and addressing them proactively can significantly improve a scaling business's chances of securing investment, acquisition offers, or international expansion opportunities.

Whether a business is preparing for a seed round, Series A fundraising, growth investment or a strategic partnership, investors will typically undertake some form of intellectual property (IP) due diligence before committing capital.