Daily Briefing Podcast

Regulation

Bank of America Fined $1.2 Billion by US Treasury for Willfully Violating Anti-Money Laundering Rules and Failing to Report Over $5 Billion in Suspicious Activity

Outsourcing AML detection to law enforcement referrals is not a control framework: regulators now expect banks to prove proactive, autonomous surveillance.

Disputes

SFO Strengthens Corporate Self-Reporting Guidance and Opens Direct Channel to Director of Legal Services Ahead of Formal DPA Negotiations

A direct pre-report line to the SFO's General Counsel turns self-reporting from a leap of faith into a structured, negotiable first step.

AI & Law

England and Wales Judiciary Issues Formal Position Statement on AI Use by Judges, Barring AI-Driven Decision-Making and Establishing Centralised Oversight

The judiciary's hard stop on AI-driven decisions preserves appeal rights and accountability, but signals courts will scrutinise AI-assisted submissions more closely.

M&A

CMA Opens Public Consultation on Co-op Group's Offer to Divest 15 Convenience Stores and Two Funeral Homes to Clear Southern Co-operative Merger

UILs let acquirers avoid Phase 2, but the CMA's public consultation means rival retailers can still shape the outcome.

Energy & Tech

UK Government Accepts CMA's Recommendation to Introduce Regulation for Heating Oil Market as Prices Hit Double Last Year's Level

Extending Ofgem's remit to heating oil creates a new regulated market overnight, with licence design, pricing rules, and compensation frameworks all yet to be built.

Regulation

CMA Publishes Separate Compliance Guides for Large and Small Veterinary Businesses Under Its Veterinary Services Market Investigation Order 2026

The CMA is moving from investigation to compliance, two guides, two tiers of obligation.

International

EU Cross-Border Energy Grid Negotiations to Resume 17 November After Lawmakers and Member States Reach Technical Progress on TEN-E Rules

TEN-E trilogue is live, governance and data rules are still unsettled.