The business of lobbying, while often useful, can also lead to actual, or implications of, undue influence and other unfair practices.
Part 1 of the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 (TLNPCTUAA 2014) makes provisions regulating consultant lobbying—the business of making representations to government on behalf of clients with the aim of providing greater transparency for the public about the business of lobbying.
Consultant lobbyists are required to be registered, and disclose the names of their clients on a public register. They are also required to disclose whether they subscribe to a publicly available code of conduct.
Although the register contains a list of lobbyists’ clients, meaning there is transparency about who is lobbying the government and on whose behalf, this does not necessarily mean it is clear what they are lobbying about.
This will not affect most firms,
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Law360, London: A law firm and its consultant have been imposed a fine of almost £80,000 between them after the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) found that the consultant had improperly used a client account to move money for a Russian client.
This week's edition of Practice Compliance weekly highlights includes sanctions against Iranian authorities for human rights violations, a warning notice from the SRA on 'no win, no fee' arrangements in high-volume consumer claims and the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (DUAA 2025) (Commencement No 6 and Transitional and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2026, SI 2026/82, which bring the majority of the DUAA 2025’s data protection reforms into force from 5 February 2026.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has imposed immediate sanctions on six individuals on 5 February 2026. The measures were announced by the Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, following her visit to the Sudan–Chad border. The sanctions target senior commanders of the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces, as well as individuals accused of financing the conflict, procuring weapons and recruiting foreign mercenaries, in response to their alleged roles in fuelling the war in Sudan and enabling serious abuses against civilians. The FCDO stated that the measures aim to increase pressure on those responsible for massacres, sexual violence, forced displacement and other atrocities, particularly in Darfur and Gezira states, and to disrupt the financial and logistical networks sustaining the conflict. The sanctions form part of a wider UK strategy combining enforcement, humanitarian assistance and diplomacy. Under this approach, the UK has committed £146m in aid during the current financial year, is calling for an immediate ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access, and will prioritise Sudan during its February 2026 presidency of the UN Security Council while co-hosting an international conference in April 2026 to strengthen coordinated international efforts to end the conflict and promote accountability.
The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) has updated its UK Financial Sanctions frequently asked questions (FAQs), amending FAQs 147 and 148. The OFSI has also amended General Licence INT/2022/1947936 and removed expired General Licence INT/2025/8202932.
Is an undertaking binding and enforceable if given by a legally unqualified individual on behalf of their law firm?The SRA Code of Conduct for Firms imposes an obligation on the firm to comply with all undertakings given by the firm within an agreed timescale—or if no timescale has been agreed,
Undertakings and the courtThis Practice Note explains:•what powers the court has to enforce undertakings•when it is likely to exercise those powersBreach of an undertaking is also likely to be professional misconduct and can be dealt with by the SRA, although the SRA cannot itself enforce compliance
What is the difference between an appeal and a review?What is an appeal?An appeal in insolvency proceedings is no different to an appeal in normal litigation. An appeal will be allowed only if the appeal court is satisfied that the decision of the lower court was 'wrong' or 'unjust because of a
Late payment penalties—inheritance taxWhile interest often accrues on overdue tax, the late payment of certain taxes may also attract a penalty. For information on the interest accruing on overdue tax, see Practice Notes: IHT—payment deadlines on death—Interest on IHT and Interest on late paid
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