UK’s data watchdog to shift away from big fines to focus on prevention January 18, 2023 The UK’s data watchdog has vowed to shift away from simply hitting companies with big fines for breaching data privacy rules and instead will look to adopt a more preventative approach. John Edwards, head of the Information Commissioner’s Office, said today that he will focus on preventing data breaches from happening in the first place [...]
Gateley chief says truce in legal sector pay war will boost firm’s expansion plans January 18, 2023 An easing of the pay war between law firms has already begun to benefit Gateley’s balance sheet as the listed law firm’s chief executive outlined his expansion plans to Morning Wire Gateley boss Rod Waldie said the “whole sector is benefiting” from the calming of the legal sector pay war that has seen lawyers’ salaries [...]
London firm Shipleys investigated over audit of Russian fintech Zaim Credit Systems January 18, 2023 The UK’s accounting regulator has launched an investigation into London accounting firm Shipleys over its audit work for the UK-listed holding company of Russian fintech firm Zaim Express. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) said today that it has decided to open an investigation into the firm’s audit of Zaim Credit Systems’ 2021 accounts. The FRC’s [...]
Carillion: Five years on, MPs and industry leaders demand audit reform to ensure scandal is not repeated January 18, 2023 On the fifth anniversary of the collapse of outsourcer Carillion, MPs and audit sector leaders have united in calling on the UK government to push forwards with plans to overhaul the country’s audit sector. MPs said a shake-up of the country’s accounting industry is needed imminently to ensure that audit failures, such as the one [...]
UK law firms plunged into bankruptcy by soaring insurance premiums January 17, 2023 Dozens of UK law firms have collapsed into bankruptcy over the last year due to being unable to obtain the insurance policies they need to continue operating, new research shows. The rising cost of taking out professional indemnity insurance (PII) policies – that cover any losses arising from negligent services – caused nine UK [...]
PwC steps down from auditing heavily-indebted property developer Evergrande January 17, 2023 PwC has resigned as Evergrande’s auditor following a series of disagreements with the heavily-indebted property developer over its audit of the firm’s 2021 accounts. In a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange, Evergrande said its board had decided to replace PwC as the company’s auditor after the two parties failed to reach an agreement [...]
Deloitte snaps up London tech consultancy Reformis January 16, 2023 Deloitte has completed its acquisition of London tech consultancy Reformis as it pushes forwards with efforts to bolster its advisory business. The acquisition, for an undisclosed sum, will see Reformis’ 83 staff join the Big Four accounting firm as it seeks to capitalise on booming demand for tech focused advice. Founded in 2003, the consulting [...]
London partners paid 25 per cent more at US law firms, new data shows January 16, 2023 The top US law firms are now paying their London partners significantly more than their British rivals, in another sign of American dominance in the UK legal sector. Partners in the London offices of the top 15 US law firms took away 25 per cent higher payouts than their counterparts in the UK’s top 15 [...]
Pensions: Specialist insurer PIC strikes £400m Amey deal after £600m House of Fraser buy-in January 16, 2023 The specialist insurer that bought out House of Fraser’s pensions fund for £600m last year has completed a £400m deal to take over UK engineering firm Amey’s retirement scheme. Pension Insurance Corporation’s (PIC’s) deal will see the firm take responsibility for paying out 3,473 pensions, covering £400m worth of liabilities. Bulk purchase annuity (BPA) deals [...]
London-listed law firm Knights bolsters business with Meade King acquisition January 16, 2023 Knights today acquired commercial law firm Meade King for £2.1m as the London-listed law firm pushes forwards with plans to bolster its business via mergers and acquisitions. Under the terms of the deal, Knights – one of just six UK listed law firms – will take on 29 of Meade King’s lawyers, including four partners. [...]