Money Laundering Regulations Guide 2022

Anti-money laundering rules in the UK are primarily governed by the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017, commonly referred to as the Money Laundering Regulations. The following guide examines the provisions under these regulations, in particular the duties of any regulated business to register and report, and […]

AML Compliance Guidance

The UK’s anti-money laundering regime places extensive AML compliance duties on businesses. The following guide examines the meaning of AML and the rules relating to AML compliance across relevant businesses, including offences for AML non-compliance and associated penalties.   What is money laundering?   Money laundering refers to how criminals change, or ‘clean’ their assets […]

Creditors Voluntary Liquidation (Directors’ Guide)

If a company cannot pay its debts, its directors may decide to put the company into liquidation. Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation offers directors a way to close their company voluntarily, rather than being forced to close under a winding up order.   What is Creditors Voluntary Liquidation (CVL)?   Liquidation is a legal process involving the […]

What is a Directors’ Service Contract?

Directors’ service contracts have an important function for companies. Not only are they are used to define the role, responsibilities and remuneration of the company’s directors, they also provide key legal protections to safeguard the interests of the business. Since directors are the most senior employees in the company, the directors’ service agreement is used […]

Winding Up a Company

If you’re a business owner looking to wind up your limited company because it can’t pay its debts, or a creditor wanting to petition for a winding up order because a company owes you money that it can’t repay, the following guide will help you to navigate the legal process. Sometimes winding up a company […]

Money Laundering Reporting Officer Responsibilities

What is a Money Laundering Reporting Officer? The Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) is the person in an organisation who is nominated to receive disclosures from employees within the firm regarding suspected money laundering. Sometimes known as the ‘nominated officer’, the MLRO is then responsible for deciding whether to report these concerns to the National […]

Buying Business Premises

If you are considering buying business premises there are many financial, practical and legal aspects that you might want to consider before climbing onto the commercial property ladder. Below we examine some of the advantages and disadvantages of buying business premises, as against the alternative of leasing commercial property. We will also look more closely […]

Disqualification of Directors Rules

A company director may face disqualification if they are found to have failed to fulfil their legal responsibilities by participating in unfit conduct, or wrongful or fraudulent trading. Common grounds for director disqualification could include:   Failure to maintain proper accounting records for the company Permitting a company which is unable to pay its debts […]

What is Insolvency?

When financial hardship hits your business, and you are forced to consider closing down, working out what to do next can be overwhelming. Understanding the fundamentals behind what insolvency is, what the process entails and what it means for the future of your business can help you to navigate this complex situation.   What does […]

What is the Role of the Company Secretary?

All UK public companies require a company secretary by law, under the Companies Act. Private limited companies however are not required to appoint a company secretary, however the directors may still choose to do so, as there can be many practical benefits to the organisation of having a dedicated individual in this role. Many important […]

Restoring a Company to the Register

There are two processes for restoring a company to the Register, either by Court Order or by ‘administrative restoration’ under section 1024 of the Companies Act 2006. The appropriate route will be determined by a number of factors. Restoring a company to the register by way of administrative restoration requires certain eligibility criteria to be met […]