Recent regulatory developments of interest to all financial institutions. Includes key COVID-19 updates from the UK FCA, AML/CTF updates and more.
COVID-19: FCA statement on handling of post and paper documents
On 13 May 2020, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published a statement on how firms should handle post and paper documents during the COVID-19 pandemic.
GOVERNANCE & SECURITIES LAW FOCUS
Proxima Nova A ExCn 35pt
MAY 2020/LATIN AMERICA
Below is a summary of the main developments in US, EU, and UK corporate governance and securities law since our last update in February 2020.
Financial regulatory developments are available here.
IN THIS ISSUE
Through the three budgets as announced by the Singapore Government, a total of S$9 billion will be disbursed to businesses and individuals in April 2020 to counter the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the business community in Singapore. Businesses and workers in Singapore will receive reliefs through various measures announced by the Singapore Government in the Solidarity Budget and Reliance Budget, through the enhanced Wage Credit Scheme, Foreign Workers Levy, and the Jobs Support Scheme.
This is the twenty-ninth in our series of General Counsel Updates which aim to summarise major developments in key areas.
Hong Kong
The Treasury Laws Amendment (Combating Illegal Phoenixing) Act 2019 (Cth) (Amending Act) passed into law on 17 February 2020, over a year after it was first introduced to Parliament.
Placing phoenix activity firmly in its crosshairs, the Amending Act introduces long anticipated reforms to Australia’s efforts to curb phoenix activity.
Background
High Court orders the liquidation of CBL Insurance
Joseph Wielebinski is praised by peers around the globe as “an excellent lawyer” when it comes to representing clients in financial fraud, money laundering and other white-collar crime proceedings.
Questions & Answers
Interviews are frequently conducted by office-holders with individuals previously involved with an insolvent company, such as directors and officers, employees, accountants, lawyers and other third parties. Such interviews will often provide key information regarding the company’s trading and dealings and the actions of its directors and employees, thereby assisting office-holders seeking to investigate potential fraud, misfeasance and other forms of misconduct.
The recent case of The Official Receiver v Andrew Nathaniel Skeene and Junie Conrad Omari Bowers [2020] EWHC 1252 (Ch) (“Skeene”) is a good example of the crossover between insolvency related proceedings and criminal proceedings. In this case, the High Court considered the Official Receiver’s (“OR”) ability to disclose to the Serious Fraud Office (“SFO”) documents which had been obtained by the OR during the course of disqualification proceedings.