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Legal position reviewed October 2026. This guide covers England, Wales and Scotland. If you work in Northern Ireland, read the Northern Ireland section first, because several key rules are different...
Different starting points: In the UK, the granting authority assesses its own subsidy under the Subsidy Control Act 2022. The Subsidy Advice Unit (SAU) reviews only referred cases, and it...
UK uses an at-fault insurance system. You claim against the driver who caused the crash or the Motor Insurers' Bureau if they are uninsured or untraced. Limitation is usually 3...
Family law in the UK is mainly about relationship breakdown, children, money, and protection from abuse, with slightly different rules in England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Ending a...
English law distinguishes between minor breaches and "repudiatory" breaches, which determine whether you can terminate the contract or merely claim damages. Claimants have a legal "duty to mitigate," meaning they...
Non-residents can legally purchase property in the UK, but they face a 2% Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) surcharge on top of standard rates. Property ownership is divided into freehold...
The UK uses a "no-fault" divorce system, meaning you no longer need to prove adultery, desertion, or unreasonable behavior to end a marriage. A minimum of 26 weeks is required...
Jurisdiction is determined by "habitual residence" or "domicile," meaning you do not need to be a British citizen to divorce in England or Wales. The UK court views all global...
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Act 2024 targets global tech firms with "Strategic Market Status" (SMS) to prevent monopolistic behavior in the UK. Failure to comply with the...
Resolving Cross-Border Commercial Disputes in the United Kingdom Post-Brexit, the UK relies primarily on the Hague Convention 2005 to enforce exclusive jurisdiction clauses and recognize foreign judgments. English courts strongly...
The UK recognizes foreign insolvency proceedings primarily through the UNCITRAL Model Law, requiring a formal application to the UK courts to protect local assets. Post-Brexit, automatic recognition of UK insolvency...
UK private companies are increasingly expected to follow the Wates Corporate Governance Principles to demonstrate transparency and accountability. Section 172 of the Companies Act 2006 requires directors to act in...
Employers must demonstrate a genuine redundancy situation, such as a workplace closure or a reduced need for specific types of work, to avoid unfair dismissal claims. Meaningful consultation is mandatory...
The UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) marking is the mandatory product marking for most goods placed on the market in Great Britain, though the UK government has indefinitely extended CE mark...
The UK operates a strict liability regime for financial sanctions breaches, meaning a company can be fined even if it did not intend to break the law. Ownership and control...
UK Subsidiary Setup Checklist for Foreign Corporations in 2026 Expanding into the UK post-Brexit requires a structured approach to legal, tax, and banking compliance under tightened corporate transparency laws. The...
Shipping B2B goods to the UK requires a valid GB EORI number and a full digital declaration through the Customs Declaration Service (CDS). Overseas sellers must register for UK VAT...
Hourly Cost Structure: Unlike other major institutions, the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) charges administrative and arbitrator fees based on hourly rates rather than a percentage of the disputed...
Foreign Direct Investment and M&A Regulatory Compliance in the UK Foreign acquirers must navigate the UK's National Security and Investment Act (NSIA), which imposes mandatory notifications for transactions in 17...
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) operates independently post-Brexit and runs parallel investigations alongside EU regulators. Section 26 mandatory information requests require a strict legal hold on internal communications...