Financial Law

Serious Fraud Office

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is the part of the criminal justice system which investigates serious fraud in the business and financial sector in the United Kingdom. Its website provides information on the purpose and structure of the organisation and sections of the site deal with fraud, bribery and corruption, victims and witnesses. There are recent press releases, its operational handbook and annual reports from 1996 onwards. The latter contain details of cases prosecuted and frauds under investigation.

Financial Reporting Council

The Financial Reporting Council is the UK independent regulator which deals with corporate reporting and governance. The site contains information about the work of the FRC, a list of members and the text of its annual review which summarises the work of all parts of the organisation for the year along with the Report and Accounts. There are some free copies of accounting standards on the website.

Financial Conduct Authority

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulates financial services in the UK; it is one of two successors to the Financial Services Authority (the other being the Prudential Regulation Authority). The FCA website has information and guidance for consumers and financial services firms. There is a link to the FCA Handbook, which sets out the obligations of regulated firms. The News section includes FCA consultation papers, discussion papers, policy statements and other publications.

Financial Ombudsman

The Financial Ombudsman Service oversees the UK financial industry and resolves individual complaints against specific organisations. It covers financial services such as insurance, mortgages, investments and credit. Its website provides information for consumers and businesses, together with a database of the Ombudsman's decisions (or 'determinations') from April 2012 onwards.

Gibraltar Finance Centre

Web pages for the Gibraltar Finance Centre, established to advise on banking and business opportunities in the British Crown Colony. The site provides a commentary on Gibraltar's constitution and legal system, including brief discussion of Gibraltar's relationship with the United Kingdom, European Union and the European Economic Area. A series of notes on the Constitution, Court System, Common law and Statute law, legal profession and Financial Services Commission are also available.

International Organization of Securities Commissions

Website of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), which oversees the supervision of financial services industries around the world. The site describes the structure of the organization and its work and makes available IOSCO policy documents, press releases, speeches, annual reports and other materials. It also provides a directory of national authorities which are members of IOSCO.

Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering

Website of the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF), the intergovernmental body aiming to promote policies to combat money laundering at both national and international levels. The site describes the function and current work of the task force with an overview and explanation of money laundering issues. There is organisational and membership information about FATF along with FATF's 40 recommendations of counter-measures against money laundering and related documentation. There is an online newsletter and a page of related web links.

Compliance Exchange

Website of the Compliance Exchange which acts as an "online research facility for compliance officers and other professionals engaged in the business of managing investments". The site provides news and links to UK financial services information along with links to the investment and securities regulators and to stock exchanges, financial services associations around the world. An online rulebook offers links to the relevant documents covering UK financial services regulations and rules.

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