In October 2022, the Advertising Standards Authority (the ASA) ruled for the first time that a bank had misrepresented its green credentials and engaged in so-called “greenwashing“. In this blog post, we consider how banks and financial services institutions can fall within the remit of the ASA’s advertising codes and the potential risks associated with … Read more

As financial institutions get to grips with the opportunities and challenges presented by the constantly evolving ESG landscape, our FSR colleagues have outlined the top five trends that they are seeing in this space. From a disputes perspective, particularly for mis-selling and securities class action claims, it is important that firms take note of these … Read more

At a recent Case Management Conference (CMC), where a split trial was proposed by the claimants in a claim brought pursuant to Section 90A and Schedule 10A of the Financial Services and Markets Act (FSMA), the High Court has held that reliance issues should be heard at the second trial, with defendant liability issues to … Read more

The Bank of England (BoE) has published the results of the Climate Biennial Exploratory Scenario (CBES), which explores the financial risks posed by climate change for the largest banks and insurers operating in the UK. In line with the findings of other central bank stress tests across the globe, the CBES found that while the financial … Read more

Herbert Smith Freehills have contributed the England and Wales chapter of The Securities Litigation Review. Now in its eighth edition, The Securities Litigation Review is a guided introduction to the class action regimes for securities claims in the key jurisdictions across the globe, providing a valuable resource for corporates and financial institutions who might face … Read more

The High Court has handed down its long-awaited judgment in the US$5 billion civil fraud action brought by the Hewlett Packard group in connection with its acquisition of the UK software company Autonomy Corporation Limited in 2012: ACL Netherlands BV & Ors v Lynch & Ors [2022] EWHC 1178 (Ch). The judgment follows a previously published … Read more

The High Court has clarified what is meant by “person discharging managerial responsibilities” (PDMR) in the context of Section 90A and Schedule 10A of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA), a key element of the test for statutory liability for statements made by UK listed companies in periodic publications: Various Investors v G4S … Read more

The High Court has struck out a claim by the former shareholders of a dissolved company against an investor on the basis that all the losses claimed were barred by the reflective loss principle: Burnford & Ors v Automobile Association Developments Ltd [2022] EWHC 368 (Ch). As a reminder, the Supreme Court in Sevilleja v … Read more