By: Maria Ward-Brennan

Senior Reporter Maria Ward-Brennan is a senior reporter focused on law and professional services. Contact her via email on maria.ward-brennan@cityam.com or X (Twitter) @MariaW_B

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Can Donald Trump really sue the BBC for $1bn?

November 11, 2025

US President Donald Trump’s threat to sue the BBC for $1bn over the misleading edit of a Panorama programme has thrown the Corporation into crisis. But it’s unclear if the US President’s threats have any legal substance. Trump made his legal threat after a BBC memo was leaked, revealing that its Panorama programme had spliced [...]
British insurers sound alarm over unprecedented rise in AI-driven scams

November 11, 2025

The insurance sector is struggling to combat the growing influx of AI-driven fake claims, as sophisticated fraud is challenging the sector’s outdated traditional system, putting increased pressure on insurers to adapt. According to a recent report by fintech firm Adyen, one in seven claims (15 per cent) were proven to be fraudulent, resulting in a [...]
Evelyn Partners sells employee benefits business to Howden

November 11, 2025

Insurance broker Howden has agreed to acquire the employee benefits consultancy arm of Evelyn Partners. The insurance intermediary group has agreed to acquire Evelyn Partners Financial Services (EPFS) for an undisclosed amount. Subject to regulatory approval, the deal is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026. The acquisition is pitched to enhance [...]
Legal sector defies economic headwinds with rising headcount and profits

November 10, 2025

Despite ongoing pressure on salaries and increases in employment taxes, legal firms have reported an average headcount increase of nearly 4 per cent over the past year. According to the ‘law firm benchmarking report’ by professional service firm Crowe, the headcount growth was concentrated among fee earners, but nearly half of firms reported either no [...]
Reeves’ LLP tax proposal will undermine ‘cornerstone of UK economy’

November 10, 2025

A professional services trade body warned that Rachel Reeves’ proposed increase in NICs for LLPs could lead to widespread conversion to limited company structures, undermining a successful British business model. The limited liability partnership (LLP) model, in which members (known as partners) invest their own capital in the business, was introduced 25 years ago and [...]
Reeves set to bring in US-style whistleblowing pay for HMRC

November 10, 2025

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to reveal a US-style whistleblower scheme to combat large-scale tax fraud. Later this month, HMRC is expected to launch a reward scheme, according to the Financial Times, which could pay informants as much as 30 per cent of any taxes collected as a result of tip-offs. The new US-style incentive [...]
Business leaders warn Budget tax hikes could trigger higher prices

November 10, 2025

Senior business leaders have called on the government to avoid increasing the cost of employment in the upcoming Autumn Budget, in order to avoid SMEs raising prices. According to a new report by Employment Hero, 86 per cent of the 1,000 business leaders are concerned about what the upcoming Budget will mean for them, as [...]
FTSE 100 Live: ITV and Sky takeover chatter; House prices rise

November 7, 2025

Good morning from the City AM liveblog team. Yesterday, the Bank of England cut rates in a 5-4 decision with Governor Andrew Bailey playing decider. Policymakers at the Bank said the crunch decision weighed up contractions in the jobs market, which could lower inflation levels, and high inflation expectations of around 4 per cent among [...]
UK businesses accelerate layoffs amid AI surge and legislative uncertainty

November 6, 2025

The number of proposed mass dismissal programmes in the UK has risen by five per cent in the last year, driven by the ongoing Employment Rights Bill and the increasing adoption of AI. The number of proposed mass dismissal programmes rose to 3,715 in 2024/25, up from 3,546 in the previous year, according to data [...]
BDO fined £6.5m after regulator slams it for faking audit evidence

November 6, 2025

Business advisory giant BDO has been slapped with a £6.5m fine after two of its former audit engagement partners made admissions of misconduct. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) launched an investigation after receiving formal complaints about the dishonest conduct of a BDO senior manager between 2015 and 2019, including the creation of false audit evidence, [...]

Blitz Golf: Golf’s answer to T20 cricket coming to London

Horse racing came together to fight tax hikes. Now it must unite again

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival to drive millions into Scotch sector

By: Maria Ward-Brennan

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