By: Maria Ward-Brennan

Professional Services Editor Maria Ward-Brennan is the Professional Services Editor at City AM, focused on law, Big Four, and other management and accounting consulting firms. She was previously a litigation reporter at The Lawyer. Contact her via email at maria.ward-brennan@cityam.com or X (Twitter) @MariaW_B.

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Justice secretary granted new veto powers over ‘independent’ public body

September 2, 2025

The justice secretary has been granted the power to sign off on any new guidelines for prison sentences as part of a push for Parliament to have a say in the justice system, following political backlash earlier this year. As part of the Sentencing Bill, set to be introduced to the House of Commons today, [...]
Big Brother: Can your employer monitor your whereabouts?

September 1, 2025

As businesses grapple with the current economic challenges, the support measures previously offered to employees during the pandemic are being tightened. However, as companies adopt more stringent monitoring practices, the question arises: where is the line drawn between necessary oversight and the invasion of employee privacy? Headlines have been lighting up over the last year [...]
Law firm launches internal probe after Church of England victim data leak

August 29, 2025

City law firm Kennedys Law has launched an internal investigation after the personal details of Church of England abuse victims were leaked. The Church has been battling its failures as it was accused of covering up decades of child abuse committed by prolific child abuser John Smyth. The Makin Review, published last November, found Smyth [...]
Tribunal filing shows UK pushed for wider back-door access to Apple data

August 29, 2025

A new court document reveals that the UK government sought broader “back-door” access to Apple’s private customer data amid ongoing controversy over the impact of the UK’s Investigatory Powers Act. According to the Financial Times, a new legal document has been filed with the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT), an independent court that reviews complaints against [...]
CPS charges former Entain execs over alleged bribery

August 28, 2025

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has charged 11 individuals, including five former Entain executives, with several offences, including bribery and conspiracy to defraud, in connection with its investigation into the company’s former Turkish business. Commenting in a press statement, CPS’s chief crown prosecutor, Hannah von Dadelsze, confirmed that it was authorised to prosecute 11 individuals [...]
Drax faces FCA probe amid allegations of misleading biomass sourcing

August 28, 2025

The City watchdog has launched a probe into British power firm Drax over several issues, including statements regarding its biomass sourcing. The London-listed group informed its shareholders this morning that it was notified on Tuesday that the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) had commenced an investigation into the group. Drax stated that the probe covers the [...]
City law firm Addleshaw Goddard prioritises bonuses over junior pay raises

August 28, 2025

City law firm Addleshaw Goddard has pulled out of the junior salary war by freezing pay and relocating those funds to its bonus pot. As reported by trade publication The Lawyer, Addleshaw Goddard has reallocated £1m that would have been spent on higher salaries for newly qualified (NQ) lawyers, into its bonus pot, now worth [...]
Inaccurate AI submissions strain overloaded Employment Tribunal

August 27, 2025

A growing number of people are using AI platforms such as ChatGPT to draft grievances when bringing claims against their employers at the Employment Tribunal. Travers Smith employment partner Ailie Murray told City AM that the team is increasingly seeing employees use AI to draft grievances, employment claims, and submissions against their employers. “While this [...]
NDA ban and bereavement leave add extra £80m to UK Employment Bill

August 27, 2025

The new amendment to the Employment Rights Bill, including banning the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), will add an additional £80m a year in costs to UK businesses. According to the employment team at TWM Solicitors, the new clauses introduced in July are expected to increase the existing government forecast of £5bn by at least [...]
UK businesses set to face tougher compliance over fraud

August 26, 2025

British businesses need to prepare for a “sea change” as the new powers to tackle fraud come into effect next Monday. The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) director Nick Ephgrave told City AM last year that time was running short for businesses “to get their house in order” ahead of its new powers. From 1 September, [...]

Has Fifa quietly made mandatory release clauses the future of football transfers?

Has Fifa quietly made mandatory release clauses the future of football transfers?

The best places to eat sandwiches in Lisbon, from bifanas to pregos

By: Maria Ward-Brennan

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