Corporate liability

Explore the intricacies of holding corporations accountable for criminal behaviour. Find essential practical guidance on navigating corporate liability, equipping you and your business with the tools to effectively manage and respond to allegations. This topic delves into key strategies, recent case law, and compliance standards to ensure thorough representation and robust defence mechanisms.

View Corporate Crime by content type:

News
Practice notes
Precedents
Q&As

Sub Topics We Cover

Corporate investigations Corporate offences Deferred prosecution agreements

Latest Corporate Crime News

Companies face convergence of Anti-Terrorism Act, FCPA risks

Companies face convergence of Anti-Terrorism Act, FCPA risks

The following Corporate Crime news provides comprehensive and up to date legal information on Companies face convergence of Anti-Terrorism Act, FCPA risks

DBT announces new powers to regulate online marketplaces under PRAM Act

DBT announces new powers to regulate online marketplaces under PRAM Act
Standards of candour in closed hearings, and corporate witness statements (Attorney General v BBC; R (‘Beth’) v IPT)

Standards of candour in closed hearings, and corporate witness statements (Attorney General v BBC; R (‘Beth’) v IPT)

The following Public Law news provides comprehensive and up to date legal information on Standards of candour in closed hearings, and corporate witness statements (Attorney General v BBC; R (‘Beth’) v IPT)

Health and safety prosecution round-up—21 July 2025

Health and safety prosecution round-up—21 July 2025

Featured Corporate Crime content

Common assault and battery

Common assault and battery

Common assault and batteryThe offences of common assault and batteryTechnically, the offences of assault and battery are separate summary offences. An...

Affray

Affray

AffrayAffray is an offence created by the Public Order Act 1986 (POA 1986). It can be tried in either the magistrates’ court or the Crown Court. The...

Self-defence

Self-defence

Self defenceSelf defenceSelf defence is an absolute defence based on the evidence which can apply in crimes committed by force. Section 76 of the...

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm

Assault occasioning actual bodily harmThe offence of actual bodily harmThe offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) can be tried in...

Practice notes

Criminal act or omission

Criminal act or omissionFor a person to be found guilty of a criminal offence it must be shown that they:•acted in a particular way, or•failed to act...
Read More >
30th May
tag iconIn-house
Practice notes

Strict liability

Strict liabilityStrict liability applies to offences for which the prosecution is not required to prove mens rea for one or more elements of the...
Read More >
Produced in partnership with Christopher Sykes of 33 Chancery Lane
30th May
Practice notes

Recklessness in criminal cases

Recklessness in criminal casesThe subjective test for recklessnessCertain statutory and common law offences allow the prosecution to prove mens rea on...
Read More >
Produced in partnership with Christopher Sykes of 33 Chancery Lane
30th May
Practice notes

Involuntary manslaughter

Involuntary manslaughterInvoluntary manslaughter—introductionManslaughter can be classified as either voluntary or involuntary. Voluntary manslaughter...
Read More >
30th May
Practice notes

Common law offence of false imprisonment

Common law offence of false imprisonmentThe offence of false imprisonmentFalse imprisonment is a common law offence but it is more common as a civil...
Read More >
2nd Jun
Practice notes

Entrapment

Entrapment There is no defence of entrapment in English law but it is considered to be an abuse of the process of the court for state agents to lure a...
Read More >
30th May
tag iconIn-house
Practice notes

Causation and intervening acts in criminal cases

Causation and intervening acts in criminal casesCriminal offences are generally divided into two categories: •conduct crimes, and •result crimesA...
Read More >
30th May
tag iconIn-house
Practice notes

Causing fear or provocation of violence

Causing fear or provocation of violenceThe offence of causing fear or provocation of violenceThe offence of causing fear or provocation of violence...
Read More >
2nd Jun
Practice notes

Wounding or causing grievous bodily harm with intent

Wounding or causing grievous bodily harm with intentThe offence of causing grievous bodily harm with intentWounding or causing grievous bodily harm...
Read More >
30th May
Practice notes

Burden and standard of proof in criminal proceedings

Burden and standard of proof in criminal proceedingsThere are two kinds of ‘burden’ in criminal proceedings:•the legal burden, and•the evidential...
Read More >
2nd Jun
Practice notes

Time limits for commencing criminal proceedings

Time limits for commencing criminal proceedingsFor information on how criminal prosecutions are commenced in England and Wales, see Practice Notes:...
Read More >
2nd Jun
Practice notes

Specific and basic intent

Specific and basic intentIntention refers to the outcome sought by the defendant. Offences may be described as either ones of ‘basic intent’ or of...
Read More >
Produced in partnership with Christopher Sykes of 33 Chancery Lane
30th May
Practice notes

Threats to kill

Threats to killThis Practice Note covers the offence of threats to kill. It looks at what the prosecution must prove and explores each of the elements...
Read More >
2nd Jun
Practice notes

Automatism

AutomatismDefinition of automatismAn act is done in a state of Automatism if it is done by the body without control by the mind, (eg it is a spasm or...
Read More >
30th May
News

New Russia sanctions reveal international enforcement capabilities

...
Read More >
2nd Jun
News

Corporate Crime weekly highlights—15 February 2024

...
Read More >
2nd Jun

Popular documents

Priority between loss reliefs in loss making companies

Priority between loss reliefs in loss making companiesWhy does it matter?A company that is a member of a group and has incurred any of the types of losses available for surrender by way of group relief may, without any further rules, have more than one way in which to use the loss. There are a

What is the difference between an appeal and a review?

What is the difference between an appeal and a review?What is an appeal?An appeal in insolvency proceedings is no different to an appeal in normal litigation. An appeal will be allowed only if the appeal court is satisfied that the decision of the lower court was 'wrong' or 'unjust because of a

Late payment penalties—inheritance tax

Late payment penalties—inheritance taxWhile interest often accrues on overdue tax, the late payment of certain taxes may also attract a penalty. For information on the interest accruing on overdue tax, see Practice Notes: IHT—payment deadlines on death—Interest on IHT and Interest on late paid

If a beneficiary signs a deed of disclaimer of their share of an estate and the estate pays their legal

If a beneficiary signs a deed of disclaimer of their share of an estate and the estate pays their legal fees, will that count as a PET against their estate?A disclaimer is the refusal of a gift prior to acceptance. The refusal of the gift must take place before the beneficiary accepts any benefit