About Corporate Crime
Over the last ten years, the Government has passed a series of laws creating new corporate criminal offences - from corporate manslaughter, money laundering, bribery and insider dealing to environmental health and consumer protection. Keeping on top of the latest laws, cases and commentary is a challenge – but the stakes are higher than ever.
Bribery and corruption
Businesses facing prosecution for recent or historic bribery and corruption offences need quick, accurate, and practical advice on investigations and self-reporting. Our content offers unique practical insight.
Health and safety offences
Investigations into workplace accidents can be lengthy and complex. Our content provides practical advice on health and safety and gross negligence manslaughter offences, investigations and prosecutions.
Private prosecutions
Private prosecutions are on the rise, as businesses see it as a way to secure justice in financial crime cases. Our bespoke suite supports anyone seeking to bring and challenge private prosecutions.
Keeping up to date
As the scope and volume of corporate criminal offences increase, keeping track of changes is a constant challenge. Our weekly highlights and trackers keep you up to date with all the latest developments.
Topics We Cover
Latest Corporate Crime News
The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has referred the convictions of five city traders back to the courts. This action follows a July 2025...
The National Crime Agency (NCA) and NatWest Group have launched a joint campaign targeting accounts payable professionals and finance personnel to...
The Home Office has published a process evaluation report of the Serious Violence Duty, a statutory requirement introduced in 2022 to prevent and...
A round-up of the latest health and safety prosecutions, including an unqualified individual sentenced after illegal gas work put a family at risk of...
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has published its 2025 Annual Prison Capacity statement, setting out updated projections for the prison population,...
Latest Corporate Crime Practice Notes
How to vacate a guilty pleaVacating a guilty plea is a complex yet pivotal legal remedy available in the magistrates’ courts and Crown Courts. This...
Wrongful trading claims under sections 214 and 246ZB of the Insolvency Act 1986What is wrongful trading?A wrongful trading claim applies to a person...
Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020—temporary changes to the wrongful trading regime [Archived]What is the background to the temporary...
Privilege, money laundering and terrorist financingLegal professional privilege (LPP) is a vital consideration when deciding whether to make a...
The regulation of pensions—division of roles between the Pensions Regulator and the FCARole of the Pensions RegulatorStatutory objectivesThe core role...
Latest Corporate Crime Precedents
Sanctions breach—panic sheet1Consider seeking external adviceGiven the complicated nature of most sanctions regimes; the potential for offences to...
Financial crime prevention—agents, intermediaries, associated persons, etc policy1Introduction1.1We run our business[es] with integrity. All of us...
Financial sanctions breach report formPlease supply as much information as possible about this suspected breach.If you require any help to complete...
Sanctions breach response form and action plan1General informationDate[Insert date]Name of person completing this response form and action plan[Insert...
Internal investigation—investigation reportPrivileged and confidentialNot for onward transmission without reference to [insert, eg Head of Legal]Date...
Latest Corporate Crime Q&As
Featured Corporate Crime content
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
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 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 harmThe offence of actual bodily harmThe offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) can be tried in...
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...
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...
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...
Involuntary manslaughter
Involuntary manslaughterInvoluntary manslaughter—introductionManslaughter can be classified as either voluntary or involuntary. Voluntary manslaughter...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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:...
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...
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...
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...
Associated legal terms
Counterfeit
Something is counterfeit if it is made to resemble that which it is not.
Gross negligence
In criminal law, 'gross' negligence denotes the degree by which the conduct or failure to act fell short of the relevant standard of care.
Misconduct in public office
A public officer commits the common law offence of misconduct in a public office if, acting as such, he wilfully neglects to perform his duty and/or wilfully misconducts himself, to such a degree as to amount to an abuse of the public's trust in the office holder, without reasonable excuse or justification.
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