His Majesty, King Charles III, has set out the government’s priorities and proposed policies for the next parliamentary session at the State Opening of Parliament, which took place on 17 July 2024. Initial reactions from the Private Client industry on the announcements have been compiled below.

His Majesty, King Charles III, has set out the government's legislative priorities and proposed policies for the next parliamentary session during the State Opening of Parliament on 13 May 2026. Key proposals relevant to the commercial sector include the proposed Small Business Protections (Late Payments) Bill, which will introduce measures aimed at tackling late payments to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), strengthening the powers of the Small Business Commissioner and introducing new rules relating to payment terms, invoice disputes and retention payments in business-to-business transactions.

His Majesty, King Charles III, has set out the government’s priorities and proposed policies for the next parliamentary session at the State Opening of Parliament, which took place on 13 May 2026, including plans to introduce an Immigration and Asylum Bill which it states is aimed at strengthening border security, reforming asylum processes and increasing confidence in the immigration system. In other Bills relating to immigration practice, the government also announced a Digital Access to Services Bill establishing Digital ID systems across public services and an Armed Forces Bill extending the legal duty associated with the Armed Forces Covenant. The listed measures have largely all been announced previously. Details are set out below.

His Majesty, King Charles III, has set out the government’s priorities and proposed policies for the next parliamentary session at the State Opening of Parliament, which took place on 13 May 2026. Key themes for the information law sector include strengthening the UK’s cyber resilience and reforming cyber-crime laws.

His Majesty, King Charles III, has set out the government's legislative priorities and proposed policies for the next parliamentary session during the State Opening of Parliament on 13 May 2026. Key proposals relevant to the life sciences sector include the proposed Regulating for Growth Bill, which will introduce reforms intended to modernise the UK's regulatory framework, support innovation in medicines and medical technologies through regulatory sandbox powers and facilitate the controlled testing and deployment of AI-enabled healthcare technologies and other emerging medical innovations.

His Majesty, King Charles III, has set out the government’s priorities and proposed policies for the next parliamentary session at the State Opening of Parliament, which took place on 13 May 2026. Key themes for the restructuring and insolvency sector include measures to tackle late payments to businesses, proposals to safeguard domestic steel production through potential nationalisation powers, reforms to the water sector, leasehold reform, and changes to financial services regulation.

His Majesty, King Charles III, has set out the government's legislative priorities and proposed policies for the next parliamentary session during the State Opening of Parliament on 13 May 2026. Key proposals relevant to the technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT) sector include Bills intended to: (1) address online ticket touting; (2) support the hosting and regulation of major sporting events; (3) establish a national Digital ID framework to modernise access to public services and facilitate digital identity verification across the public and wider economy; (4) strengthen transparency requirements relating to digital political campaigning and online election material; (5) enhance cyber resilience protections for essential digital infrastructure; and (6) support innovation through regulatory sandbox frameworks for artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies.

His Majesty the King set out the government’s priorities and proposed policies for the 2026–27 parliamentary session at the State Opening of Parliament on 13 May 2026. Focus areas of interest include the UK-EU reset, public services and the state, national security and economic growth. Key items include the European Partnership Bill, Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill, Public Office (Accountability) Bill, Representation of the People Bill, Removal of Peerages Bill, Police Reform Bill, NHS Modernisation Bill, Courts Modernisation Bill and a package of national security measures including the Tackling State Threats Bill, National Security Bill, Cyber Security and Resilience Bill and Armed Forces Bill.

His Majesty, King Charles III, has set out the government’s priorities and proposed policies for the next parliamentary session at the State Opening of Parliament, which took place on 17 July 2024. Key themes for TMT include introducing new legal frameworks to support the development and deployment of innovative uses of data through the Digital Information and Smart Data Bill, enhancing the UK’s product safety and metrology framework through the Product Safety and Metrology Bill and introducing new rules to prevent vape and consumer nicotine products’ advertisements and branding through the Tobacco and Vape Bill. Rosie Burbidge, Partner at Gunnercooke LLP comments on the Tobacco and Vape Bill.

An independent review commissioned by the UK government and led by Sir John Kingman, to examine the role and powers of the FRC. The outcome of the review was published in December 2018 and in March 2019 the government published a consultation paper seeking views on the recommendations made in the review.

CASE HUB ARCHIVED—this archived case hub reflects the position at the date of the abandonment of the transaction on 22 April 2022; it is no longer maintained. See further, timeline. Case facts Outline European Commission merger investigation into the proposed acquisition by Kingspan Group plc of Trimo, arhitekturne rešitve, d.o.o.(M.9938). The proposed transaction involves a horizontal overlap in the market for the supply of mineral fibre sandwich panels. Latest developments On 22 April 2022, the notification to the Commission was withdrawn and the parties announced that they had abandoned the transaction. Parties • Kingspan Group plc (Kingspan): Kingspan is based in Ireland. Its principal activities comprise the manufacture of sandwich panels, insulation, light & air solutions, water & energy and data & flooring

CASE HUB ARCHIVED–this archived case hub reflects the position at the date of the cancellation of the investigation on 21 May 2020 after the abandonment of the transaction; it is no longer maintained. See further, timeline and commentary. Case facts Outline UK merger investigation into the anticipated acquisition by Kingspan Holdings (Panels) Limited of Building Solutions (National) Limited. The transaction involves horizontal overlaps in the markets for the supply of standard foam panels and single skin construction sheets in the UK. Latest developments On 21 May 2020, the CMA formally cancelled its phase 2 investigation after the parties decided to abandon the proposed transaction. Parties • Kingspan Holdings (Panels) Limited (Kingspan)Kingspan is a buildings materials company. It is headquartered in Ireland and listed on the Irish Stock Exchange. • Building Solutions (National) Limited (Building Solutions):Building Solutions is a leading UK manufacturer and distributor of building envelope solutions operating through brands, Steadmans, United Roofing Products, Trimform Products, and Advanced Cladding & Insulation. Background On 7 October 2019, Kingspan announced that it would be purchasing