New guidance needed to improve anti-money laundering regime

A new advisory board and statutory guidance would reduce wasted time and improve the UK’s ability to tackle money laundering and terrorist financing, the Law Commission has announced. Money laundering, in particular, is estimated to cost every household in the UK £255 a year and allows criminals to profit from their crimes. Banks and other … Read more >

Law Commission begins review of intermediated securities system

The Law Commission has begun reviewing the system of intermediated securities in order to identify potential issues for both investors and companies. Shares and bonds are increasingly held through a system of “dematerialisation” and “intermediation”. In other words, paper certificates have been replaced by a system in which most investors “own” securities through computerised credit … Read more >

Surrogacy reforms to improve the law for all

The laws around surrogacy are outdated and should be improved to better support the child, surrogates and intended parents, the Law Commission of England and Wales and the Scottish Law Commission have announced today (06 June 2019). Surrogacy is where a woman bears a child on behalf of someone else or a couple, who then … Read more >

Law Commission sets out its priorities for 2019/20

The Law Commission has today set out its plans for the current financial year in a new business plan. The document sets out measurable targets for the organisation to meet which will help it achieve its aim of reforming the law. It sets four priorities: To ensure that the law is fair, modern and clear … Read more >

Sentencing (Pre-consolidation Amendments) Bill introduced to Parliament

The Sentencing (Pre-consolidation Amendments) Bill has been introduced into Parliament. This short technical Bill is necessary to pave the way for the main Sentencing Code Bill to be introduced as a consolidation Bill. Once passed, the Sentencing Code will introduce a “clean sweep” of the old sentencing law so that anyone convicted once the Code … Read more >

Llywodraeth Cymru yn cyhoeddi ymateb interim yn croesawu’r adroddiad ar Gyfraith Cynllunio yng Nghymru

Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi darparu ymateb interim i argymhellion Comisiwn y Gyfraith ar wella’r Gyfraith Cynllunio yng Nghymru. Cyhoeddwyd adroddiad Comisiwn y Gyfraith – Cyfraith Cynllunio yng Nghymru – ym mis Tachwedd 2018, a chafodd ei gyflwyno gerbron y Senedd a’r Cynulliad Cenedlaethol.  Yn yr adroddiad, rydym yn cyflwyno cyfres o argymhellion, gan gynnwys argymell … Read more >

Commission welcomes research on supported will-making

The Law Commission welcomes the publication of Supported Will-Making: A Socio-Legal Study of Experiences, Values, and Potential in Supporting Testamentary Capacity by Professor Rosie Harding, Dr Ezgi Taşcıoğlu and Magdalena Furgalska. Professor Harding’s research team conducted empirical research of the experiences of intellectually disabled people when making wills. Finding a gap in support for people … Read more >