News & Views

On 1 July 2026, the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) published its final licensing rules and guidance. For owners, chief executives, directors, and key management across the top five tiers of the men’s game, the publication of these rules is the blueprint for your club’s legal permission to exist, operate, and compete in the football pyramid.

For many UK businesses, the concept of establishing their own captive insurance facility or a variation of this (e.g. a Protected Cell Company) has traditionally meant looking at overseas jurisdictions such as Bermuda, Guernsey, IOM, Gibraltar, and Luxembourg et al. These have long been recognised as offering established regulatory frameworks and management support for businesses seeking the benefits of greater control over either their own insurance arrangements or a customer centric insurance facility. That may be about to change.

As the fall-out from the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal rumbles on, where and how national governing bodies and international federations sit in a world of sport which is continually being shaped by commercial pressures, capital requirements, and increasing competition is an intriguing question.

The Legal Services Consumer Panel has renewed its call for a single regulator to supersede the eight approved regulators that currently govern legal services in England and Wales.

Series 1, Episode 5: Jon Dutton OBE

On 1 July 2026, the Supreme Court handed down its long-awaited judgment in HMRC v BlueCrest Capital Management (UK) LLP. For anyone advising professional services firms on LLP structuring – asset managers, law firms, accountancy practices, consultancies – this is an essential read.

Investor interest in English sport continues to broaden. While much of the attention understandably gravitates towards elite assets, a quieter market exists beneath that level: clubs, rights holders and sports organisations facing financial pressure, ownership fatigue or operational underperformance, yet retaining characteristics that make them investable in the right circumstances.

Before approaching potential buyers, you need to ask a critical question: is your business genuinely ready to be sold? If it isn't, the due diligence process will quickly expose the cracks. Issues uncovered through these investigations can deter buyers and delay the transaction, reduce the value of your business, and result in harsh indemnities.

O'Connors are pleased to announce the promotion of Mollie Williams, Michael McKenna and Megan Crone to Associate, recognising their outstanding contributions to the firm and continued commitment to delivering exceptional client service.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of modern business strategy, with many organisations deploying it as a powerful cost-control lever by automating routine work, compressing timelines, and driving operational efficiency at scale. For professional services firms, the commercial rationale is compelling: AI offers speed, scalability, and accessibility, presenting (to a certain extent) a cost-effective means of addressing day-to-day operational and advisory demands.