Upper Tribunal Decision: James Staley
This Decision relates to four applications for procedural directions involving a reference made by James Staley, former CEO of Barclays, in which FCA considered that he had recklessly and with a lack of integrity approved a letter being sent to FCA as to the nature of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and as to the time that they were last in contact. Specifically, this Decision concerned whether the Tribunal should direct evidence from further witnesses, whether the applicant should be permitted to give evidence in chief orally, whether FCA should have permission to amend its statement of case and be directed to disclose further documents.
Last updated · 13 Mar 2026
Regulatory News - Financial Services & Regulation
See allFCA: Vulnerability review
FCA is reviewing how consumer investment firms support bereaved customers. It has published research which found that 47% of bereaved customers felt they received the support they needed from financial firms. The review will focus on firms that advise, manage, or administer investments (including platforms, advisers and wealth managers). FCA will examine the experience customers have from the moment the firm is told about a bereavement, through to settlement or transfer of investments and will assess how firms communicate, how they support vulnerable customers, their service standards, and how fees are handled on bereaved accounts.
PRA: Speech by Sam Woods: Clinical supervision
Text of Sam Woods’ speech of 12 May 2026 follows in which he discusses banking supervision. He concludes: “as the financial system and broader economy continue to evolve, supervisors will need to upskill across an even broader set of issues … This might in time mean a more senior and more specialised workforce”.
FCA: Appointments
FCA has announced the appointments of Simon Walls (executive director, markets) and Johan Sekora (COO).
HMG: The Enhancing Financial Services Bill
The Enhancing Financial Services Bill was announced in the King’s Speech and is intended to deliver key parts of the Leeds Reforms. Amongst other matters, the Bill will: enact reforms to FOS; consolidate PSR within FCA; reduce the overall burden of SM&CR by 50% with a focus on accountability of the most senior figures in financial services, and update the statutory framework underpinning the ringfencing regime in order to unlock more finance for SMEs.
BoE: DLT Innovation Challenge 2025 – final report
The report describes the outcomes of the DLT Innovation Challenge and sets out how it has informed BoE’s views on DLT with regard to settlement finality, scalability, network and asset control and interoperability.
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