Blog
The End of Leasehold Flats? A Breakdown of the Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Bill
Úna Campbell
20 April 2018
Private prosecutions for crimes against wildlife
Badger baiting and bat nest destruction, seal shooting and raptor persecution are just some of the wildlife crimes that are becoming increasingly common in the UK, according to the recent Wildlife and Countryside Link’s Wildlife Crime report. These cruel and grotesque acts include forcing badgers to fight with dogs for sport, or enabling the illegal trade of products harvested from CITES-listed species. Sadly, successful prosecutions for these offences may represent only a fraction of the number of atrocities committed.
19 April 2018
First time offenders avoid exclusion in ICAEW disciplinary hearing
In a decision published this month, ICAEW member firm Butterworth Barlow Ltd and its Directors, Gavin Butterworth and Barry Barlow, were given severe reprimands and fines following an ICAEW disciplinary hearing earlier this year.
18 April 2018
A new international ethical compass for regulated accountants
Last week The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants® (IESBA®) released a new Code of Ethics for professional accountants. The IESBA is the global independent standard-setting body that sets ethical standards, including auditor independence requirements for professional accountants. IESBA is one of the standard setting boards of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). IFAC is a global body for the accountancy profession which aims to strengthen the profession and contribute to the development of strong international economies.
11 April 2018
Will Grant Thornton be the catalyst for change in the audit market?
Grant Thornton last week announced that it has decided to opt out of bidding for audit work for FTSE 350 companies, in a move that could ultimately cause a seismic shift in the audit market.
11 April 2018
Are doctors being penalised by the General Medical Council’s power of appeal?
The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) hears cases against doctors alleged to have seriously breached GMC standards. As stated on its website, the MPTS ‘provides a hearings service that is fully independent in its decision making and separate from the investigatory role of the GMC’. As part of the hearings process, when a doctor’s fitness to practise is found to be impaired, the GMC makes submissions on sanction which details the sanction the regulator considers to be appropriate in protecting the public and/or preserving public confidence in the profession (public interest). The GMC’s submissions aside, it is the MPTS that has the power to determine which sanction to impose against the doctor’s registration.