UUÂãÁÄÖ±²¥

View the related checklists about Penalty

²Ñ¾±³Ù¾±²µ²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô—c³ó±ð³¦°ì±ô¾±²õ³Ù

²Ñ¾±³Ù¾±²µ²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô—c³ó±ð³¦°ì±ô¾±²õ³Ù How a sentence is reached When determining a sentence, a court will usually consider any statutory sentencing range, the applicable Sentencing Council (SC) guidelines including any offence specific sentencing guideline, the overarching guidelines and sentencing judgments from the Court of Appeal. The SC’s offence specific guidelines or the general guideline set out a stepped approach which the court must follow. See Practice Notes: Sentences imposed following conviction and Sentencing Council General Guideline—Overarching Principles. Generally, in sentencing exercises the court will need to consider the following: • the relevant starting point in the Sentencing Guidelines • the aggravating factors of the offence • the mitigation and personal circumstances of the defendant • any reduction in sentence for a guilty plea • whether the offender is dangerous and if there is a significant risk of harm through the commission of further specified offences • any ancillary orders that are appropriate • the totality of the sentence to ensure it is proportionate to the offending behaviour Mitigation The...

Sentencing Guidelines for Corporate offenders—Money laundering checklist

Sentencing Guidelines for Corporate offenders—Money laundering checklist This Checklist summarises the Sentencing Council’s guidelines for money laundering offences committed by a corporate (Money Laundering Guidelines). The Money Laundering Guidelines can be accessed here: • Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guideline—Corporate offenders: fraud, bribery and money laundering—for use in cases involving corporates being sentenced in the magistrates’ court • Crown Court Sentencing Guideline—Corporate offenders: fraud, bribery and money laundering—for use in cases involving corporates being sentenced in the Crown Court The Sentencing Council also publishes a number of overarching guidelines, which should be considered in respect of all sentencing exercises. These include: • Totality guideline (Crown Court) • Totality guideline (magistrates’ court) • General guideline—overarching principles (Crown Court) • General guideline—overarching principles (magistrates’ court) • Reduction in sentence for a guilty plea (Crown Court) • Reduction in sentence for a guilty plea (magistrates’ court) For more information, see Practice Note: Sentences imposed following conviction. Among these overarching guidelines, the General guideline: overarching principles (the General guideline) is specifically designed...

View the related flowcharts about Penalty

Liquidated damages v penalty clause—checklist

Liquidated damages v penalty clause—checklist As seen in Practice Note: Contract interpretation—distinguishing between liquidated damages and penalty clauses, the task of determining whether or not a liquidated damages clause may be held to be unenforceable as a penalty is not always an easy one. While it will be a matter of construction for the courts in each case, there are a number of factors to consider when analysing the scope of an alleged liquidated damages clause and whether or not it may be susceptible to challenge as a penalty. If drafting a liquidated damages clause, it is essential that you keep these factors in mind in drafting the clause (and its relationship with related clauses). See: • Drafting and negotiating a liquidated damages clause—checklist • Precedent: Liquidated damages clause For specific consideration of how clauses in commercial contracts which provide for ‘default interest’ have been considered in the authorities, see: • Penalty interest rates in commercial contracts • Contract interpretation—distinguishing between liquidated damages and penalty clauses—When might default interest be...

View the related practice notes about Penalty

Contract interpretation—distinguishing between liquidated damages and penalty clauses

This Practice Note considers what liquidated damages clauses are and briefly when and how they are used. It then focuses, in particular, on the court's approach when determining whether a purported liquidated damages clause is, in fact, a penalty and therefore unenforceable; tracing the authorities through to how the question should now be approached in light of the 2015 Supreme Court Makdessi/ParkingEye decision and considering, in particular, issues such as when contractual provisions for accelerated receipt, default interest, or positive incentives may be considered as a penalty. Consideration is also given to whether liquidated damages survive termination and their relationship with partial performance.What is a liquidated damages clause?A liquidated damages clause is a clause whereby the parties to a contract fix in advance a sum of money to be paid by the defaulting party to the innocent party in the event of a breach. The sum payable represents agreed damages (called liquidated damages) and is recoverable without the innocent party needing to prove the actual loss suffered.Liquidated damages clauses can...

The Gambling Commission—compliance and enforcement powers

The Gambling Commission—compliance and enforcement powers Gambling Commission investigations The Gambling Commission (GC) regulates the commercial gambling industry in Great Britain. The GC published a policy statement on Licensing, compliance and enforcement under the Gambling Act 2005 which sets out the GC’s regulatory policies in relation to carrying out compliance activities. The policy is regularly updated and was updated on 21 January 2022. In carrying out its functions, the GC is under a duty to pursue and have regard to the licensing objectives set out in section 1 of the Gambling Act 2005 (GA 2005): • preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder or being used to support crime • ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way, and • protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling Where concerns have been raised about a licensee, the GC may commence an investigation. Where appropriate, in certain specific cases, the GC...

View the related precedents about Penalty

1 Liquidated damages—short form—fixed payment(s) 1.1 If Party A fails to [identify relevant obligation(s) to which the liquidated damages relate(s) as specifically as possible], it will pay to [Party B on demand OR Party B may set off against any sum owed by it to Party A][ for each [insert relevant time period] of failure] a sum of £[insert amount of liquidated damages][, subject to an overall aggregate amount of [insert cap]] as liquidated damages. 1.2 The liquidated damages payment[s] in clause 1.1 [represent[s] a genuine pre-estimate of Party B’s loss and] [do OR does] not impose a detriment on Party A which is disproportionate to the legitimate interests of Party B in the enforcement of the [identify relevant obligation(s) to which the liquidated damages relate(s) as specifically as possible ][and [is OR are] without prejudice to Party A’s obligation to fulfil its obligations under this Agreement if it is reasonably able to do so]. 2 Liquidated damages—short form—percentage payment(s) 2.1 If Party A fails to [identify relevant obligation(s) to which the liquidated damages relates as specifically...

S790D Notice (LLP)—for a legal entity

S790D Notice (LLP)—for a legal entity [Insert date] Dear [insert name of addressee] Register of People with Significant Control—Notice to a legal entity under section 790D of the Companies Act 2006 (the Act) Interests in [LLP] [rights] We know or have reasonable cause to believe that you may be a registrable legal entity, as defined in section 790C of the Act in respect of [LLP]. We therefore require you, pursuant to section 790D of the Act, to provide us, in writing [including by email to the address shown above], within one calendar month of the date of this notice, the following information concerning your interest (within the meaning of Part 21A of the Act), if any, in [LLP]: • Whether or not you are a registrable legal entity within the meaning of this Part of the Act or a legal person to be regarded as an entity under section 790C(12) of the Act; and • If you are such an entity, to confirm...

View the related q&as about Penalty

Could a clause requiring consultants to pay back any shortfall in their billing target be treated as a penalty clause?

Could a clause requiring consultants to pay back any shortfall in their billing target be treated as a penalty clause? This Q&A examines liquidated damages and penalty clauses in the context of the following example scenario: The NHS pays a dental practice a set amount per year for the treatments it provides. If the practice doesn't meet its target, it must pay the shortfall to the NHS. Under the relevant dental consultancy agreement, dentists have an annual treatment target and get paid for each treatment performed. If the contract is terminated early, there is a clause which provides that the practice may require the consultant to pay back any shortfall in their pro-rated treatment target, to the extent that the shortfall has not been performed by any other consultant as at the date of termination. The question is, could a clause requiring consultants to pay back any shortfall in their billing target be treated as a penalty clause? Contractual liquidated damages clauses (a clause where the...

What types of offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA 2002) should lawyers (who are acting in the 'regulated sector' under POCA 2002) and buyers be aware of in M&A transactions? If any such offence is identified as part of the due diligence process, what action should be taken and can this impact the timing of the transaction?

What types of offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA 2002) should lawyers (who are acting in the 'regulated sector' under POCA 2002) and buyers be aware of in M&A transactions? If any such offence is identified as part of the due diligence process, what action should be taken and can this impact the timing of the transaction? Under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA 2002), money laundering is defined as: • concealing, disguising, converting, transferring or removing criminal property out of the jurisdiction • entering into or becoming concerned in an arrangement that facilitates the acquisition, retention, use or control of criminal property, and • acquiring, using or possessing criminal property Money laundering is further defined in the Terrorism Act 2000. It is an offence to enter into or become concerned in an arrangement that facilitates the retention or control by or on behalf of another person of terrorist property: • by concealment • by removal from the jurisdiction • by...

View the related News about Penalty

Navigating the North Sea—NSTA releases new guidance to streamline M&A transactions

Energy analysis: On 8 October 2024, the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) released updated guidance for the assignment of offshore petroleum production licences in the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) (the Guidance). Publication of the Guidance followed a consultation launched on 28 March 2023 inviting industry feedback from licensees, infrastructure owners and potential future investors. The aim of the Guidance is to streamline the period between signing and completion of M&A transactions in the UKCS, reducing potentially costly delays and improving deal certainty, while assisting in the development of a stable regulatory system which encourages investment in both oil and gas and energy transition projects in the UKCS. As background to the Guidance, the NSTA recognises the role M&A plays in the UKCS, which includes the need for ‘new capital, new ideas and new vigour’ to support the central obligation of the ‘OGA Strategy’, to maximise economic recovery of petroleum while assisting the Secretary of State in meeting the net zero target.

What does the Memorandum of Understanding between OFSI and OFAC mean for financial sanctions enforcement?

Corporate Crime analysis: In a bid to strengthen sanctions enforcement, the US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the UK's Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Both authorities share a common mission to combat financial crime and ensure compliance, but they operate under distinct legal frameworks. Notably, the penalties imposed by OFSI remain significantly smaller compared to those imposed by OFAC. It appears that OFSI is seeking to draw insights from OFAC’s approach to enhance its own enforcement strategy. This partnership could signal a tougher stance on sanctions enforcement from OFSI, as well as closer alignment between the US and UK sanctions regimes. However, structural challenges persist within the UK, and without enhanced coordination among UK sanctions authorities, effective enforcement will remain difficult. John Binns, partner, and Magali Sharma, associate, at BCL Solicitors LLP explain the impact this MOU will have on the enforcement of financial sanctions.