LEXLAW Solicitors & Barristers
From outdated statute to FCA rulebook: the Consumer Credit Act 1974 is facing its most significant overhaul in fifty years. Automatic sanctions that have protected borrowers for decades are proposed for repeal, voluntary termination rights hang in the balance, and the window to enforce existing statutory protections is closing. Here is what every borrower needs to know before the law changes.
Growing scrutiny of regulatory oversight has reignited claims that small businesses were exposed to hidden liabilities through complex lending structures, raising significant legal questions around misrepresentation, regulatory accountability, and SME redress.
Unpaid invoices and bad debts cost UK businesses billions each year. This comprehensive 2026 guide explains every stage of commercial debt recovery in England and Wales, from pre-action letters and court proceedings to statutory demands, winding-up petitions, and judgment enforcement, with relevant case law and practical strategic advice.
Thousands of UK businesses were mis-sold complex interest rate hedging products (IRHPs) by major banks between 2001 and 2012. While the FCA’s formal review scheme has closed, significant routes to redress remain open in 2026, particularly for victims of hidden swaps, LIBOR manipulation, and professional negligence. This article explains who can still claim, why time is critical, and what a specialist solicitor can recover for you.
The Court of Appeal in London International Exhibition Centre plc v Allianz & Ors [2024] EWCA Civ 1026 upheld the High Court’s ruling that policyholders can recover COVID-19 business interruption losses under “at the premises” disease wordings, holding that each case of COVID-19 at the insured premises formed part of the concurrent cause of national closure orders.
Real Estate Tycoon, Tchenguiz challenged the £6.5 million claim by IG Index Limited over spread-betting debt but court upheld the claimant’s position. The ruling implicates critical precedent for financial instruments, spread betting, statutory interpretation of financial regulations.
An Account Freezing Order (AFO) is a UK court order that restricts access to funds in bank accounts suspected of involvement in criminal activity. Certain organisations such as the NCA, SFO or HMRC must show reasonable suspicion that the money is linked to criminal activity. They can apply for an AFO at a Magistrates’ Court. These orders, lasting up to two years, freeze the account, preventing any transactions without court approval. To protect their legal rights and assets, businesses and individuals facing an AFO can challenge or seek variation through legal representation.
UK financial institutions have been selling interest rate swaps and fixed-rate loans without fully disclosing the risks and contingent liabilities involved, leading to substantial liabilities for customers. Lexlaw, a law firm specialising in hidden derivatives litigation, advises on legal action for SMEs and individuals affected by mis-selling. They guide clients through obtaining redress, often achieving out-of-court settlements with banks and insurers eager to avoid precedent-setting judgments. Lexlaw provides a step-by-step guide for those suspecting they’ve been mis-sold financial products, encouraging prompt legal advice to meet claim deadlines.
Following lifting of government lockdowns during the pandemic, enforcement action including bailiffs attending properties can now resume. There may also be changes to debt recovery legislation which protective measures were brought in during the pandemic to prevent aggressive debt recovery action from debtors affected by coronavirus. If you have received a county court judgment against you or your company, get in touch with our litigation team as soon as possible.
The Court of Appeal recently analysed a swap mis-selling complaint submitted by the Claimant under the FCA Dispute Resolution scheme (“DISP”), which complaint would stop time running for the purposes of a making a complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (“FOS”).