ECCTA 2023 and the Crime and Policing Act 2026

The expansion of corporate criminal liability – How ECCTA 2023 and the Crime and Policing Act 2026 will change all businesses.

Samuel Skinner KC will deliver a focused and practical briefing on the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) and the now‑in‑force (as of 29 April 2026) Crime and Policing Act 2026, two legislative milestones that develop the framework of corporate criminal liability. Lawyers advising corporates, boards, regulated professionals, and senior individuals must understand how these reforms will operate.

The session will define the statutory concept of the “senior manager”, now central to corporate attribution. Samuel will explain how this broader test displaces the restrictive “directing mind and will” doctrine, enabling prosecutors to attribute criminal liability to organisations through a wider number of decision‑makers. He will also examine the interaction between attribution reforms and the failure‑to‑prevent offences, highlighting the governance, compliance, and risk‑exposure consequences emerging in practice.

The law has changed, and prosecutors can use these powers today. Lawyers who understand the scope, mechanics, and strategic implications of the new regime will be better placed to protect clients, anticipate investigative approaches, and advise on proactive steps before issues escalate. This is an opportunity to gain clarity, authority, and a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving enforcement landscape.

Top 3 takeaways from the webinar:

• Corporate criminal liability has fundamentally changed: the restrictive “directing mind” test is no longer the sole route to liability—prosecutors can now attribute offences through a far wider group of senior managers.

• The statutory definition of “senior manager” is intentionally broad, including people with significant decision‑making or operational responsibility, regardless of job title or position on the organisational chart.

• The new regime is active now, meaning that organisations must urgently reassess governance, reporting lines, and compliance frameworks to avoid exposure under both attribution reforms and the strengthened failure‑to‑prevent offences.

Who this is for:

Business lawyers who advise on corporate criminal liability.

Level of expertise:

All Levels – this can be picked up throughout anyones professional career regardless of experience

CPD hours:

This webinar provides you with 1 hour of learning.

Attendees will receive a CPD certificate upon completion of this course.

Learning objectives:

• Understand the new statutory framework governing corporate criminal liability under ECCTA and the Crime and Policing Act 2026, including how liability now attaches in practice.
• Interpret and apply the definition of a “senior manager”, recognising how the broadened test expands organisational exposure and alters the prosecutorial landscape.
• Identify practical risk areas and advisory priorities for corporate clients, boards, and individuals, including governance, compliance, and failure‑to‑prevent obligations under the new regime.