Covington & Burling LLP (LexBlog United Kingdom)

On August 27, 2025, the imageboard website 4chan Community Support LLC (“4chan”) and discussion forum Lolcow, LLC (dba “Kiwi Farms”) (together, the “Plaintiffs”)  filed a claim in the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia (“Court”) asking the Court to declare, in effect, that the UK’s Online Safety Act 2023 (“OSA”)...

On 22 July 2025, the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (“MHRA”) published the outcome of its most recent medical device-related consultation.  The MHRA also announced its intention to consult further on the indefinite recognition of CE-marked medical devices in Great Britain, with this consultation expected to take place later in 2025. Background The...

On June 5, 2025, the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”) launched its new AI and biometrics strategy. The strategy aims to increase its scrutiny of AI and biometric technologies focusing on three priority situations, namely where: stakes are high; there is clear public concern for the technology; and regulatory clarity can provide immediate impact. The...

The UK Parliament has passed emergency legislation to enable the government to direct the use of assets of British Steel, and to take control of assets if directions are not followed. The government’s stated intention is “continuing the support of steel production in the UK [which] involves preserving current production capacity to ensure resilience in the...

The UK Parliament has passed emergency legislation to enable the government to direct the use of assets of British Steel, and to take control of assets if directions are not followed. The government’s stated intention is “continuing the support of steel production in the UK [which] involves preserving current production capacity to ensure resilience in...

In November 2024, the UK’s High Court (the “Court”) issued its judgment on the first appeal of a Final Order (“Order”) imposed by the UK government (acting through the Secretary of State) under the UK’s National Security and Investment Act 2021 (the “NSIA”). Under UK public law, decisions such as the Order can only be...

On November 8, 2024, the UK’s communications regulator, the Office of Communications (“Ofcom”) published an open letter to online service providers operating in the UK regarding the Online Safety Act (“OSA”) and generative AI (the “Open Letter”).  In the Open Letter, Ofcom reminds online service providers that generative AI tools, such as chatbots and search...

On 29 January 2025, NHS England (“NHSE”) published an updated Commercial Framework for New Medicines (the “Commercial Framework”). The Commercial Framework, first published in 2021, sets out NHSE’s approach to commercial activity in relation to new branded medicines and is a key document in the UK’s pricing and reimbursement landscape. The Commercial Framework clarifies and...

On 30 January 2025, the UK Government announced the re-launch of the Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway (“ILAP”) for medicines. The ILAP is an “end-to-end” access pathway offering a unique opportunity for a medicine’s developer to engage with: (i) the UK’s medicines regulator – the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (“MHRA”); (ii) England’s HTA...

The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”) recently announced a new online tracking strategy, which aims to ensure a “fair and transparent online world where people are given meaningful control over how they are tracked online.” Online advertising is one of the ICO’s current areas of strategic focus (others areas of focus include AI and children’s privacy). The ICO has...

The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (“MHRA”) is seeking industry feedback on its new draft guideline on individual messenger ribonucleic acid (“mRNA”) cancer immunotherapies (the “Draft Guidance”).  Building on the success of mRNA vaccine technology in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the technology is now being adapted to target diseases such as cancer.  The MHRA aims...

The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (“MHRA”) is seeking industry feedback on its new draft guideline on individual messenger ribonucleic acid (“mRNA”) cancer immunotherapies (the “Draft Guidance”).  Building on the success of mRNA vaccine technology in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the technology is now being adapted to target diseases such as cancer. ...

The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”) recently announced a new online tracking strategy, which aims to ensure a “fair and transparent online world where people are given meaningful control over how they are tracked online.” Online advertising is one of the ICO’s current areas of strategic focus (others areas of focus include AI and children’s...

On 23 January 2025, we hosted the 2025 edition of the Covington European Life Sciences Symposium. The Symposium brought together colleagues from London, Brussels, Frankfurt and Dublin with our industry connections to explore the evolving challenges and opportunities facing the European life sciences sector. Throughout the day our speakers shared their perspectives on a range...

On January 10, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and U.S. Department of State intensified sanctions against Russia with new measures targeting Russia’s energy sector. According to the Treasury Department’s press release, these measures are intended “to fulfill the G7 commitment to reduce Russian revenues from energy” and “substantially increase the sanctions risks associated with the...

Economic Turmoil in the UK The rate on the 10-year benchmark UK government bond has reached levels last seen in 2008. The rate on the 30-year bond stands at a 27-year high. Today, the Government sold £1 billion of bonds at the most expensive terms since 2004 – albeit with apparently good market demand. Sterling...

In case you missed it before the holidays: on 17 December 2024, the UK Government published a consultation on “Copyright and Artificial Intelligence” in which it examines proposals to change the UK’s copyright framework in light of the growth of the artificial intelligence (“AI”) sector.    The Government sets out the following core objectives for a new...

On November 6, 2024, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) released its AI Tools in recruitment audit outcomes report (“Report”). This Report documents the ICO’s findings from a series of consensual audit engagements conducted with AI tool developers and providers. The goal of this process was to assess compliance with data protection law, identify any risks or...

On November 6, 2024, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) released its AI Tools in recruitment audit outcomes report (“Report”). This Report documents the ICO’s findings from a series of consensual audit engagements conducted with AI tool developers and providers. The goal of this process was to assess compliance with data protection law, identify any...

In recent weeks, the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (“MHRA”) has published further guidance relating to the implementation of the Windsor Framework.  From 1 January 2025, changes due to the Windsor Framework for the licensing, labelling and wholesale dealing of human medicinal products in the UK will become effective.  The new measures require,...

Last month we provided an update on the UK Government’s draft post-market surveillance statutory instrument (“PMS SI”) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (“MHRA’s”) intention to run a further public consultation on proposed changes to pre-market medical device regulation under an upcoming statutory instrument (“Pre-Market SI”). On 14 November 2024, the MHRA launched...

Last month we provided an update on the UK Government’s draft post-market surveillance statutory instrument (“PMS SI”) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (“MHRA’s”) intention to run a further public consultation on proposed changes to pre-market medical device regulation under an upcoming statutory instrument (“Pre-Market SI”). On 14 November 2024, the MHRA...

On 21 October 2024, the UK Government laid the draft Post-market Surveillance statutory instrument (“PMS SI”) before Parliament (see the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (“MHRA’s”) press release here).  Once implemented, the PMS SI will further amend the UK’s Medical Devices Regulations 2002 (“UK MDRs”) by introducing new vigilance requirements for medical devices...

On 21 October 2024, the UK Government laid the draft Post-market Surveillance statutory instrument (“PMS SI”) before Parliament (see the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (“MHRA’s”) press release here).  Once implemented, the PMS SI will further amend the UK’s Medical Devices Regulations 2002 (“UK MDRs”) by introducing new vigilance requirements for medical devices already...

The UK Government has announced that it intends to introduce the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill (the “Bill”) to Parliament in 2025. Formally proposed as part of the King’s Speech in July, this Bill is intended to strengthen the UK’s cross-sectoral cyber security legislation to better protect the UK’s economy and infrastructure. This Bill will update the existing NIS...

The UK Government has announced that it intends to introduce the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill (the “Bill”) to Parliament in 2025. Formally proposed as part of the King’s Speech in July, this Bill is intended to strengthen the UK’s cross-sectoral cyber security legislation to better protect the UK’s economy and infrastructure. This Bill will...

This update focuses on how growing quantum sector investment in the UK and US is leading to the development and commercialization of quantum computing technologies with the potential to revolutionize and disrupt key sectors.  This is a fast-growing area that is seeing significant levels of public and private investment activity.  We take a look at...

This update focuses on how growing quantum sector investment in the UK and US is leading to the development and commercialization of quantum computing technologies with the potential to revolutionize and disrupt key sectors.  This is a fast-growing area that is seeing significant levels of public and private investment activity.  We take a look at...

This update focuses on how growing quantum sector investment in the UK and US is leading to the development and commercialization of quantum computing technologies with the potential to revolutionize and disrupt key sectors.  This is a fast-growing area that is seeing significant levels of public and private investment activity.  We take a look at...

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (“DMCC”) Act received Royal Assent on 24 May 2024 (the final text is now available here). The DMCC Act will only enter into force, however, when secondary commencement legislation has been enacted (with some minor exceptions). This is expected to occur in Autumn 2024, but it could be delayed...