Insights

Washington – April 30, 2026: Crowell & Moring hosted its 27th annual George Bailey Public Service Awards ceremony this month, named after the hero of the classic movie, "It's a Wonderful Life." The awards recognize the firm's lawyers and staff who have made a substantial impact on the lives of others through their pro bono efforts. 

Qatar's financial markets regulator, the Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA), has overhauled the rules governing public company mergers and acquisitions, replacing a decade-old framework with a modernised regime that will reshape how deals are structured, timed, and executed. Here are the headlines:

Introduced to Parliament on 19 May 2026, the Commercial Payments Bill represents a significant reform to payment legislation. Targeting a problem that costs the economy £11 billion per year, the Bill introduces a package of hard-edged protections that businesses cannot avoid through contract.

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (the “Act”) received Royal Assent on 24 May 2024. Its focus is to bolster competition in the UK and ultimately, protect consumers. The Act makes significant changes by introducing new obligations and providing direct enforcement powers to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Businesses will need to be aware of the new changes from the outset and adopt a proactive approach to their implementation, crucially to avoid being subject to unwanted penalties for breaches.