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ECCTA 2023 reforms at Companies House

06 March 2024
Issue: 8062 / Categories: Legal News , Commercial , Company
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Stronger checks on company names are being carried out from this week, as the first measures under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA 2023) come into force

From 4 March, Companies House has greater powers to query information and request supporting evidence, tackle and remove factually inaccurate information, and share data with government departments and law enforcement agencies. Companies must supply a registered email address and can no longer use a PO Box as their registered office address.

Also from this week, anyone forming a company must confirm they are doing so for a ’lawful purpose’ and that future activities will be lawful.

Companies House CEO Louise Smyth said: ‘These new and enhanced powers are the most significant change for Companies House in our 180-year history. We are prioritising cases where people’s names and addresses have been used without their consent.’

ECCTA 2023 will have a phased roll out. Future reforms include identity verification and a requirement to submit profit and loss accounts. 

MOVERS & SHAKERS

1 Hare Court—Peter Mitchell KC & Amber Sheridan

1 Hare Court—Peter Mitchell KC & Amber Sheridan

Leading family law set strengthens ranks with high-profile additions

Thackray Williams—Jennifer Nicol

Thackray Williams—Jennifer Nicol

Firm bolsters commercial team with senior employment partner hire

Irwin Mitchell—Vijay Bange

Irwin Mitchell—Vijay Bange

Head of construction and engineering team appointed

NEWS
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In his latest Civil Way column for NLJ, Stephen Gold surveys a raft of procedural changes and quirky disputes shaping civil practice. His message is clear: civil practitioners must brace for continual tweaks, unexpected contentions and rising costs in everyday litigation
Barbara Mills KC, chair of the Bar 2025 and joint head of chambers at 4PB, sets out in this week's NLJ how the profession will respond to Baroness Harriet Harman KC’s review into bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct at the Bar
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