Mike Lynch, the co-founder of Autonomy who was once hailed as Britain's answer to Bill Gates, has lost an appeal against his extradition to the US to face criminal charges in connection with Hewlett-Packard Enterprise's $11 billion acquisition of his software company.
The High Court in London rejected Lynch's appeal on Friday, marking the latest chapter in a legal saga that began shortly after the 2011 sale of Autonomy to HP.
Lynch faces 17 US charges over the 2011 takeover, which was one of Britain's biggest technology deals. He denies any wrongdoing.
In January 2022, Britain's Home Secretary approved Lynch's extradition to the US.
Lynch's lawyers had argued that he should be prosecuted in Britain, where the Serious Fraud Office has reserved the right to prosecute him if he is not extradited.
However, lawyers representing the US government countered that there was no reason to block the extradition, stating that the SFO had ceded jurisdiction to US prosecutors.
High Court judges Clive Lewis and Julian Knowles ruled against Lynch, writing in their decision: “We are unpersuaded there is anything in this ground of appeal. None of the grounds of appeal are arguable.”
The legal saga began after the 2011 sale of Lynch's Autonomy to HP, a Silicon Valley hardware company.
A year after the acquisition, Hewlett Packard wrote down the value of the deal by $8.8 billion.
Following a separate court judgment, Lynch was found to be dishonest in the sale of his company.
Lynch, who denies all charges, had maintained that the case belonged in the UK and could have been fully investigated by British authorities.
His representatives did not immediately respond to calls and emails requesting a comment.
Legal expert Samantha Walker said: “The High Court's decision is a significant blow to Lynch and his legal team, as it signals the UK's willingness to co-operate with US authorities in high-profile cases like this.
“It will be interesting to see how Lynch's case will progress from here, as it highlights the complexities of cross-border investigations and the challenges of determining the appropriate jurisdiction for prosecution.”
As Lynch awaits further developments in his case, experts continue to analyse the implications of this decision for other high-profile individuals facing similar legal battles.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Walls
Louis Tomlinson
3 out of 5 stars
(Syco Music/Arista Records)
In numbers
1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:
- 800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
- 150 tonnes to landfill
- 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal
800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal
Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year
25 staff on site
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The biog
Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi
Age: 23
How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them
Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need
Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman
Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs
Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing
