Our specialist lawyers have detailed knowledge of the law and policy relating to money laundering and terrorist financing in the UK and overseas. We frequently advise those subject to investigation and prosecution for substantive money laundering and terrorist financing offences and breaches of preventative compliance obligations; and on the execution of mutual legal assistance requests in support of such investigations and prosecutions. We also represent individuals and businesses who are subject to administrative seizure, freezing and forfeiture of cash, ‘listed items’ and bank accounts.

Our clients include the full range of regulated businesses in the financial and professional service industries, as well as high value traders, art market participants and governments.

We also provide a wide variety of compliance-related advice and assistance, helping our clients understand and comply with their obligations under the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorist Financing (CTF) regimes. This includes assistance with Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) including requests for a defence against money laundering (DAMLs) and/or terrorist financing (DATFs), related prohibitions on ‘tipping-off’ and prejudicing investigations, as well as the design and evaluation of internal policies, procedures, systems and controls.

Where a company suspects a breach may already have occurred, we can conduct an internal investigation and advise on remediation and mitigation.

Our advice is always based on and informed by our deep understanding of the practical obstacles clients face in everyday business, during the course of an investigation and how any allegations of breaches may ultimately play out in court. We help our clients take proactive steps to avoid potentially costly civil and criminal litigation in connection with disclosure, as well as reputational damage.