From 1 February 2026, Companies House will introduce a new fee structure across a wide range of services. According to the official announcement, these updates are part of an annual review designed to ensure fees accurately reflect the cost of… Read More »Companies House Fees Are Changing from 1 February 2026
The conveyancing sector is in uproar following UK Finance’s decision to introduce new access requirements—and a forthcoming fee—for its updated Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook platform. The move has triggered strong criticism from solicitors, conveyancers, and professional bodies, many of whom argue… Read More »UK Finance Faces Backlash Over Changes to the Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook
On 4 December 2025, the European Commission announced an update to its list of high-risk third countries under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing (AML/CFT) framework. This update, effective 29 January 2026, aligns with recent decisions by the Financial Action… Read More »EU Updates High-Risk Third Countries List
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) has raised serious concerns about the government’s proposals to overhaul anti-money laundering (AML) supervision in the legal sector. The warning comes as plans emerge for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to take on AML regulation… Read More »Law Firms Warned of AML ‘Double Jeopardy’ Risk Under New Regulatory Plans
Historically, HRTCs were defined by the European Union. Following Brexit, the UK adopted its own list under Schedule 3ZA of the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 (MLR 2017). This changed on 22 January 2024, when the definition was updated to align… Read More »Updated SRA Guidance on High-Risk Third Countries
A small but significant pair of amendments have been introduced to strengthen the UK’s anti-money laundering framework. These changes were implemented via Schedule 2 of the ECCTA 2023 (Consequential, Incidental and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2025 and are now live here.… Read More »Important changes to the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 – effective 18 November 2025
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has provided guidance to help firms understand their obligations when it comes to conducting litigation. This is an area where confusion often arises, particularly around the distinction between supporting litigation and conducting litigation. Here’s what… Read More »Conducting Litigation: Practical Steps for Compliance following the Mazur judgment
When handling client funds, you may encounter situations where continuing an activity could risk committing a money laundering or terrorist financing offence. In these cases, UK law allows you to request a defence—commonly known as “consent”—from the UK Financial Intelligence… Read More »DAMLs and DATFs: What Law Firms Need to Know About Defence Requests
Submitting Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) is a critical part of anti-money laundering (AML) compliance. The UK Financial Intelligence Unit (UKFIU), part of the National Crime Agency (NCA), is the only body authorised to receive SARs. Here’s what small firms need… Read More »Understanding SAR Guidance: What Every Law Firm Needs to Know
If your firm handles anti-money laundering (AML) compliance, you’ll need to use the SAR Portal—the UKFIU’s secure platform for submitting Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs). It replaces the old SAR Online system, so even if you had an account before, you… Read More »Registering for the SAR Portal: A Quick Guide for Busy Law Firms