A LAWYER has appeared in the Magistrate’s Court to face 38 charges involving the alleged criminal and fraudulent use of more than £100,000 of client money. Centenier Shirley Madden said that 29 of the 38 offences were allegedly committed between 24 September 2008 and 25 November 2010. Those 29 allegations relating to the alleged use […]

A 2014 (October) guide produced by the International Bar Association (IBA) in conjunction with the American Bar Association (ABA) and the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) aims to give lawyers around the world new clarity on the issues around and practical guidance in detecting and preventing money laundering. The guide – […]

The country’s top fraud fighter is on the offensive. David Green, QC, has already stated that the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is at a “pivotal time” and, more significantly, that it has its “mojo” back. Now the SFO director is targeting lawyers over legal professional privilege. Companies, he says, are obstructing investigations by hiding behind […]

SRA v Kamran Malik Summary: The Respondent was convicted of multiple counts of conspiracy to conceal/disguise/convert/transfer/remove criminal property in a ‘well-planned and systematic multi-million pound fraud against a number of financial institutions’ which the Respondent carried out with another person. The total sum generated by the fraud was £1,736,000. On 6 February 2014 the Respondent […]

The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal involving breaches of anti-money laundering requirements has recorded the following cases. SRA v Kamran Malik Summary: The Respondent was convicted of multiple counts of conspiracy to conceal/disguise/convert/transfer/remove criminal property in a ‘well-planned and systematic multi-million pound fraud against a number of financial institutions’ which the Respondent carried out with another person. […]

The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal involving breaches of anti-money laundering requirements has recorded the following cases. SRA v Michael Gerald Dotchon Summary: The Respondent witnessed signatures on a transfer document of two people he had never met or identified as the true owners of the property.. After completion, he realised that the sale was a false […]

A ruling  by England’s senior family judge in  2003 reveals a new hazard of getting divorced – that your solicitor or your soon-to-be-ex’s lawyer will shop you to the authorities for not paying all your taxes. Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss confirmed that barristers and solicitors negotiating divorce settlements risk committing a criminal offence if they fail […]

A report produced by the Financial Action Task Force (“FATF”) – the intergovernmental body recognised as the standard bearer when it comes to anti-money laundering (“AML”) and counter-terrorist financing (“CTF”) – has highlighted how law firms are the ideal conduits by which criminals seek to, and do, launder money and finance terrorism. Replete with quite […]