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discipline 1 October 2026

The duty in context

AML and crime-prevention compliance profession

The lawyer must comply with anti-money-laundering, proceeds-of-crime, sanctions and crime-prevention legislation and report suspicious transactions to the relevant authorities.

122 cases 58% strike-off avg suspension 10.3 mo avg fine 13,172 24 with dishonesty finding

How the codes express this duty

E&W Solicitors SRA Principles & Code CCS Introduction; CCF Introduction partial 96 cases
In addition to the regulatory requirements set by us in our Codes, Principles and our rules and regulations, we directly monitor and enforce ... provisions relating to anti money laundering and counter terrorist financing, as set out in regulations made by the Treasury as in force from time to time.
E&W Barristers BSB Handbook gC43 partial 3 cases
gC43 Rule rC15.5 acknowledges that your duty of confidentiality is subject to an exception if disclosure is required or permitted by law. For example, you may be obliged to disclose certain matters by the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Disclosure in those circumstances would not amount to a breach of CD6 or Rule rC15.5
Cayman Islands Legal Services Code 2026 R.10.1 strong
An attorney-at-law shall observe and comply with all applicable legislation in respect of crime prevention, including the POCA and the AML Regulations... to prevent crime, including bribery, money laundering, sanctions, terrorist financing and proliferation financing activities.
AU Solicitors Solicitors' Conduct Rules no clear equivalent
AU Barristers Uniform Barristers Rules no clear equivalent
IE Solicitors Law Society Guide Ch9 — Retention or destruction of files; Ch1 — Legislation strong 2 cases
Solicitors are also required to report any suspicious transactions to the Garda Financial Intelligence Unit and Revenue Commissioners... the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010 as amended and the regulations made under these Acts are part of the legislative framework for the regulation of solicitors.
IE Barristers Bar Code of Conduct no clear equivalent
JM Attorneys Canons of Professional Ethics no clear equivalent
JE Lawyers Law Society of Jersey Code G.1.4; G.2.15 partial
A member or a firm must not act if they would be in breach of the law or of the Rules: examples are where money laundering is suspected... The money laundering legislation overrides the duty of confidentiality in certain circumstances. When deciding whether a report needs to be made to the relevant authorities, the firm's money laundering reporting officer (MLRO) will consider the law.
ON Lawyers LSO Rules of Prof. Conduct r 3.2-7 commentary [2] partial
A lawyer should be alert to and avoid unwittingly becoming involved with a client or any other person who is engaged in criminal activity such as mortgage fraud or money laundering. [The substantive AML/client-identification-and-verification obligations are set out in the Law Society's by-laws, not as RPC conduct rules.]
BC Lawyers BC Code r 3.2-7 partial
A lawyer must not engage in any activity that the lawyer knows or ought to know assists in or encourages any dishonesty, crime or fraud.
NZ Lawyers Conduct & Client Care Rules r 10.11 / r 2.4 partial
A lawyer must take all reasonable steps to prevent any person from perpetrating a crime or fraud through the lawyer's law practice. ... A lawyer must not advise a client to engage in conduct that the lawyer knows to be fraudulent or criminal, nor assist any person in an activity that the lawyer knows is fraudulent or criminal.
SCO Solicitors LSS Standards of Conduct no clear equivalent
SG Lawyers Professional Conduct Rules 2015 no clear equivalent
HK Solicitors Solicitors' Guide Principle 5.01 Commentary 6 / Practice Direction P (Principle 8.01 appendix) strong
solicitors must not accept instructions where to do so will involve a breach of law or professional misconduct, e.g. those relating to anti-money laundering ... See Practice Direction P paragraphs 18 to 28 in relation to anti-money laundering. ... any law firm, solicitor or foreign lawyer practising in Hong Kong who fails to comply with the mandatory provisions may face disciplinary proceedings.
HK Barristers Bar Code of Conduct no clear equivalent

Cases dealing with this duty

Clear

122 decisions · link basis: found breached = a tribunal finding; rule cited = the mapped provision is cited in the decision; text match = high-precision text pattern

  • Shashi Patel
    SDT solicitor 12837/2025 2026-06-16 text match

    Breaches, Code of Conduct for Firms 2019, Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, Dishonesty, Lack of Integrity, Money Laundering Regulations, Solicitors Accounts Rules 1998, Solicitors Accounts Rules 2011, …

    Strike off View decision
  • (unnamed)
    SDT solicitor 12683/2024 2026-04-09 text match
    S.44E/ S.46/Paragraph 14C Appeals 1 PDF View decision
  • Gordon Scot Watson
    SSDT solicitor Gordon Scot Watson, 2/1, 1 Briarwood Gardens, Glasgow 2026-02-09 found breached text match
    conditions No Appeal 1 PDF View decision
  • Carter Devile
    SDT solicitor 12597/2024 2026-01-16 found breached text match

    Breaches, Code of Conduct 2011, Code of Conduct for Firms 2019, Money Laundering Regulations, SRA Principles 2011

    Costs only, No Order 1 PDF View decision
  • Rehana Saeed
    SDT solicitor 12597/2024 2026-01-12 text match

    Breaches, Code of Conduct 2011, Money Laundering Regulations, SRA Principles 2011

    Fine 1 PDF View decision
  • Paul Edmund Levy
    SDT solicitor 12739/2025 2025-12-02 found breached text match

    Breaches, Code of Conduct 2011, SRA Principles 2011, SRA Principles 2019

    Fine 1 PDF View decision
  • Paul Simon Green
    SDT solicitor 12774/2025 2025-12-02 text match

    Breaches, Code of Conduct 2007, Dishonesty, SRA Principles 2011

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • (unnamed)
    SDT solicitor 12787/2025 2025-11-18 found breached text match

    Client Money, Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, Money Laundering Regulations, Solicitors' Accounts Rules

    Restoration to the Roll - Refused 1 PDF View decision
  • Stefanie Anne O’Bryen
    SDT solicitor 12611/2024 2025-11-03 found breached text match

    Breaches, Code of Conduct for Firms 2019, Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, Money Laundering Regulations, Solicitors Accounts Rules 2019

    Suspend - Fixed Period 1 PDF View decision
  • (unnamed)
    SDT solicitor 12781/2025 2025-10-06 text match
    Variation of Conditions on Practising Certificate 1 PDF View decision
  • Andrew Wayne Willis
    GLC attorney 146 of 2021 2025-09-22 text match

    Suspended | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered September 22, 2025. || Guilty of Professional Misconduct | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered May 20, 2025. View PDF DECISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF…

    Suspended 1 PDF View decision
  • Rory Peter Heddle Fordyce
    SDT solicitor 12560/2024 2025-07-25 text match

    Breaches, Client Money, Code of Conduct 2011, Money Laundering Regulations, Solicitors Accounts Rules 2011, Solicitors Accounts Rules 2019, SRA Principles 2011, SRA Principles 2019

    Fine 1 PDF View decision
  • William Joseph Harris
    SDT solicitor 12738/2025 2025-07-25 text match

    Breaches, Client Money, Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, Dishonesty, Lack of Integrity, Money Laundering Regulations, Solicitors Accounts Rules 2019, SRA Principles 2011, SRA Principles 2019

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • (unnamed)
    SDT solicitor 12723/2025 2025-07-25 text match
    Restoration to the Roll - Refused 1 PDF View decision
  • Huggins Lewis Foskett
    SDT solicitor 12702/2024 2025-07-14 text match

    Breaches, Code of Conduct 2011, Code of Conduct for Firms 2019, Money Laundering Regulations, SRA Principles 2011, SRA Principles 2019

    Fine 1 PDF View decision
  • Feisal Mohammed Raza Sheikh; Maxim Solicitors Limited
    SDT solicitor 12669/2024 2025-06-19 text match

    Breaches, Code of Conduct 2011, Code of Conduct for Firms 2019, Failures, Money Laundering Regulations, SRA Principles 2011, SRA Principles 2019

    Fine 1 PDF View decision
  • Tolhurst Fisher LLP
    SDT solicitor 12720/2025 2025-05-16 text match

    Breaches, Code of Conduct 2007, Code of Conduct 2011, Money Laundering Regulations, SRA Principles 2011

    Fine 1 PDF View decision
  • Shaune Kerry Irving
    LSC-QLD solicitor Moloney MacCallum Abdelshahied Lawyers 2025-05-03 found breached

    Charges 1, 2 & 3 of disciplinary application 110/24 and 181/24 there is a finding of professional misconduct.

    Struck off 1 PDF View decision
  • Paul Christopher Flaherty; William John Gregory Osmond
    SDT solicitor 12647/2024 2025-04-01 text match

    Breaches, Failures, Misappropriation of Client Account, Money Laundering Regulations, Solicitors Accounts Rules 2011, SRA Principles 2011

    Fine, Suspend - Fixed Period 1 PDF View decision
  • Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
    SDT solicitor 12639/2024 2025-03-21 text match

    Breaches, Code of Conduct 2011, Code of Conduct for Firms 2019, Money Laundering Regulations, SRA Principles 2011, SRA Principles 2019

    Fine 1 PDF View decision
  • Craig Cooper; Erich Kurtz
    SDT solicitor 12594/2024 2025-03-18 text match

    Code of Conduct 2011, SRA Principles 2011

    Allegations not substantiated 1 PDF View decision
  • Jonathan Richard Maurice Gerber
    SDT solicitor 12616/2024 2025-02-24 found breached text match

    Breaches, Failures, Solicitors Accounts Rules 2011, Solicitors Accounts Rules 2019, SRA Principles 2011, SRA Principles 2019

    Fine 1 PDF View decision
  • WGS Solicitors
    SDT solicitor 12616/2024 2025-02-12 text match

    Breaches, Code of Conduct for Firms 2019, Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, SRA Principles 2011, SRA Principles 2019

    Fine 1 PDF View decision
  • Peter Kenneth Felton Gerber
    SDT solicitor 12625/2024 2025-02-12 found breached text match

    Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, Lack of Integrity, Recklessness, SRA Principles 2011, SRA Principles 2019

    Fine 1 PDF View decision
  • Bridget Catherine Miller
    SDT solicitor 12616/2024 2025-02-12 found breached text match

    Breaches, Code of Conduct 2011, Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, SRA Principles 2011, SRA Principles 2019

    Fine 1 PDF View decision

Duty classification does not yet cover every jurisdiction (Ontario, New Zealand and Singapore decisions are indexed but not yet duty-classified), so counts here understate those corpora.