Primarily due to the uptick in SRA AML Audits, Regulatory Settlement Agreements have emerged as a vital tool for resolving disciplinary matters efficiently. While every legal mechanism has its drawbacks, the professional benefits of a well-executed Regulatory Settlement Agreement
About Conveyancing
About Conveyancing, published by Simon Seaton, focuses on legal issues surrounding conveyancing with a particular emphasis on anti-money laundering (AML) compliance within property transactions. The blog covers regulatory requirements for law firms, including client due diligence, risk assessments, and the role of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in enforcing AML standards. It discusses the challenges law firms face in maintaining compliance, the importance of independent AML audits, and the consequences of regulatory breaches such as fines and investigations. The content also addresses the impact of market conditions on compliance practices and offers guidance on managing AML risks effectively in conveyancing.
Latest from About Conveyancing - Page 5
Post Completion Risks in Conveyancing
The post completion stage of conveyancing is facing unprecedented scrutiny as HM Land Registry continues it’s transition from private feedback to public transparency. New data from HMLR highlights a significant divide in application quality across the legal sector. While the…
From SRA to FCA: Is Your Firm Ready for the 2026 Supervisory Shift?
The transition to the FCA as the Single Professional Services Supervisor marks the end of “tick-box” compliance for the legal sector. As the regulator moves from a periodic review model to a proactive, data-led enforcement stance, many firms are discovering…
The FCA AML Audit: Are Conveyancing Firms Ready?
For the last five years, law firms have been accustomed to the SRA’s oversight. But the transition to the FCA marks a shift from “assisted compliance” to a high-stakes, data-driven enforcement model. The FCA brings with it a “financial services”…
How to Check if a Solicitor is on a Lender’s Panel (And Why it Matters)
Why ‘Small’ Conveyancing Errors are Costing Firms Thousands
The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) recently released its latest Public Interest Decisions, and for conveyancers, the message is clear: the Ombudsman is not just looking for “adequate” service, they are penalising systemic failures in conveyancing risk management.
Two specific cases,…
The “FCA Effect”: Why Regulation 21 Independent AML Audits are No Longer Optional
For years, many UK law firms viewed Anti-Money Laundering compliance as a “lawyer-led” exercise, principled, interpretive, and often collaborative with supervisors like the SRA or CLC. However, the ground has shifted.
With the recent announcement that the Financial Conduct Authority…
Why the CLC is Telling the LSB to “Focus on the Big Picture”
In the world of legal regulation, there is a fine line between “oversight” and “overreach.” According to the Council for Licensed Conveyancers, that line is currently being blurred.
In a candid response to the Legal Services Board’s latest draft business…
The FCA’s High-Stakes AML Takeover of the Legal Sector
The transition from SRA to FCA oversight for AML represents an “architectural reset” of the UK legal regulatory climate. While the 2017 Regulations remain unchanged, the move to a “Single Professional Services Supervisor” replaces the SRA’s collaborative, guidance-based approach with…
Renters’ Rights Act 2026: Proactive Steps
With the Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 now published, conveyancers have a unique window to add value to their clients and future-proof their own precedents.
The goal is simple: ensure your Buy-to-Let (BTL) clients are compliant by the…
