New legislation to tackle money laundering and other financial fraud came into force last week in the shape of the Criminal Finances Act 2017, but how effective will it be? Writing in NLJ this week, Jonathan Fisher QC and Anita Clifford cast a critical eye over the new arrangements, highlighting the practical impact on lawyers, estate agents and financial sector professionals. Two significant changes are the new ability to share suspicions between regulated persons and for a court to extend the ‘no action’ period when a Suspicious Activity Report—but how this will work in practice is uncertain (see Suspicions, privacy & money laundering).
20 October 2017
Suspicions, privacy & money laundering
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Withers—Sophie Barrett-Brown
Withers drives further growth in its UK immigration team with new partner Sophie Barrett-Brown
Venus Legal—Esther Amoako
Venus Legal invests in next generation of legal talent as specialist litigation practice grows
Fisher Phillips—Catrina Smith
Fisher Phillips continues momentum in London with arrival of Catrina Smith
NEWS
Restrictions on workplace non-disclosure agreements could make settlements slower, more complex and more expensive when reforms expected in 2027 take effect
Private prosecutors face closer scrutiny under Crown Prosecution Service guidance designed to strengthen accountability and consistency when intervention is requested
Foreign states cannot necessarily claim immunity for cyber operations launched abroad against computers in Britain, following a divided Supreme Court ruling
Defendants who make unsupported complaints about their lawyers risk losing legal aid while confiscation proceedings continue without representation
Lawyers advising Russian clients face different sanctions restrictions across the UK, EU and US, despite their shared objective of increasing pressure on Russia
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