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
Bell Yard Kysen—Liz Giles
Bell Yard Kysen appoints senior legal PR and ex-government communications adviser, Liz Giles
Clarke Willmott—Lee Edwards
Clarke Willmott boosts Southampton commercial property team with addition of partner Lee Edwards
Lime Solicitors—four promotions
Lime Solicitors announces four promotions
NEWS
The Attorney General, Ellie Reeves KC MP, and Solicitor General, Andy Slaughter KC MP, marked the 25th anniversary of Pro Bono Week by joining lawyers, charities, students and parliamentarians at events celebrating voluntary legal work
A polished legal defence may owe more to artificial intelligence than legal merit—and creditors risk paying the price in delay and expense
Witness evidence can be compromised by AI before a solicitor sees the draft, leaving safeguards focused on authorship incomplete
Should a conviction stand when a later ruling reveals that the law underpinning it was wrong? The answer exposes a clash between finality and justice
The Environment Agency can prosecute offences beyond environmental legislation where proceedings support its statutory functions, the Divisional Court has confirmed
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