Anti money laundering - our obligations
Government regulations mean all new clients are asked to prove who they are, with a photographic ID document. This is called ‘client due diligence.’ It does not mean you are under suspicion but is part of our legal obligations to keep the UK safe from financial crime. We will also need to re-check if we have not taken instructions from you for some time.
You will notice when instructing us for the first time we will need to collect some information about you. As you would probably expect, this helps us to provide a service and meet your needs.
We also have legal and professional obligations. This helps to maintain the trustworthiness and integrity of the legal profession in the UK, and the service we provide to our clients.
Client Due Diligence means finding out who our customers are. We are obliged to check clients’ name, address and date of birth, using photographic identity documents and proof of residential address. This usually means a photo ID such as a passport or driving licence. This also means that we do not accept cash payments.
We may need to repeat this request to you if we have not taken instructions from you for some time, or from time to time during our work from you. This is part of us providing a service you can trust and forms part of our anti money laundering obligations.
We also do not participate in specified regulated activities including:
• Advice about tax affairs
• Real or financial property transactions
• Opening or managing a bank account, including client accounts.
• Creating, operating or managing trusts, companies or similar structures.
Checking your details does not mean you are under suspicion, it is an obligatory requirement placed on us and applies to all clients.
Let us know if you require further information. We are happy to provide a leaflet explaining more.