Responding to the news that the Solicitors Regulation Authority is to lose its anti-money laundering responsibilities, with supervision of law firms passed to City watchdog the Financial Conduct Authority, Phil Cotter, CEO of anti-money laundering and digital compliance specialist SmartSearch said it is a ‘wake up call’ to the sector and that the pressure to get compliance right ‘has never been greater’.
“The FCA takeover of AML supervision is a wake-up call for the legal sector: compliance can no longer be treated as a tick-box exercise – it must be embedded, proactive, and risk-based. With over 6,000 firms and 23,000 individuals now moving under FCA oversight, the scale and complexity of this transition cannot be underestimated. Firms should expect greater scrutiny, higher expectations, and zero tolerance for gaps in compliance.
“It’s clear that the UK Government is making the fight against financial crime a national priority. From the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA) to the rollout of digital ID cards, legal and financial firms are firmly in the spotlight. The pressure to get compliance right has never been greater.
“The FCA’s focus on risk-based regulation means businesses must adopt systems that deliver real compliance- not just surface-level processes. SmartSearch helps clients achieve this by running robust AML checks through a single, automated workflow that simplifies onboarding and ensures full due diligence.
“Our mission is to help firms know exactly who they’re doing business with, and to make that process clear, secure, and efficient, so that they can grow their own organisations with confidence. This isn’t just about meeting regulatory requirements—it’s about helping firms win business through trusted identities.
“As a market-leading AML and Digital Compliance solution, trusted by over 3,000 FCA regulated firms— and with more than 800 legal practices—we bring deep experience, proven technology, and powerful partnerships. We work with best of breed data providers such as World-Check, and Dow Jones, and leverage triple-bureau data to deliver the most comprehensive identity verification and screening available.
“In a changing landscape, partnering with SmartSearch is not just the smart choice—it’s the only choice for businesses serious about compliance and tackling the fight against financial crime.”
This article was submitted by SmartSearch as part of an advertising agreement with Today’s Conveyancer. The views expressed in this article are those of the submitter and not those of Today’s Conveyancer.
One Response
What does this mean for us in practice? More audits? More forms?