In conversation with Victoria Marshall, Head of Property, Pearson Legal & Financial Advisers
Facebook Linkedin Instagram In conversation with Victoria Marshall, Director and Head of Property at Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers Managing a conveyancing team through the current compliance climate: an interview with Victoria Marshall We recently sat down with Victoria Marshall, Director and Head of Property at Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers, to talk about what […]
Enderley Consulting welcomes Carolyn Beal
Facebook Linkedin Instagram Enderley Consulting welcomes Carolyn Beal to the team We are delighted to share some exciting news for Enderley Consulting and, we hope, for the law firms we work with. We are pleased to welcome Carolyn Beal to the Enderley Consulting team as a consultant, bringing with her specialisms are amongst the most […]
Action required – prepare now for the SRA’s complaints data collection
Facebook Linkedin Instagram Action required – prepare now for the SRA’s complaints data collection Regular readers will recall that we covered the SRA’s complaints questionnaire back in February 2025, when the deadline for submission was fast approaching. That exercise asked firms to provide detailed information about their complaints procedures, staff awareness, training and recording practices. […]
The SRA’s complaints handling consultation – where we are and what it means for your firm
Facebook Linkedin Instagram The SRA’s complaints handling consultation – where we are and what it means for your firm Those who follow Compliance Lifeline closely will know that first-tier complaints handling has been high on the SRA’s regulatory agenda for some time. We covered the original consultation back in June 2025 in some detail. Since […]
What the FCA’s sanctions report means for law firms (even though it isn’t aimed at you – yet)
Facebook Linkedin Instagram What the FCA’s sanctions report means for law firms (even though it isn’t aimed at you – yet) On 28 May 2026, the FCA published its findings from four years of work assessing how financial services firms manage sanctions risk. At first glance, this looks like a financial services story. But the […]
New SRA Supervision Guidance post-Mazur: What’s Changed, and Why Culture Is the Real Test
Facebook Linkedin Instagram New SRA Supervision Guidance post-Mazur: What’s Changed, and Why Culture Is the Real Test On 12 June 2026, the Solicitors Regulation Authority published substantially expanded guidance on effective supervision – growing from nine pages to twenty-four. The update follows the Court of Appeal’s ruling in CILEX v Mazur & Others, a case […]
The SRA’s new whistleblowing designation – what it means for your firm, and why culture is the part that matters most
Facebook Linkedin Instagram The SRA’s new whistleblowing designation – what it means for your firm, and why culture is the part that matters most An easy-to-overlook regulatory change has significant implications for how law firms are run. Here is what you need to know, and what to do about it. On 3 June it was […]
SRA AML Data Collection 2026: What law firms need to do before the deadline
Facebook Linkedin Instagram SRA AML Data Collection 2026: What law firms need to do before the deadline As we reported last month, the SRA’s AML and sanctions data collection form opens on 29 June 2026 – only two weeks away – and returns are required during July. Key takeaways: Completion is a regulatory requirement for […]
SRA AML Fines 2026: What law firms are getting wrong, and how to avoid it
Facebook Linkedin Instagram SRA AML Fines 2026: What law firms are getting wrong, and how to avoid it A recent analysis conducted by Legal Futures revealed that the SRA had fined 59 law firms a combined total of £600,000 for AML breaches in the past six months. Key takeaways: Every firm fined either lacked a […]
SRA Consults on 2026/27 Business Plan
Facebook Linkedin Instagram SRA Consults on 2026/27 Business Plan A significant reset is proposed, but it comes at a cost to solicitors and firms. Here’s what you need to know, and why your response matters. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has opened a consultation on its draft Business Plan and funding requirement for 2026/27, and […]
SRA Launches Annual AML and Sanctions Data Collection Exercise
Facebook Linkedin Instagram SRA Launches Annual AML and Sanctions Data Collection Exercise The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has announced its annual anti-money laundering (AML) and sanctions data collection exercise, which will take place in July 2026. The online form opened on 29 June (available here), and the SRA will contact compliance officers at regulated firms […]
A new era of partnership? What the SRA’s fresh direction means for law firms
Facebook Linkedin Instagram We recently sat down with long-standing friend of Enderley Consulting, Brian Evans, Managing Partner of Lanyon Bowdler and newly appointed Law Society Council Member. Brian shared his impressions from the regulator’s new leadership, and what it might mean in practice. There are moments in professional life when a change in tone feels […]
New SRA misconduct reporting form – old form no longer accepted
Facebook Linkedin Instagram New SRA Misconduct Reporting form – old form no longer accepted The SRA has replaced its misconduct reporting process. A new online form – available here as a Word document download – is now in use for all reports, whether that’s self-reports from firms, concerns raised by members of the public, or […]
The SRA Compliance Officer Thematic Review – Insights, concerns and the way forward
Facebook Linkedin Instagram The SRA Compliance Officer Thematic Review: Insights, concerns and the way forward The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has published their comprehensive findings of a significant thematic review examining how Compliance Officers for Legal Practice (COLPs) and Compliance Officers for Finance and Administration (COFAs) are operating across law firms. The review, based on […]
National Crime Agency’s updated guidance on Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs)
Facebook Linkedin Instagram National Crime Agency updated guidance on Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) In November 2025, the National Crime Agency (NCA) issued updated guidance on Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs), which replaces all previous guidance. The NCA remains clear that SARs are a key intelligence tool in the fight against money laundering, terrorist financing and wider […]
International Fraud Awareness Week: Why law firms must strengthen their defences
Facebook Linkedin Instagram International Fraud Awareness Week: Why law firms must strengthen fraud defences Whilst AML controls and compliance are at the forefront of most COLPs’ and MLROs’ minds, fraud continues to be one of the most disruptive and costly risks facing UK law firms. And while fraud often overlaps with money laundering, fraud risks […]
Celebrating 15 years of supporting law firms
Facebook Linkedin Instagram Celebrating 15 years of supporting law firms This year we’re celebrating 15 years of working with law firms across England, helping them adapt, grow, and thrive in an ever-changing legal world. Over that time, the sector has seen some big shifts, including landmark laws like the Bribery Act 2010 and Equality Act […]
SRA thematic review of source of funds and source of wealth compliance
Facebook Linkedin Instagram SRA thematic review of source of funds and source of wealth compliance On 5 November 2025 Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) published its thematic review of source of funds and wealth compliance. When the Enderley team delivers independent AML audits and AML training to law firms, anxieties over source of funds (SOF) and […]
FCA to assume AML supervision of lawyers – what we know (and don’t know) so far
Facebook Linkedin Instagram FCA to assume AML supervision of lawyers – what we know (and don’t know) so far The ‘big announcement’ during the SRA COLP and COFA Conference in Birmingham last month – that the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) would assume sole responsibility for AML/CTF supervision of all regulated lawyers – sent shock waves […]
HMRC Tax Adviser Registration: New Rules from April 2026
Facebook Linkedin Instagram Tax advisers must register with HMRC and satisfy minimum standards It won’t have escaped the attention of accountancy firms and tax advisers across the land that from 1 April 2026, HMRC will require tax advisers to register and meet minimum standards. With the registration deadline set for 1 April 2026, firms have […]
SRA AML Annual Report 2024–25: Key Insights for COLPs, MLROs & Partners
Facebook Linkedin Instagram SRA AML Annual Report 2024–25: Key Takeaways for COLPs, Partners and MLROs The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has published its Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Annual Report 2024–25, and the findings are essential reading for law firm compliance officers, partners, and MLROs. Despite increased regulatory scrutiny, tougher supervision and record fines, one in three […]
High-volume consumer claims – protecting your law firm from regulatory risk
Facebook Linkedin Instagram High-volume consumer claims – protecting your law firm from regulatory risk The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has made clear that the way the high-volume consumer claims market is operating is causing growing concern, with the potential for real consumer harm and wider damage to public trust in the legal profession. While these […]
Enderley Consulting welcomes Gavin Ball
Facebook Linkedin Instagram Enderley Consulting welcomes Gavin Ball to the team We are delighted at Enderley Consulting to welcome Gavin Ball to the team as a Senior Consultant in Financial Crime. Gavin has 20+ years as a Financial Crime Compliance professional with extensive experience working for top tier Professional Services firms and FTSE 100 organisations. […]
Fraud risk reviews – why are they needed and what are their benefits?
Facebook Linkedin Instagram Fraud risk reviews – why are they needed and what benefits do they provide? A fraud risk review, or fraud risk assessment, is a systematic process of identifying, analysing, and mitigating a firm’s vulnerability to fraudulent activities. It is a critical component of law firm risk management that allows practices to proactively […]
How the new ‘Failure to Prevent Fraud’ offence can apply to small law firms
Facebook Linkedin Instagram The “Failure to Prevent Fraud Offence” – how it can be applied to smaller law firms and SME’s In September 2025, the UK’s new “failure to prevent fraud” offence came into force, holding large organisations criminally liable if they profit from fraud committed by an “associated person”. While smaller firms may not […]
SRA Continuing Competence 2025: Why everyday should be a school day for law firms
Facebook Linkedin Instagram SRA Continuing Competence 2025: Why everyday should be a school day for law firms The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has published its 2025 annual assessment of continuing competence, building on insights from the 2024 report. This latest assessment signals a shift from guidance and encouragement to a more proactive and enforcement-focused approach, […]
SRA AML Sectoral Risk Assessment (2025 Update) – Important wake up call for law firms
Facebook Linkedin Instagram SRA AML Sectoral Risk Assessment (2025 Update): Important wake up call for law firms On 31 July 2025, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) released its latest Sectoral Risk Assessment for Anti-Money Laundering (AML). This follows hot on the heels of the latest National risk assessment of money laundering and terrorist financing 2025 […]
A summer of change…
Facebook Linkedin Instagram A summer of change… Changes are afoot for the Solicitors Regulation Authority. What could this mean for the SRA and the wider legal profession? The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has announced a significant leadership change. Sarah Rapson, currently Executive Director of Supervision at the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), has been appointed as the […]
AML call-to-action – CLC & SRA’s advice on performing a strong Source‑of‑Funds check
Facebook Linkedin Instagram AML Call to Action: CLC & SRA’s advice on performing a Strong Source‑of‑Funds Check The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) and the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) have both sounded fresh warnings that some firms are still doing “just enough to scrape by” when verifying the origin of client money. The CLC’s 27 May 2025 AML alert on […]
National Risk Assessment of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing 2025
Facebook Linkedin Instagram National Risk Assessment of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing 2025 On 17 July 2025, HM Treasury published their National Risk Assessment of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing 2025 This weighty document (163 pages to be exact) evaluates the UK’s exposure to money laundering and terrorist financing threats, helping regulated sectors understand and […]
AI and the regulatory blind spot – AI risk perception in law firms
Facebook Linkedin Instagram AI and the regulatory blind spot – understanding AI risk perception in law firms On 2 July 2025, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) published new research exploring how small firms and sole practitioners (defined as firms with four or fewer partners and a turnover under £400,000) are adopting technology. The report pays […]
Is your law firm ready for the SRA’s 2025 AML data collection?
Facebook Linkedin Instagram Is your firm ready for the SRA’s 2025 AML data collection? Things law firms need to be aware of The SRAs annual AML data collection exercise is more than a regulatory hoop to jump through – it’s a litmus test of your firm’s compliance culture and readiness to prevent economic crime. From […]
SRA launches consultation about first tier complaints process
Facebook Linkedin Instagram SRA launches consultation about first tier complaints process The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has launched a consultation on proposed changes to its rules governing how law firms define and manage first-tier complaints, i.e. those made directly to the firm by clients. While the volume of complaints to law firms has risen in […]
Compliance Lifeline | March 2025
Facebook Linkedin Instagram Compliance Lifeline • March 2025 Hello and welcome to the March edition of Compliance Lifeline. This month we’re talking about a variety of topics that may well be causing you nagging concerns, plus a first-hand account from MLP Solicitors Ltd about the ways in which Enderley Consulting brought about a good night’s […]
Case Study: MLP Law Limited
Facebook Linkedin Instagram Case study: MLP Law Limited Recently, we sat down with Stephen Attree, Managing Partner at MLP Law Limited and client of Enderley Consulting. MLP Law is an ambitious entrepreneurial law firm which has offices in Altrincham, Leeds, Lymm, and Manchester. They provide a full range of legal services through their 25+-strong team […]
Warning about client account residual balances
Facebook Linkedin Instagram Warning about client account residual balances Historic balances are in the news, with an imperative on law firms to clean up client ledgers. At the Law Society Risk and Compliance Conference earlier this month Andrew Blatt, regulatory specialist and director of Murdochs Law, acknowledged that dealing with residual balances is a drain […]
SRA Complaints Questionnaire
Facebook Linkedin Instagram SRA Complaints Questionnaire The SRA have selected 750 law firms at random to complete and return their complaints questionnaire, detailing how the practice identifies and handles client complaints. If selected, firms would have received an email from the SRA on 30 January 2025, however the link to the questionnaire can also be […]
New SRA Guidance on Sham Litigation
Facebook Linkedin Instagram New SRA Guidance on Sham Litigation Last month the SRA published new Guidance on sham litigation. You will find it here. The Guidance explains what the SRA mean by the term ‘sham litigation’ and the tell-tale signs of it, including: unusual client information unusual or unexpected knowledge of law firm processes geographical […]
Compliance Lifeline | February 2025
Facebook Linkedin Instagram Compliance Lifeline • February 2025 We’ve been rather quiet in the last month because we’ve been working behind the scenes on our new website, which we’ve launched this week, just in time to herald the arrival of Spring! We wanted to make it clear with the new website all the ways in […]
COLP and COFA: The requirements of these essential roles in law firms
Facebook Linkedin Instagram COLP and COFA: Understanding SRA requirements of these essential roles in law firms What are COLP and COFA roles? The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) requires every SRA-authorised law firm to appoint two critical compliance officers: a Compliance Officer for Legal Practice (COLP) and a Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration (COFA). These […]
SRA thematic review of probate and estate administration
The SRA Annual Assessment of Continuing Competence 2023 found that probate and estate administration generated the third highest volume of reports to the SRA and complaints to the Legal Ombudsman.
Considerations when buying, merging, or selling a law firm or files
Facebook Linkedin Instagram Mergers, acquisitions and sales of law firms (or files) If you are considering selling or merging your law firm, or acquiring another firm, department, or files, you should take note of the SRA’s recent Warning Notice. In particular, you must put client’s best interests before any commercial considerations. Remember that clients are […]
New fraud and cybercrime courses coming soon
Our essential learning courses will give your team a practical understanding of fraud and cybercrime risks that directly target law firms.
The taxing issue of VAT on disbursements
Facebook Linkedin Instagram The taxing issue of VAT on disbursements In keeping with this month’s theme of accounting matters, VAT on disbursements remains a thorny issue, and in talking to our clients we have detected considerable uncertainty and inconsistency. Some do charge VAT: others don’t. HMRC requires certain criteria to be met if a payment […]
SRA Money Laundering Sectoral Risk Assessment
Facebook Linkedin Instagram SRA Money Laundering Sectoral Risk Assessment The SRA (as supervisor of AML compliance in authorised firms) has recently published its updated money laundering sectoral risk assessment. Drawing on the latest UK Government National Risk Assessment, this document identifies the risks that law firms are most likely to encounter. Why does this matter? […]
SRA Accounts rules: residual balances
Facebook Linkedin Instagram Solicitors Accounts Rules: Residual balances This month we draw attention to SRA Accounts Rule 2.5, which requires firms to return client money as soon as there is no proper reason to hold it. It’s common to have small amounts left at the end of a transaction, i.e. because of late estate realisations […]
Information security and data protection update
Facebook Linkedin Instagram Information security and data protection update Article 42 GDPR provides for the ICO to approve private (and voluntary) certification schemes aimed at processors of personal data. On 13 February the ICO approved ‘the Legal Services Operational Privacy Certification Scheme’ (the acronym is ‘LOCS 23’). Aimed at legal services providers, and also at […]
Companies House update – rate increase and ECCTA reminder
Companies House update: Fee increases and ECCTA reminder As from 1 May 2024 Companies House is increasing its fees – please see the new tariff. It’s really important to send the correct fee, especially on time-critical applications such as the registration of company charges, else Companies House will reject the application and you will have […]
UK sanctions regime comes under increased SRA scrutiny
Facebook Linkedin Instagram UK sanctions regime comes under increased SRA scrutiny With the rapid expansion of the sanctions regime since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine two years ago, sanctions compliance has become a focus of SRA scrutiny. Why do law firms need to have sanctions controls? The sanctions regime applies to: All law firms and to […]
New SRA Guidance on firm-wide sanctions risk assessments
Facebook Linkedin Instagram New Solicitors Regulation Authority guidance on firm-wide sanctions risk Assessments On 23 January 2024 the SRA issued new guidance on firm-wide sanctions risk assessments to identify and mitigate potential risks. This risk assessment should feed into the firm’s sanctions policies, controls and procedures, and fee earners should consult it if needed when […]
New postal address for the Legal Ombudsman
Facebook Linkedin Instagram Change to the Legal Ombudsman’s postal address The Legal Ombudsman PO Box address changed on 22 January to: Legal OmbudsmanPO Box 6167SloughSL1 0EH If you haven’t already done so, you must provide the new address for clients on your: Complaints procedure Website Terms of Business Client care letters By way of […]
Money Laundering Regulations: What is a ‘transaction’?
Money Laundering Regulations: What is a ‘transaction’? In its 2023 model client and matter risk assessment the SRA has included the following question: “Is the matter transactional? Yes ☐ No ☐If no, does the transaction arrange for the movement of funds or assets? Yes ☐ No ☐ “ This prompted a client to ask us […]
Are you ready for an SRA AML Audit?
Facebook Linkedin Instagram Are you ready for an SRA AML audit? The SRA has made no secret of its continued laser focus on monitoring and enforcing anti-money laundering compliance. In the last month alone, six firms we work with have been the subject of SRA AML audits. One had a ‘desktop’ audit’, the others have […]