Legal Services

Seven people have been arrested by fraud investigators as part of a criminal investigation into collapsed law firm Axiom Ince and around £66 million of missing client money.

https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/uk-news/2023/11/14/seven-arrested-as-sfo-launches-probe-into-suspected-fraud-at-law-firm-axiom-ince/

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act gives Companies House a huge range of new powers to help disrupt economic crime and increase trust in the companies register in the biggest upgrade of its service in close to 180 years.

https://www.solicitorsjournal.com/sjarticle/robust-laws-passed-to-fight-corruption-money-laundering-and-fraud

A devout Christian solicitor who stole £1.85 million from his clients' accounts, in a bid to chase a Spanish lottery winnings he had been scammed into believing he'd won, has been jailed for four years.

Hugh Lansdell, 74, was a senior partner at Norfolk firm Hansells when he stole the money between 2015 and 2017.

The disgraced solicitor believed 'God had answered his prayers' when he received a letter saying he was in line for £825,000 jackpot, but could only receive the winnings after making a £41,000 payment for 'non-resident tax'.

A former solicitor who defrauded clients at his firm of almost £2 million has been jailed.

Hugh Lansdell, 74, was today (22 September 2023) sentenced to four years imprisonment at Norwich Crown Court for committing fraud by abuse of position over almost a two-year period.

Legal professional privilege should not apply in a case where there is a “very good arguable case” that a client used global firm DLA Piper’s services to assist a fraud, the High Court has ruled.

https://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/high-court-removes-privilege-in-fraud-claim-involving-top-law-firm

The cost-of-living crisis is encouraging “opportunistic” personal injury fraud, with “professional enablers” designing “cynical ‘conveyor belt’ processes” to maximise fake or exaggerated injuries, according to a leading law firm.

https://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/professional-enablers-fuelling-opportunistic-personal-injury-fraud

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) reported transactions potentially involving money laundering worth over £75m to the National Crime Agency (NCA) in the last financial year.

Small firms dominated once again, with 70% of the 24 suspicious activity reports (SARs) sent by the SRA to law enforcement involving sole practices or law firms with 10 or fewer fee-earners, and the majority relating to conveyancing.

https://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/small-firms-at-heart-of-aml-reports-made-by-sra

A ban on UK lawyers providing ‘legal advisory services’ to Russians comes into force today as the government ratchets up sanctions following the Ukraine invasion yet further.

https://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/ban-on-providing-legal-advisory-services-to-russians-comes-into-force

A solicitor who complained to his bank about a missing transfer of £189,000 has been struck off because the money was never there and he faked various documents to back up his case.

https://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/solicitor-struck-off-for-deception-over-money-that-was-never-missing

Changes are coming for businesses that deal with services that are a high fraud risk, meaning law firms are one of the most affected industries. Following the government’s announcements of the impending ‘failure to prevent fraud’ offence amendment to the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill, the time to prepare is now.

https://www.legalfutures.co.uk/blog/how-are-you-preparing-for-the-incoming-failure-to-prevent-fraud-offence