Tag: CMRA
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MLRO: From Compliance Gatekeeper to Cultural Architect
The role of the Money Laundering Reporting Officer at a law firm often remains an additional task. It is a thankless, burdensome responsibility tacked onto an already busy fee-earning role. Historically, it was viewed as a “back-office” necessity; a hat to be worn only when a problem arose. Today, that dynamic has shifted. As regulatory…
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Client matter risk assessment: Balancing compliance with conveyancing momentum
I recently joined a roundtable discussion with several MLROs to dive into the evolving world of Client Matter Risk Assessments (CMRAs). The conversation moved quickly past the “tick-box” mentality, focusing instead on how forward-thinking firms are reframing these assessments as continuous strategic assets rather than administrative hurdles. Here are the three biggest takeaways from the…
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Why Client Matter Risk Assessments are the Heart of AML
In the world of AML, lawyers mistake “onboarding” for a simple identity check. But if KYC is the handshake, then the Client Matter Risk Assessment (CMRA) is the deep-dive interview. To build a truly resilient AML compliance framework, law firms must move past basic identification and embrace a structured risk-based approach. Here is how CMRAs…
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The “Set It and Forget It” Client Matter Risk Assessment Trap
In the UK AML landscape, onboarding attracts the attention and transaction monitoring secures the investment. The auditors at Lexsure have noted during Independent AML audits that CMRAs are often completed at the outset but left alone thereafter. If you want to find the true unsung hero of a robust compliance framework firms need to focus…
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December 2025: The SRA’s AML Audit Crackdown Has Arrived
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is intensifying its Anti-Money Laundering (AML) enforcement, conducting a record number of audits ahead of the FCA’s expanded oversight. Firms must prioritize compliance, as deficiencies found can lead to serious consequences. A compliance checklist highlights essential steps to prepare for increased scrutiny and potential fines.