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Anti-Money Laundering

Abbleys Solicitors (“Abbleys”, “We” or “Us”) is an SRA regulated law firm committed to preventing money laundering, terrorist financing and financial crime. We take our duties seriously and comply with all applicable legislation, including the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017, the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, and all related UK regulatory requirements.

This Anti-Money Laundering ("AML") Policy sets out how we meet our obligations, how we vet clients, and how we monitor and report suspicious activity. All employees and partners of Abbleys must adhere to this policy without exception.

Our Responsibilities

We have a legal obligation to:

  • Conduct appropriate due diligence on all clients and beneficial owners.
  • Assess and document the risk of money laundering or terrorist financing for each matter.
  • Monitor transactions and behaviour throughout the client relationship.
  • Report any knowledge or suspicion of money laundering to the MLRO.
  • Maintain detailed records in accordance with statutory requirements.
  • Ensure staff receive regular AML training.

Client Due Diligence (CDD)

Before entering into a business relationship, we carry out mandatory checks to confirm the identity of our clients. This includes:

  • Verifying identity documents (such as passports or driving licences).
  • Confirming residential addresses using reliable, independent sources.
  • Identifying and verifying beneficial owners for companies and organisations.
  • Assessing the nature and purpose of the proposed instruction.
  • Carrying out enhanced due diligence for higher-risk clients or jurisdictions.

We may require additional information or refuse to act if information is not provided or concerns remain.

Ongoing Monitoring

Throughout the matter, we continue to assess risks and ensure:

  • Transactions are consistent with our understanding of the client and their circumstances.
  • Any unusual or unexpected activity is investigated.
  • Client information is kept up to date.

Suspicious Activity

All staff are required to report any knowledge, suspicion, or reasonable grounds for suspicion of money laundering or terrorist financing. Reports must be made to the firm's Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) without alerting the client.

We are prohibited from “tipping off” clients or disclosing that a report has been made. Breaches of this requirement are a criminal offence.

Record Keeping

We retain AML records in line with statutory and regulatory guidelines. This includes:

  • Copies of identity documents and verification checks.
  • Risk assessments and due diligence records.
  • Details of transactions and audit trails where relevant.
  • Internal reports made to the MLRO.

Training and Compliance

All staff receive regular AML training to ensure they understand their responsibilities, can identify suspicious behaviour, and know how to report concerns correctly. Training frequency and completion are documented as part of our compliance programme.

High-Risk Clients and Enhanced Measures

Where clients are identified as higher risk — such as politically exposed persons (PEPs), clients from high-risk jurisdictions, or complex corporate structures — we apply enhanced due diligence, which may include:

  • Obtaining additional identity or source-of-funds information.
  • Senior management approval before proceeding.
  • More frequent monitoring throughout the relationship.

Refusal or Termination of Instructions

If sufficient due diligence cannot be completed, or if we suspect a client is involved in unlawful activities, we may refuse to act or terminate the relationship in line with our regulatory obligations.

Contact

If you have any queries regarding this AML policy, please contact:

Abbleys Solicitors
Compliance and AML Officer: Thomas Hulme
Email: Admin@abbleys.co.uk
Address: 82 King Street, Manchester, M2 4WQ
Phone: 0161 200 9964

Review of This Policy

This Anti-Money Laundering Policy is reviewed regularly to ensure continued compliance with UK regulations and SRA requirements.