Law Soc slams report branding solicitors “corruption enablers”

The Law Society has condemned a report from the National Crime Agency (NCA) that identifies money-laundering as a major threat and describes solicitors as “crucial to the laundering of illicit funds”.

As reported in the Law Gazette, the report states that solicitors and accountants enable corruption by companies and individuals through a “perceived respectability and integrity”. Robert Bourns, president of the Law Society, rejected the claims and said: “Solicitors face arguably the strictest anti-money laundering regime in the world. [We are] subject to aggressive criminal penalties for even unwitting involvement in money laundering and professional sanctions should they act illegally.”

He went on: “The Law Society and the solicitor profession have provided, and will continue to provide, the NCA with the help it needs to combat bribery and corruption. It is disappointing that this report failed to acknowledge this.”