New compliance requirements are coming

From 1 July 2026, Australian law firms will be subject to new Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) obligations.

As a result, when engaging our services, you may be asked to provide additional information and documentation to verify your identity, ownership structures, and, in some cases, the source of funds involved in a transaction.

We understand that these requirements may be new for many clients. We are committed to making the process as straightforward, efficient and secure as possible.

Our AML/CTF obligations

The AML/CTF regime is designed to help prevent criminals from using professional services to facilitate money laundering, terrorism financing and other serious financial crimes.

Under the new legislation, we will be required to undertake certain checks before providing designated legal services. Depending on the nature of the matter, this may include:

• verifying the identity of our clients;
• understanding who owns or controls an entity we act for;
• confirming the purpose and nature of a transaction or matter;
• assessing potential money laundering and terrorism financing risks; and
• maintaining records that demonstrate compliance with our legal obligations.

The level of information we request will depend on the circumstances of the matter and the associated risk profile. In most cases, the process will be straightforward and completed quickly.

Why these checks are important

Money laundering remains a significant challenge in Australia and is often linked to serious criminal activity, including:

• drug trafficking;
• human exploitation;
• terrorism financing; and
• large-scale financial fraud.

By implementing robust AML/CTF procedures, law firms play an important role in helping to protect the integrity of Australia’s financial and legal systems.

These measures not only support compliance with the law but also help safeguard our clients, our profession and the broader community.

Which matters are most likely to be affected?

While AML/CTF obligations may apply across a range of legal services, clients are more likely to experience additional verification requirements in matters involving:

• property and conveyancing transactions;
• corporate and commercial transactions;
• trusts and self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs);
• handling of client funds; and
• complex ownership or entity structures.

What to expect

Our AML/CTF process has been designed to be clear, secure and efficient.

Step 1 – Provide your information

We will ask you to provide basic identification details and any relevant supporting documents.

Step 2 – Verification

We will securely verify identity and ownership information using approved verification processes and systems.

Step 3 – Additional information (if required)

If further documentation or clarification is needed, we will contact you promptly.

Step 4 – Risk assessment and review

We will assess the matter and complete the checks required under the AML/CTF regime.

Step 5 – Proceeding with your matter

Once the required checks have been completed, we can proceed with providing the relevant legal services.

Information we may request

Depending on the nature of your matter, we may ask you to provide:

• identification documents;
• details of individuals who own or control an entity, including beneficial owners and controlling persons;
• information about a transaction, including the purpose of the transaction and the source of funds; and
• updated information if circumstances change during the course of the engagement.

We will only request information that is reasonably necessary to satisfy our legal and regulatory obligations.

How you can help avoid delays

To help us commence work on your matter as quickly as possible, we encourage you to:

• allow additional time for onboarding and compliance checks, particularly in time-sensitive transactions;
• have identification documents readily available; and
• respond promptly to requests for information.

In some cases, we may contact clients before 1 July 2026 to complete verification requirements in advance and minimise delays once the new regime commences.

Protecting your information

We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling personal information responsibly.

Any information you provide will be managed in accordance with:

• Australian privacy laws;
• our professional duties of confidentiality; and
• applicable AML/CTF regulatory requirements.

Your information will be used solely for identity verification, compliance and client onboarding purposes. We do not sell, trade or share client information for marketing purposes.

All personal information and supporting documents are stored securely, protected by appropriate technical and organisational safeguards, and accessible only to authorised personnel.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the new AML/CTF requirements or the information we may request, please contact us on 4254 5222. We are happy to assist.