The Property Lawyers Alliance (PLA) has launched a new national campaign urging reform of the current Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regime, which it argues is placing an unsustainable burden on conveyancers and wider legal services.

According to the PLA, excessive AML red tape is not only frustrating the homebuying process but also forcing lawyers to act as de facto forensic accountants—a role they are not trained for and which detracts from their core legal responsibilities.

The campaign follows the PLA’s high-profile involvement in challenging the introduction of the TA6 (5th edition) form without prior consultation, an issue that gained significant traction within the profession and led to positive change for conveyancers nationwide.

Past SLS President Dawn Lawson is a member of the PLA steering group and has highlighted the importance of engaging the profession in this next phase of advocacy. She has asked whether we might share the PLA’s briefing note with Surrey Law Society members to gather feedback.

Given that some of our member firms have already been impacted by AML-related fines, we know this is a live concern for many. We invite you to read the campaign overview and share your views with us.

📄 Learn more:

Read the Briefing for Local Law Societies Here – Briefing for local law societies 30 May 2025
More information here

📬 To share feedback, please contact Dawn Lawson at d.lawson@nmd-law.com, who particularly wants to hear from you on the following points:

• Do you feel the current AML regulatory requirements are clear?
• Do you feel the current sanctions and in particular SRA fines being administered are proportionate?
• Do you feel the burden of AML regulations should be shared between solicitors and others such as UK financial institutions and, if funds are received from a UK account, that should be sufficient evidence for a property lawyer undertaking AML?
• If AML responsibilities were shared as per the  preceding question do you feel this would speed up conveyancing transactions?