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Anti-Money Laundering (AML) for Lawyers Training Course

Equips lawyers to assess AML risks, conduct client due diligence and sanctions screening, and meet reporting, recordkeeping and ethical obligations.

CAF · Compliance, AML & Financial CrimeAll Levels#3061ClassroomEnglish , Arabic
Duration
5 Days
Download BrochureView Upcoming Dates

Free substitution at any time · 30+ days' notice: full refund minus 10%. Cancellation policy

Course Overview

The Anti-Money Laundering (AML) for Lawyers Training Course equips legal professionals with the knowledge and practical skills to identify, assess, and manage money laundering risks arising from legal services and client transactions. It examines the legal frameworks governing AML compliance and the responsibilities of lawyers in preventing the misuse of legal structures, financial arrangements, and professional services for illicit purposes. The course focuses on risk-based client due diligence, beneficial ownership verification, source of funds and source of wealth assessments, politically exposed persons (PEPs), sanctions screening, and suspicious transaction indicators. It explores AML risks in company formation, mergers and acquisitions, real estate transactions, trusts, corporate restructuring, and cross-border business arrangements. Through practical legal case studies, participants will develop approaches to documenting client assessments, escalating concerns, fulfilling applicable reporting obligations, and maintaining appropriate compliance records. Particular attention is given to the relationship between AML requirements, legal professional privilege, client confidentiality, and ethical responsibilities under the relevant jurisdiction's legal and regulatory framework.

Learning Objectives

  • Explain the principles, stages, and techniques associated with money laundering and related financial crimes.
  • Identify the AML legislation, regulatory requirements, and professional obligations applicable to legal practitioners.
  • Apply risk-based client acceptance procedures and customer due diligence (CDD) measures.
  • Verify beneficial ownership and assess risks associated with complex corporate and trust structures.
  • Evaluate source of funds and source of wealth information in higher-risk client relationships and transactions.
  • Recognize suspicious indicators in real estate, corporate, financial, and cross-border legal matters.
  • Assess risks involving politically exposed persons, sanctions exposure, and high-risk jurisdictions.
  • Determine appropriate escalation and reporting steps when suspicious activity is identified.
  • Distinguish AML obligations from legal professional privilege, confidentiality, and ethical duties.
  • Strengthen AML controls, documentation standards, and compliance procedures within legal practices.

Who Should Attend

Practising lawyers, legal consultants, and legal advisers. Partners, associates, and senior professionals in law firms. In-house counsel and corporate legal department teams. Lawyers handling mergers and acquisitions, company formation, and corporate restructuring. Real estate lawyers and conveyancing professionals. Legal advisers working in banking, finance, investment, and commercial transactions. Trust and estate practitioners involved in trusts, foundations, and asset management arrangements. Compliance lawyers and professionals supporting AML, sanctions, and financial crime investigations. Legal risk managers and professionals responsible for regulatory compliance and professional standards. Managing partners, legal department heads, and senior decision-makers responsible for governance and internal controls.

Learning Outcomes

  • Explain key money laundering methods and their implications for legal services.
  • Interpret AML requirements relevant to legal practice within the applicable jurisdiction.
  • Conduct risk-based client identification, verification, and due diligence assessments.
  • Identify ultimate beneficial owners and evaluate opaque ownership arrangements.
  • Assess the legitimacy and consistency of source of funds and source of wealth information.
  • Recognize red flags in corporate transactions, property dealings, trusts, and cross-border arrangements.
  • Evaluate client and transaction risks involving PEPs, sanctions, and high-risk jurisdictions.
  • Apply appropriate internal escalation and legally required reporting procedures.
  • Manage AML compliance considerations alongside confidentiality, privilege, and professional ethics.
  • Develop practical recommendations for improving AML controls and maintaining defensible compliance records.

Course Outline

Day 1

AML Fundamentals and the Legal Framework

  • The definition, objectives, and stages of money laundering: placement, layering, and integration.
  • Common money laundering methods involving companies, property, trusts, and professional services.
  • International AML standards and the role of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
  • Domestic AML legislation, regulatory requirements, and professional conduct rules.
  • The role of lawyers in preventing the misuse of legal services for financial crime.
  • Legal, regulatory, financial, and professional consequences of AML non-compliance.
  • Practical Exercise: Analyse a case involving the potential misuse of a law firm's services and identify the legal obligations, risk indicators, and appropriate initial response.
Day 2

Client Due Diligence and Beneficial Ownership

  • Client identification, identity verification, and customer due diligence requirements.
  • Risk-based client acceptance, client profiling, and ongoing relationship reviews.
  • Identifying ultimate beneficial owners across layered corporate and trust structures.
  • Enhanced due diligence for high-risk clients, PEPs, and complex transactions.
  • Sanctions screening and assessment of relevant jurisdictional risks.
  • Evaluating source of funds, source of wealth, and supporting documentation.
  • Practical Exercise: Review a hypothetical client file, identify beneficial ownership and funding gaps, and prepare a risk-based due diligence plan.
Day 3

AML Risks in Legal Transactions

  • Money laundering risks in real estate acquisitions, sales, and property development.
  • AML considerations in mergers and acquisitions, company formation, and corporate restructuring.
  • Risks associated with trusts, foundations, nominee arrangements, and complex ownership structures.
  • Suspicious payment patterns, third-party funding, unusual transaction values, and unexplained changes in deal structure.
  • Cross-border transactions, trade-based money laundering, and jurisdictional exposure.
  • Identifying red flags, assessing client explanations, and determining when further evidence is required.
  • Practical Exercise: Assess a simulated corporate acquisition and property transaction, identify suspicious indicators, and document recommended due diligence and risk mitigation measures.
Day 4

Reporting Obligations, Confidentiality, and Professional Ethics

  • Recognizing and documenting suspicions of money laundering.
  • Internal escalation procedures and suspicious transaction or activity reporting requirements.
  • Legal professional privilege, client confidentiality, and applicable statutory exceptions.
  • Tipping-off restrictions and the risks of unauthorized disclosure.
  • Recordkeeping, evidence preservation, and maintaining a clear audit trail.
  • Managing conflicts between client instructions, professional responsibilities, and legal obligations.
  • Practical Exercise: Evaluate a hypothetical suspicious client matter and determine the appropriate escalation, reporting, confidentiality, and documentation steps under the relevant legal framework.
Day 5

AML Compliance Controls and Practical Application

  • Developing AML policies and procedures for law firms and legal departments.
  • Assessing risks associated with clients, services, transactions, delivery channels, and jurisdictions.
  • Defining responsibilities for partners, legal teams, compliance officers, and support staff.
  • Reviewing client files, transaction records, and ongoing due diligence procedures.
  • Emerging risks involving digital assets, online payments, and technology-enabled financial arrangements.
  • Monitoring AML programme effectiveness, identifying control weaknesses, and implementing corrective actions.
  • Practical Exercise: Develop an AML improvement plan for a hypothetical legal practice, covering client acceptance, due diligence, escalation, recordkeeping, staff training, and compliance oversight.

Upcoming Dates

Selected date

Muscat · 18 – 22 Jan 2027 · Classroom

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CityDatesPrice per ParticipantEarly Bird
AccraScheduled
2 – 6 Nov 2026€5,100—
AmmanScheduled
8 – 12 Nov 2026€3,100—
CairoScheduled
8 – 12 Nov 2026€3,300—
DubaiScheduled
15 – 19 Nov 2026€4,400—
AmsterdamScheduled
16 – 20 Nov 2026€5,400—
BangkokScheduled
23 – 27 Nov 2026€6,100€5,490until 2 Nov
IstanbulScheduled
23 – 27 Nov 2026€4,700€4,230until 2 Nov
BarcelonaScheduled
30 Nov – 4 Dec 2026€5,400€4,860until 9 Nov
LondonScheduled
30 Nov – 4 Dec 2026€5,600€5,040until 9 Nov
BeirutScheduled
6 – 10 Dec 2026€4,000€3,600until 16 Nov
ManamaScheduled
7 – 11 Dec 2026€4,700€4,230until 16 Nov
DohaScheduled
13 – 17 Dec 2026€4,400€3,960until 23 Nov
AmsterdamScheduled
14 – 18 Dec 2026€5,400€4,860until 23 Nov
BerlinScheduled
14 – 18 Dec 2026€5,800€5,220until 23 Nov
CairoScheduled
20 – 24 Dec 2026€3,300€2,970until 30 Nov
MarrakeshScheduled
21 – 25 Dec 2026€4,300€3,870until 30 Nov
Cape TownScheduled
21 – 25 Dec 2026€5,100€4,590until 30 Nov
ViennaScheduled
28 Dec 2026 – 1 Jan 2027€5,700€5,130until 7 Dec
CasablancaScheduled
28 Dec 2026 – 1 Jan 2027€4,300€3,870until 7 Dec
DammamScheduled
3 – 7 Jan 2027€4,200€3,780until 14 Dec
DohaScheduled
10 – 14 Jan 2027€4,400€3,960until 21 Dec
ParisScheduled
11 – 15 Jan 2027€5,700€5,130until 21 Dec
MuscatScheduled
18 – 22 Jan 2027€5,300€4,770until 28 Dec
CairoScheduled
24 – 28 Jan 2027€3,300€2,970until 4 Jan
DubaiScheduled
24 – 28 Jan 2027€4,400€3,960until 4 Jan
ErbilScheduled
24 – 28 Jan 2027€3,100€2,790until 4 Jan
IstanbulConfirmed
1 – 5 Feb 2027€4,700€4,230until 11 Jan
HamburgScheduled
1 – 5 Feb 2027€5,800€5,220until 11 Jan
JeddahScheduled
7 – 11 Feb 2027€4,200€3,780until 18 Jan
LondonScheduled
8 – 12 Feb 2027€5,600€5,040until 18 Jan

Available in: Istanbul · Dubai · London · Doha · Amsterdam

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