SRA fines conveyancing firm after long-running compliance breaches
BRR Law has agreed to pay a £25,000 financial penalty following an investigation by the Solicitors Regulation Authority into long-running anti-money laundering (AML) compliance failures.
The regulatory settlement agreement, dated 24 April 2026 and published on 28 April 2026, also requires the firm to pay £600 towards the SRA’s investigation costs. The SRA launched its investigation after an inspection carried out by its AML Proactive Supervision Team identified concerns about the firm’s compliance with the Money Laundering Regulations 2017.
According to the regulator, BRR Law failed to conduct client and matter risk assessments (CMRAs) between 26 June 2017 and January 2025. These assessments are required under the Money Laundering Regulations to evaluate risks associated with clients and legal transactions.
The SRA concluded that the absence of compliant CMRAs reflected a persistent failure to meet statutory and regulatory obligations. The regulator stated that this created a potential risk that the firm could be used for money laundering or terrorist financing purposes.
The investigation found that the firm undertook a significant proportion of work within areas considered high-risk for money laundering, particularly conveyancing. Although the SRA confirmed there was no evidence of direct client loss or actual harm, it stated that the lack of compliant controls increased exposure to financial crime risks.
BRR Law admitted multiple breaches of both the former SRA Handbook 2011 and the SRA Standards and Regulations introduced in 2019. These included failures relating to governance, risk management, regulatory compliance, and maintaining public trust in legal services.
The regulator assessed the misconduct as serious due to the prolonged period of non-compliance, which lasted for more than eight years after the introduction of the Money Laundering Regulations 2017.
In mitigation, the SRA acknowledged that the firm had cooperated with the investigation and had taken steps to address the deficiencies before the conclusion of the case. The regulator noted that the firm updated its policies, controls, and procedures, implemented staff training, and reviewed live files to ensure compliant risk assessments were completed.
The SRA stated that BRR Law only became fully compliant in December 2025 after satisfying a regulatory compliance plan following the desk-based review.
An initial penalty calculation based on the firm’s turnover produced a figure of £36,218. However, the regulator reduced the penalty to £25,000 to reflect the firm’s cooperation, admissions, and remedial action. The SRA said the sanction was necessary to uphold professional standards and maintain public confidence in the legal profession, particularly in relation to AML compliance obligations.