From 1 July 2026, reforms to Australia’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) laws will result in certain legal services being subject to new regulatory obligations. To ensure we are prepared to continue working with you without disruption, you may be asked to provide additional documentation when we act for you on certain matters.

The new obligations: reducing Australia’s financial crime risk

The new regulatory obligations will apply when our firm provides specific ‘designated services‘ to clients. This includes assisting with property or business transactions, handling client money or assets, and assisting with the formation or restructuring of companies, trusts or partnerships.

Adhering to these obligations is part of a national approach to mitigate and manage money laundering in Australia, helping authorities to track and limit the flow of funds that support drug trafficking, human exploitation, financial fraud and terrorism.

If you require any of these ‘designated services’, Client Due Diligence (CDD) checks may need to be completed before we can proceed. These checks will be mandatory for all law firms.

What we require from you

When commencing new matters categorised as ‘designated services’, we may ask you to complete a Client Due Diligence Form. This form asks for information that will help us verify the client’s identity and, if relevant, the identity of anyone who controls or benefits from the client, such as trustees or beneficial owners. In some cases, you may also need to provide additional documents and allow us to complete identity verification of certain individuals.

In some cases, we may reach out to clients ahead of 1 July 2026 to request completion of the required forms and identity verification. This is to ensure that we are prepared to provide ‘designated services’ to these clients without disruption.

HWLE will provide you with more detailed guidance on the secure completion and submission of the form, required documentation and identity verification procedures via email.

Our commitment

We are committed to supporting our clients under the new AML/CTF regulatory framework and ensuring the smooth and uninterrupted continuation of our services. If you need any further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us at AMLCO@hwle.com.au.

Secure and responsible handling of your data

Any personal information collected as part of the AML/CTF checks process, including information relating to relevant client representatives, beneficial owners or other individuals connected with your client entity, will be handled securely. Access will be limited to those who need it for the purpose of meeting our AML/CTF compliance obligations. Further information is available in our privacy policy.

This page was last updated 29 May 2026.