Solicitor disciplined over Azerbaijani funds: SDT exposes long shadow of AML failures
Since 2017, the OCCRP‑led Azerbaijani Laundromat revelations exposed a €2.9 billion money‑laundering network tied to Azerbaijan’s elite, using shell firms in the UK and Europe to funnel corrupt funds into real estate, bribes, lobbying campaigns and more. VinciWorks previously flagged the scheme’s UK dimension, including how British LLPs were abused as laundromat vehicles and named […]
SOC 2 compliance and AWS: Maintaining security standards while using Amazon Web Services
Whether you’re handling sensitive client data or delivering critical digital services, demonstrating robust security, availability, and privacy practices is essential. For organisations running workloads on Amazon Web Services (AWS), SOC 2 compliance is a key tool in that trust arsenal. SOC 2 in AWS is not a plug-and-play exercise. It’s a tailored, risk-driven approach […]
What compliance leaders can learn from Albemarle’s FCPA case: An interview with Andrew McBride
In this in-depth conversation, Nick Henderson, head of compliance at VinciWorks, speaks with Andrew McBride, founder of Integrity Bridge and former Chief Compliance Officer at Albemarle, about one of the most significant FCPA enforcement actions in recent years. Andrew shares practical insights from inside the investigation, including why Albemarle chose to terminate all third-party agents, […]
AI hallucinations crisis: Over 50 fake cases cited in July alone
AI hallucinations—fabricated cases that appear convincingly real—are no longer a fringe issue in legal practice. In July 2025 alone, over 50 cases involving fake legal citations generated by AI tools were publicly reported across multiple jurisdictions. This figure doesn’t even account for private reports still under review, suggesting the true scale of the problem is […]
Sigma Broking’s compliance collapse: A case study in reporting failures
The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has fined Sigma Broking Limited £1,087,300 for submitting almost 1 million inaccurate or incomplete transaction reports between 2018 and 2023, close to 100% of the firm’s trades during that period. This is not an isolated incident. It follows a £531,600 fine in 2022 for similar transaction reporting breaches and […]
July compliance news round-up
What’s in this update? Key laws incoming: Some DUAA changes begin 20 Aug; Failure to Prevent Fraud starts 1 Sept 2025. FCA & AML fines: New anti-harassment training for 37,000 firms; Monzo, Barclays, and others fined over major AML failings. Sanctions & cyber risks: UK strengthens sanctions enforcement, launches foreign influence register, and faces severe […]
Is your AI meeting bot a legal disaster waiting to happen?
Is the meeting bot silently recording your morning stand-up also quietly building your next legal headache? As many companies embrace AI-powered transcription tools and auto-recording bots for convenience and productivity, they may be overlooking a far more serious risk: legal liability. The concern is simple but significant: any recorded meeting — and their […]
What’s new in Astute – July 2025 update (V3.4.1)
We’ve just released the latest Astute update. This brings a set of thoughtful improvements to help streamline your admin tasks and give learners a smoother experience across the platform. Quality of Life Improvements A number of small but impactful changes have gone live this month, including: Image guidance across the platform – Wherever you can […]
The EBA AML Opinion: Terrorist financing risk landscape in the financial sector
Why terrorist financing remains a priority risk While regulatory attention has largely centred on money laundering and fraud, terrorist financing (TF) risks are quietly but steadily escalating, and the financial sector is not prepared. The European Banking Authority’s (EBA) latest Opinion on ML/TF risks from July 2025 confirms what many compliance professionals already suspect: TF […]
What’s cooking in Congress? Key financial bills every compliance officer should watch
A wave of bipartisan financial legislation is making its way through Congress even as the US House breaks for summer recess. Some vital and important new legislation has already passed the House with near-universal support. These bills target everything from IPO reform and senior protection to fintech risk and retrospective rule analysis. Compliance teams should […]