An important regulatory change that will affect how law firms work with clients from 1 July 2026

The Australian Government is extending Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) laws to cover certain services provided by lawyers, accountants and other selected occupations. These laws are regulated by AUSTRAC and will be familiar to many clients who have completed identification and verification processes used by banks, lenders, and other financial institutions.

These reforms are designed to help deter and detect financial crime and will introduce additional verification obligations for law firms when providing certain types of legal services.

What does this mean for you?

If you engage us for legal services after 1 July 2026, we may need to request identification documents and additional information from you, depending on the nature of the work involved. The types of work that attract these requirements are referred to as “designated services”.

For clients engaging us in their capacity as a representative of a company, trustee of a trust, or similar entity, we may also be required to obtain information about that entity and verify the identity of individuals who ultimately own or control it, commonly referred to as “Ultimate Beneficial Owners”.

Importantly, for designated services, we are required to complete these verification steps before commencing work. Our team will do everything possible to make the process straightforward, secure, and convenient for you.

We appreciate that providing this information takes time, and we thank you in advance for your assistance and understanding.

Our verification partner

To assist us meet our AML/CTF obligations, we have partnered with a trusted, market-leading service provider, FirstAML, to conduct identity verification checks securely and efficiently.

If verification is required for your matter, you may receive an email directly from FirstAML with instructions on how to complete the process. We understand that clients are rightly cautious about unsolicited communications, so if you would like to confirm the authenticity of any request or have any questions, please contact your lawyer or our Compliance Team  at enquiries@keypointlaw.com.au.

Your information and privacy

Protecting your information is of paramount importance to us. Any personal information collected as part of these processes will be securely managed by Keypoint and FirstAML in accordance with our privacy, confidentiality, and professional obligations.

Further information

We will continue to keep our clients informed as these reforms come into effect and will provide further guidance and practical information as needed.

If you would like to learn more about these legislative changes, please visit the AUSTRAC website or contact our Compliance Team at enquiries@keypointlaw.com.au.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.