+44 (0)161 228 2244

Money Laundering Solicitors

At Draycott Browne, our specialist Money Laundering Solicitors in Manchester provide expert legal defence in some of the UK’s most serious and high-stakes financial crime investigations.

Allegations of money laundering are often triggered by a parallel investigation into suspected fraud and corruption. These cases are rarely straightforward. They may involve multiple agencies, financial records spanning several jurisdictions and a significant amount of documentary evidence. Early intervention from an experienced Money Laundering Defence Lawyer is essential. A properly structured defence at the outset can prevent avoidable mistakes and protect your position as the case progresses.

Our Money Laundering Solicitors provide immediate guidance from the moment you become aware of an investigation. We assist in managing contact with the authorities, advise on responding to requests for information and represent clients during interviews under caution. From the outset, we focus on controlling the flow of the investigation and ensuring that your legal position is protected at every stage.

Draycott Browne is one of the UK’s leading criminal defence firms, with over 25 years of experience in representing clients accused of serious financial crime. We are regularly instructed in high value and complex money laundering cases prosecuted under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and related legislation.

The department is overseen by Shaun Draycott, Managing Director of the firm and a highly regarded solicitor. Shaun brings decades of experience in serious criminal defence and has acted in some of the most significant and sensitive financial crime investigations in recent years. His leadership ensures that every case benefits from clear direction, strategic focus and absolute discretion.

When the stakes are high, you need a legal team you can trust. Contact our experienced Money Laundering Solicitors today for expert advice and representation that prioritises your best outcome.

How Can our Money Laundering Solicitors Help?

At Draycott Browne, our experienced Money Laundering Solicitors provide clear, strategic legal support throughout every stage of your case. From initial investigation through to trial or appeal, we focus on protecting your legal position, safeguarding your assets and responding effectively to the allegations against you.

We can assist with:

  • Challenging restraint orders imposed under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

  • Defending confiscation proceedings and civil recovery claims

  • Representing clients during interviews under caution and criminal proceedings

  • Reviewing complex financial records and tracing the source and movement of funds

  • Working with forensic accountants and other specialists where required

  • Preparing a defence strategy based on the evidence and the specific allegations

We also advise individuals and businesses facing allegations of breaches of anti-money laundering obligations under the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds Regulations 2017, as amended.
These obligations can include customer due diligence, beneficial ownership checks, suspicious activity reporting, staff training and appropriate internal policies and controls. Where compliance issues form part of an investigation, we can assess the obligations that applied, examine the steps taken and advise on the potential criminal or regulatory consequences.
Our Money Laundering Defence Lawyers take a proactive approach from the outset. If an appeal is being considered following conviction or sentence, we can also advise on the available grounds, procedure and prospects of success.

Speak to an expert

Our legal team is available 7 days a week

Criminal Defence Expertise for Money Laundering Offences

Expertise in providing defence for all kinds of money laundering charges & business crime offences.

Boiler Room Fraud
Bounce Back Loan Fraud
Bribery & Corruption
Corporate Fraud
Corporate Manslaughter
Embezzlement and Workplace Theft
False Accounting
Money Laundering
Prosecution of Directors
Proceeds of Crime (POCA)
Regulatory Law
Serious High Value Fraud
Shell Company Fraud

Our Expert Money Laundering Defence Lawyers

Shaun Draycott

Shaun Draycott

Managing Director & Serious Crime Solicitor
Rob Mann

Rob Mann

Director & Serious Crime Solicitor
Venessa Schweitzer

Venessa Schweitzer

Consultant Litigator
Caitlin Cardwell

Caitlin Cardwell

Crown Court Litigator
Meet the Team

What Happens if You Are Accused of Money Laundering?

An allegation of money laundering can place you under immediate legal and financial scrutiny. Investigations may involve the police, HM Revenue and Customs, the National Crime Agency or other enforcement bodies, and can begin before you are formally charged.

At an early stage, the authorities may seek to preserve evidence and prevent assets from being moved or disposed of. This can include restraint orders affecting bank accounts, property, investments or business funds. These orders can have significant practical consequences and may need to be challenged quickly.

You may also be asked to attend an interview under caution or provide information about particular transactions, accounts or assets. Early legal advice can help you understand what is being investigated, how to respond and what evidence should be preserved.

If the case proceeds to prosecution, the principal money laundering offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 can carry up to 14 years' imprisonment, an unlimited fine and confiscation proceedings.
POCA powers have also been expanded to deal more effectively with cryptoassets. Changes introduced by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 strengthened powers to seize, freeze and recover cryptoassets through confiscation and civil recovery procedures.

At Draycott Browne, our Money Laundering Solicitors act at every stage of an investigation. We can assess the allegations, examine the financial evidence, challenge restraint or recovery measures where appropriate and prepare your defence from the outset.

What Happens if You Fail to Report Money Laundering Activity?

Money laundering offences do not only apply to people accused of handling criminal property. Professionals and others working in the regulated sector may also face prosecution for failing to make a required disclosure or for revealing information in a way that could prejudice an investigation.

 

Failure to Disclose

Sections 330 to 332 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 create offences relating to failures to disclose suspected money laundering in specified circumstances.

For those working in the regulated sector, liability can arise where a person knows or suspects, or has reasonable grounds to know or suspect, that another person is engaged in money laundering and fails to make the required disclosure.

A failure to disclose offence can carry up to five years' imprisonment. Whether an offence has been committed will depend on the person's role, the information available to them and whether any statutory exemption or defence applies.

 

Tipping Off

Section 333A of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 makes it an offence, in specified circumstances, to disclose that a Suspicious Activity Report has been made where the disclosure is likely to prejudice an investigation.

It can also apply to disclosures relating to an ongoing money laundering investigation. The offence carries a maximum sentence of two years' imprisonment.

These cases can be particularly serious for solicitors, accountants, financial professionals and others working in regulated sectors. We can advise on whether a disclosure obligation arose, whether an exemption or defence may apply and how the evidence should be challenged.

Specialist Money Laundering Solicitors

  • 24/7 Availability
  • Proven Success in High Profile Cases
  • Non-Judgemental Representation Tailored to Your Situation

Protect your future with trusted, expert legal defence—contact Draycott Browne’s Money Laundering Defence Lawyers today.

Get in Touch

What are the Possible Defences for Money Laundering?

Allegations of money laundering are often complex and highly fact-sensitive. A conviction does not depend solely on the movement of funds, but on the prosecution’s ability to prove that the property involved was criminal in origin and that the defendant knew, or at least suspected, that this was the case.

In many situations, individuals or professionals are drawn into investigations through association, routine financial involvement, or errors in judgment, rather than through any deliberate intent to facilitate criminal activity. These cases require a clear, structured defence that is rooted in both the facts of the case and a precise understanding of the law.

Depending on the evidence and the specific allegations, several legal defences may be available:

  • There was no knowledge or suspicion that the property was linked to criminal activity
  • The funds or assets in question came from a legitimate source
  • The prosecution cannot show that any criminal property exists
  • The defendant acted under pressure, threat or coercion
  • Any involvement arose from a professional or compliance error
  • The defendant had no control over the property or transaction

Establishing a credible defence often involves forensic analysis of financial records, careful scrutiny of prosecution evidence, and early engagement with specialist advisors. At Draycott Browne, our experts in business crime apply decades of experience to identify the most effective defence strategy and to challenge weak or speculative allegations at every stage.

If you are facing investigation or prosecution for a money laundering offence, it is essential to seek expert legal advice without delay. Early instruction allows us to protect your position from the outset and work proactively towards the best possible outcome.

24 Hour Availability

Investigations into money laundering can begin without warning. Restraint orders, dawn raids and arrest warrants are often executed without prior notice, leaving individuals and business owners facing immediate legal consequences. In these moments, access to experienced legal representation is critical.

At Draycott Browne, our Money Laundering Solicitors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We respond quickly to urgent enquiries and provide legal representation at police stations, courts and during interviews conducted by agencies such as HMRC, the NCA or local economic crime units.

If you have been arrested, contacted by the authorities, or served with a search warrant or restraint order, expert legal support is always just a phone call away.

Legal Aid

Money laundering investigations often lead to lengthy and high-stakes legal proceedings. For many individuals, the cost of defending such allegations can be a serious concern, especially if assets have been frozen under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

At Draycott Browne, our team can advise you on your eligibility for legal aid and guide you through the application process. Legal aid may cover representation during interviews under caution, preparation of your defence, and court proceedings.

Our legal aid solicitors will ensure that your financial position does not prevent you from accessing high-quality legal defence. We are committed to helping you secure the support you need at every stage of your case.

Private Funding

At Draycott Browne, we continue to support clients who are eligible for Legal Aid, and we understand the importance of publicly funded representation. However, it is important to recognise that Legal Aid funding places strict limitations on the level of support we are able to provide.

By choosing to privately fund your legal defence, you ensure access to the highest standard of advice and representation from our private criminal defence solicitors. In money laundering cases, where the evidence is often extensive, technical and financially complex, private funding allows us to dedicate additional time and resources to your case.

This enables us to work more creatively and strategically, drawing on the full expertise of our team to challenge the prosecution’s evidence, consult with forensic accountants, and build a detailed defence tailored to your circumstances.

If you are facing a money laundering investigation or prosecution, we strongly advise considering private funding. It offers the most comprehensive level of service and gives you the best opportunity to achieve a successful outcome.

Speak to an expert

Our legal team is available 7 days a week

CTA Link Arrow

Contact our Money Laundering Defence Lawyers

If you are facing an investigation or prosecution for money laundering, early access to expert legal representation is critical. These cases often involve financial restraints, reputational damage and the risk of serious custodial sentences. The sooner you act, the more options you will have to protect your position and prepare a strategic defence.

Draycott Browne is a leading Criminal Law Firm, renowned for its expertise in defending clients against serious allegations, including money laundering. Our specialist solicitors and Money Laundering Solicitors combine extensive experience with a client-focused approach to deliver expert advice and representation tailored to your needs.

As trusted criminal lawyers, we understand the complexities of financial crime and the significant impact these allegations can have on individuals and businesses alike. Our team works tirelessly to protect your rights, safeguard your reputation, and achieve the best possible outcome.

When facing allegations of money laundering, having the right legal team on your side is essential. Contact Draycott Browne today for expert guidance and robust representation. Let us help you move forward with confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions for Money Laundering Offences

Money laundering is the process of disguising the origin of money or assets obtained through criminal conduct, so that they appear to have come from a legitimate source. It typically involves a series of financial transactions designed to conceal the connection between the funds and their criminal origin.

Money laundering can include concealing, possessing, transferring, using or helping someone else deal with money or assets derived from criminal activity. A person can also commit a money laundering offence even if they were not involved in the original crime that generated the funds.

Money laundering is primarily governed by the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and the Money Laundering Regulations 2017, which cover criminal offences and compliance duties for regulated businesses. Other legislation may also apply where organised crime, enforcement powers or related financial offences are involved.

A Suspicious Activity Report is a disclosure made to the National Crime Agency when an individual or organisation suspects that financial activity may be linked to criminal conduct or money laundering. SARs are commonly submitted by regulated professionals and can lead to transactions being delayed or investigated further.

A restraint order freezes assets during a criminal investigation so they remain available for possible confiscation if there is a conviction. It can cover bank accounts, property, vehicles, investments and business assets, and may be imposed before charges are brought.

Money laundering offences can carry up to 14 years’ imprisonment, unlimited fines and confiscation of assets. Businesses may also face regulatory penalties, enforcement action and restrictions where anti-money laundering obligations have been breached.

Please Get in Touch

We are ready to assist.