England and Wales Case Law

Dentons UK and Middle East LLP v Solicitors Regulation Authority Ltd

Dentons UK and Middle East LLP v Solicitors Regulation Authority Ltd [2026] EWCA Civ 508 (27 April 2026)

Court of Appeal held that breach of Regulation 14 of the Money Laundering Regulations could found a breach of SRA Principle 7 and Outcome 7.5 without an added seriousness test.

• Solicitors regulation authority principles
• Money laundering regulations
• Professional misconduct
• Strict liability
• Interpretation of conduct rules
• Professional-discipline

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Dentons UK and Middle East LLP v Solicitors Regulation Authority Ltd

The Court of Appeal held that a breach of SRA Principle 7 and Outcome 7.5 requires conduct serious enough to amount to professional misconduct, not any regulatory breach.

• Solicitors regulation authority principles
• Money laundering regulations
• Professional misconduct
• Disciplinary proceedings
• Interpretation of regulatory rules
• Professional-regulation

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Solicitors Regulation Authority Limited v Dentons UK and Middle East LLP

The Tribunal erred by imposing an additional requirement of seriousness, culpability, and reprehensibility for breach of Regulation 14 of the MLRs 2007, Principle 7, and Outcome 7.5. Breach is established once the legal/regulatory obligation is not complied with. The Tribunal's decision is quashed and remitted for reconsideration.

Source excerpt

• Money laundering regulations
• Solicitors regulation authority principles
• Professional misconduct
• Strict liability
• Disciplinary proceedings

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Solicitors Regulation Authority Ltd v Dentons UK and Middle East LLP

Solicitors Regulation Authority Ltd v Dentons UK and Middle East LLP [2025] EWHC 535 (Admin) (11 March 2025)

The High Court allowed the SRA’s appeal, holding the Tribunal applied the wrong test by adding a seriousness threshold to a proven AML breach.

• Money laundering regulations
• Solicitors regulation
• Professional misconduct
• Strict liability
• Interpretation of conduct rules
• Professional-discipline

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Fresh View Swift Properties Ltd v Westminster Magistrates' Court

Fresh View Swift Properties Ltd v Westminster Magistrates' Court [2023] EWHC 605 (Admin) (23 March 2023)

Judicial review dismissed over forfeiture of £67,372.21 from a bank account. The court held the sum was recoverable property and the order was not disproportionate.

• Forfeiture of property
• Proceeds of crime act 2002
• Money laundering regulations
• Proportionality under echr
• Unlicensed money service businesses
• Proceeds-of-crime-act-2002

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Brac Saajan Exchange Ltd & Ors v The Commissioners for HMRC

The Tribunal allowed appeals by Brac Saajan Exchange Ltd and seven individuals, quashing HMRC’s cancellation, fit-and-proper, and prohibition decisions.

• Money laundering regulations
• Fit and proper test
• Cancellation of registration
• Prohibition notices
• Customer due diligence
• Enhanced due diligence

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David Anthony Hinkel v Simmons & Simmons LLP

The High Court refused applications to reopen an appeal, recuse the judge, and adjourn the hearing in a solicitors fraud dispute.

• Reopening of appeals
• Fraud allegations
• Money laundering regulations
• Recusal of judge
• Adjournment on medical grounds
• Reopening-of-appeals

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Hinkel v Simmons & Simmons LLP (Rev1)

Hinkel v Simmons & Simmons LLP (Rev1) [2021] EWHC 3416 (Ch) (17 December 2021)

The High Court refused to reopen a finally determined appeal, rejecting allegations of fraud and money-laundering breaches, and also dismissed recusal and adjournment requests.

• Reopening appeals
• Fraud allegations
• Money laundering regulations
• Judicial recusal
• Adjournment on health grounds
• Reopening-appeals

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Lennon & Anor v Englefield & Ors

Lennon & Anor v Englefield & Ors [2021] EWHC 1473 (QB) (07 June 2021)

Professional negligence claim over sale proceeds paid to a non-solicitor failed. The court held the solicitor’s retainer did not require advice on the commercial risks.

• Solicitor's duty of care
• Money laundering regulations
• Scope of retainer
• Undue influence
• Breach of sra code
• Beneficial ownership

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Lennon & Anor v Englefield & Ors

Lennon & Anor v Englefield & Ors [2021] EWHC 1473 (QB) (07 June 2021)

High Court professional negligence claim dismissed. The court held solicitors acting on a conveyance had no duty to advise on the wisdom of paying sale proceeds to an intermediary.

• Solicitor's duty of care
• Money laundering regulations
• Sra code of conduct
• Scope of retainer
• Undue influence
• Causation

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