From 1 July 2026, Australian law firms providing certain designated legal services will be subject to enhanced anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) obligations under Australian law.

These obligations form part of Australia’s broader framework to prevent the misuse of professional services for money laundering, terrorism financing and other financial crime. The requirements are administered and overseen by the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC).

For more information about Australia’s AML/CTF framework, please visit the AUSTRAC website: https://www.austrac.gov.au/.

What this means for our clients

As part of our legal obligations, Clelands Lawyers is required to undertake customer due diligence (CDD) before providing certain legal services. This process requires us to verify the identity of our clients, understand the nature and purpose of the legal services being provided, and obtain certain information relevant to the matter.

These requirements apply to both new and, where required, existing clients.

The information we collect and verify may include:

• confirming your identity and personal details;
• identifying and verifying beneficial owners, directors, shareholders, trustees and other relevant persons associated with companies, trusts and other entities;
• understanding the purpose and objectives of your transaction or legal matter; and
• obtaining information regarding the source of funds or assets involved in certain transactions.

Identity verification

For individual clients, we may require government-issued identification documents, such as a current Australian driver’s licence or passport, to verify your name, date of birth and residential address.

For companies, trusts and other entities, we may require additional information and documentation to identify and verify the individuals who ultimately own or control the entity.

Understanding your matter and source of funds

Depending on the nature of your legal matter, we may ask for additional information to assist us in understanding the purpose and background of the transaction.

This may include:

• a brief explanation of the circumstances giving rise to the matter;
• the key objectives you wish to achieve; and
• information about the source of funds or assets involved.

The information collected enables us to comply with our legal obligations and continue to provide legal services in accordance with applicable laws and professional standards.

Secure digital verification process

To make the process as efficient and secure as possible, Clelands Lawyers uses InfoTrack, a trusted third-party compliance platform, to assist with electronic identity verification and client onboarding.

Where required, clients will receive a secure digital invitation from InfoTrack to complete the verification process online.

Any third-party verification fees incurred through the InfoTrack platform will be charged as a disbursement on the relevant matter.

Ongoing obligations

Our AML/CTF obligations are not limited to the initial onboarding process. We may be required to undertake ongoing customer due diligence, including updating client information, conducting additional verification checks, and obtaining further information where there are changes to a matter or circumstances that require review.

We may also be required to undertake additional checks, including sanctions screening, beneficial ownership verification and other compliance measures required by law.

Our commitment

Clelands Lawyers is committed to protecting our clients, our profession and the wider community from the risks associated with financial crime. These requirements are an important part of maintaining the integrity of Australia’s legal system and ensuring we continue to meet our regulatory and professional obligations.

We appreciate our clients’ cooperation and understanding as we implement these requirements.

If you have any questions about our AML/CTF processes, please contact our office.

For further information about AML/CTF obligations in Australia, visit:

• AUSTRAC: https://www.austrac.gov.au/

• Clelands Lawyers Privacy Policy: https://www.clelandslawyers.com.au/privacy-policy