SRA tightens its grip: AML enforcement intensifies further in 2026
As the UK legal sector navigates an increasingly scrutinised regulatory landscape, 2026 marks a decisive escalation in the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)’s anti-money laundering (AML) enforcement agenda. With record fines, wider proactive inspections, and the imminent transfer of professional supervision to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), law firms are facing the most demanding compliance environment to date.
The latest SRA report
The SRA’s Anti-Money Laundering Annual Report 2024–25, published in October 2025, confirmed a further rise in regulatory intensity. Key findings from the report include:
• 833 firms underwent an onsite inspection or desk-based review
• One-third of firms remain non-compliant, and 54% only partially compliant.
Heightened pressures for 2026
The UK government’s decision to transition AML supervision of legal services to the FCA represents a major structural change.
• The SRA has acknowledged that the FCA will become the single professional services supervisor for AML, which will be a gradual transition
• Commentary suggests the sector should expect more complex, data heavy and assertive regulatory expectations under FCA oversight, when it happens
For firms, this shift should be interpreted as an indicator that compliance expectations will tighten further.
Zero tolerance
Taken together, the SRA’s latest report and ongoing enforcement trends reflect a regulatory environment undergoing fundamental transformation. The convergence of record fines, escalating inspection activity, and the forthcoming shift to FCA oversight means compliance standards are higher, and more enforceable, than ever.
Law firms that proactively invest in controls, training, and technology now will not only stay compliant but also build resilience against rapidly evolving AML risks.
To help firms stay compliant, we’ve updated our AML Best Practice Guide with practical steps, templates, and regulatory insights tailored to the changing landscape. Download the 2026 edition of our AML Best Practice Guide here.
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