Money Laundering

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Expert Defence in Money Laundering Investigations
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Contact a Specialist Money Laundering Solicitor

Money Laundering Solicitors

Allegations of money laundering are among the most serious financial offences prosecuted in the UK. If you, your business, or a family member is under investigation or facing charges, the potential consequences are life-changing, including imprisonment, financial ruin, and irreparable damage to your reputation.

At Clifford Johnston & Co., our specialist Money Laundering Solicitors have more than 35 years’ experience representing individuals and businesses accused of laundering criminal property under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA). From initial investigation to trial and confiscation proceedings, we provide strategic, robust and highly personalised legal defence at every stage.

With offices in Manchester and Stockport, we act for clients across Cheshire, the North West, and nationwide. Whether you are under arrest, voluntarily attending an interview, or already facing charges, early legal intervention can be critical to the outcome of your case.

Contact us today to speak with one of our experienced solicitors. We are available 24/7 and can provide immediate, confidential advice.

How Can We Help?

At Clifford Johnston & Co., we understand that being accused of money laundering, whether as a main suspect, business director, or unwitting associate, is a highly stressful situation. These cases often involve intrusive financial scrutiny, wide-reaching investigations, and immediate disruption to your personal and professional life. We are here to provide expert guidance from the very beginning.

Our team of criminal defence solicitors offers a comprehensive and proactive service tailored to the unique circumstances of each case. We work swiftly to analyse the prosecution’s evidence, engage with investigators, and protect your legal position, often before any charges are brought. Where possible, we aim to make strong representations against charge, preventing a prosecution entirely.

We advise clients who:

Have been arrested or interviewed under caution in connection with suspected money laundering
Are subject to restraint orders, freezing their personal or business assets
Face confiscation proceedings following conviction under POCA
Have been asked to provide explanations for financial activity under Unexplained Wealth Orders (UWOs)
Require advice on making or responding to Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs)

We also support professionals and businesses with advice on compliance and legal risk, including anti-money laundering policies, employee training, and reporting obligations under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017.

Whatever stage your case is at, our priority is to safeguard your freedom, your finances, and your future.

What is Money Laundering?

Money laundering is the process of disguising the origins of money or assets obtained through criminal activity, in order to make them appear legitimate. It is an offence under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) and covers a wide range of activities that involve handling or concealing so-called ‘criminal property’.

The offence is not limited to organised crime. Individuals can be prosecuted for laundering funds connected to fraud, drug offences, tax evasion, or any other criminal conduct. In many cases, people are caught up in investigations without realising they may have been facilitating the movement of illicit funds.

The three classic stages of money laundering are:

Placement: Introducing criminal property into the financial system. For example, depositing large sums of unexplained cash.
Layering: Moving money through complicated or international transactions to obscure its origin, such as transferring through multiple bank accounts, shell companies, or cryptocurrencies.
Integration: Using the laundered money to buy assets, businesses, or property to make it appear clean.

Money laundering can involve cash, digital currency, property, high-value goods, or any other asset. Even if you did not personally profit from the transaction, simply being involved in handling, transferring or converting criminal property can lead to serious charges.

Understanding the precise nature of the allegation against you is vital and this is where expert legal advice becomes essential.

Who Investigates Money Laundering?

Money laundering investigations are typically led by some of the UK’s most powerful enforcement agencies. These bodies have extensive legal powers to gather evidence, seize assets, and conduct multi-agency inquiries, often over many months or years.

The following authorities are commonly involved in money laundering investigations:

National Crime Agency (NCA)
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
Serious Fraud Office (SFO)
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
Police Economic Crime Units

In many cases, an investigation begins with the submission of a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) by a regulated professional, such as a solicitor, accountant, estate agent, or bank. Once a SAR is filed, the NCA can issue a moratorium period and take action to investigate, restrain, or seize assets suspected of being linked to criminal conduct.

Professionals in regulated sectors are legally required to report any knowledge or suspicion of money laundering. A failure to do so, even unintentionally, can result in criminal prosecution. Likewise, individuals who disclose the existence of a SAR and thereby risk prejudicing an investigation can be charged with the offence of tipping off.

At Clifford Johnston & Co., we act for clients who are:

Under investigation following a SAR or financial audit
Facing dawn raids or production orders
Subject to account freezing orders, search warrants, or property seizures
Being interviewed under caution by HMRC or other agencies

We take immediate control of the situation — challenging restraint orders, analysing the evidential basis, and confronting investigators where necessary.

Types of Money Laundering Offences

The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) outlines a number of distinct money laundering offences. You do not need to have committed the underlying crime, even handling, transferring, or receiving property that represents the proceeds of crime can be enough to face prosecution.

The most common offences include:

This involves taking active steps to hide or move assets that are believed to have been obtained through criminal conduct. For example, transferring funds between accounts or converting cash into luxury items.

This offence covers anyone who facilitates or is knowingly involved in an arrangement that helps someone else to retain, control, use or acquire criminal property.

Even if you did not help conceal or transfer the funds, simply having criminal property in your possession, including cash, goods or property, can lead to charges.

Professionals in regulated sectors (such as solicitors, accountants, financial advisers and estate agents) are under a legal duty to disclose suspicions of money laundering to the appropriate authorities. Failing to do so is a criminal offence, punishable by up to 5 years’ imprisonment.

Revealing the existence of a money laundering investigation or Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) to the subject of the investigation, even accidentally, can amount to “tipping off”, which is itself a serious offence.

These laws are intentionally wide-ranging. It is not unusual for individuals to face prosecution simply for helping someone move money or failing to ask the right questions. If you are under suspicion, it is essential that you speak to a specialist solicitor at the earliest opportunity.

Potential Penalties and Consequences

Money laundering offences are treated with the utmost seriousness by the courts. A conviction can result in lengthy imprisonment, financial devastation, and lasting damage to your personal and professional life. The legal and financial consequences are often far-reaching, even before any charges are brought.

Custodial Sentences

The maximum penalty for money laundering under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 is:

14 years’ imprisonment and/or
An unlimited fine

Sentencing depends on a range of factors, including the value of the property involved, the level of planning, and the individual’s role in the offence. Aggravating factors, such as abuse of a position of trust, can lead to longer sentences.

Confiscation Proceedings

If convicted, the prosecution can apply for a confiscation order to recover the value of any benefit said to have been gained through criminal conduct. This may include property, savings, or other assets, even if they are held in someone else’s name.

These proceedings can extend long after the criminal trial has ended and may place enormous financial pressure on individuals and their families.

Restraint Orders

During the investigation stage, the authorities may apply for a restraint order to freeze your assets, including bank accounts, vehicles, and property. These orders are often granted before a person is even charged and can have immediate and serious consequences on your ability to run a business or pay legal fees.

Disclosure and Reputation

A conviction for money laundering can appear on DBS checks and may disqualify you from holding certain jobs, licences, or regulatory positions. Even if no charges are ultimately brought, being under investigation can severely impact your professional standing, client relationships, and financial affairs.

At Clifford Johnston & Co., we work tirelessly to prevent charges being brought, minimise the risk of restraint or confiscation, and defend our clients with determination and care. We understand what’s at stake and we are here to protect you at every stage.

The Legal Process and How We Defend You

Facing a money laundering investigation is overwhelming, but with the right legal support, you don’t have to go through it alone. At Clifford Johnston & Co., we provide expert representation from the first point of contact through to the resolution of your case.

Here’s how we support you at each stage:

1. Early Investigation & Pre-Charge Representation

If you’ve been contacted by the police or invited for a voluntary interview, we’ll step in immediately to protect your position. We advise you on what to say, represent you during interviews under caution, and challenge unlawful or excessive investigatory steps such as search warrants or account freezes.

Where possible, we engage in pre-charge representations to prevent prosecution altogether, presenting mitigating evidence and legal arguments to the Crown Prosecution Service or investigating agency.

2. Evidence Review & Case Preparation

We carry out a detailed analysis of the evidence, including financial records, bank transactions, digital communications, and third-party documentation. Where appropriate, we instruct forensic accountants and other experts to support your defence.

We identify weaknesses in the prosecution’s case, challenge assumptions about your knowledge or intent, and make strong legal submissions to narrow the issues.

3. Court Representation

If your case proceeds to court, our experienced advocates provide strategic, confident representation throughout proceedings. Whether seeking to exclude evidence, secure bail, or defend the case at trial, we work tirelessly to protect your interests and reputation.

Where a conviction is unavoidable, we focus on damage limitation, including contesting confiscation amounts and presenting compelling mitigation at sentencing.

From start to finish, we’ll ensure you are fully informed, legally protected, and supported throughout the entire process.

Why Choose Clifford Johnston & Co.?

When your reputation, liberty, and livelihood are on the line, you need a legal team with the experience, credibility, and determination to defend you.

Clifford Johnston & Co. has been representing clients in serious criminal and financial investigations for over 35 years. We are nationally recognised for our work in money laundering, fraud, and Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) cases, and we act with professionalism, urgency, and discretion at every stage.

Our criminal defence team includes solicitors accredited by the Law Society for Criminal Litigation. We are proud holders of the Lexcel Legal Practice Quality Mark, awarded for excellence in client care and legal practice management. Clients come to us when their liberty, licence, or livelihood is on the line. Our team is known for stopping prosecutions in their tracks, challenging POCA applications with forensic precision, and delivering results that protect careers — not just legal outcomes.

We understand how stressful and confusing these cases can be. That’s why we provide clear advice, practical strategies, and consistent support throughout, all delivered with the highest standards of service and integrity.

Whether you’re being questioned by the police, facing charges in court, or trying to protect your business from regulatory risk, we will fight for your interests from day one.

Frequently Asked Questions About Money Laundering Offences

The maximum penalty for money laundering under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 is 14 years’ imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. The length of the sentence depends on the value of the criminal property involved, your level of involvement, and any aggravating or mitigating factors.

Yes. You can be charged if the prosecution can show that you knew or suspected, or should have reasonably suspected, that the money or property was the proceeds of crime. Even indirect involvement, such as transferring funds for someone else, can lead to prosecution under POCA.

Do not answer any questions or attend an interview without speaking to a solicitor first. Anything you say, even informally, can later be used as evidence. Contact Clifford Johnston & Co. immediately for expert legal advice. We can liaise with the authorities on your behalf and ensure your rights are protected from the start.

If you are convicted of a money laundering offence, it will appear on both standard and enhanced DBS checks. Even if you are not charged, in some cases the fact that you were under investigation may be disclosed under an enhanced check, particularly if the role applied for involves financial responsibility or positions of trust.

Yes. The prosecution can apply for a restraint order under the Proceeds of Crime Act to freeze your assets, including bank accounts, property, vehicles, or business interests. This can happen even before you are charged. We can act swiftly to challenge or vary such orders to reduce disruption to your life and finances.

Money laundering investigations are often lengthy and can take months or even years to conclude, particularly where digital evidence, financial records, or international transactions are involved. We work proactively to monitor progress, make representations where appropriate, and push for early resolution whenever possible.

If you work in the regulated sector, including law, accounting, real estate, or financial services, you are legally required to report knowledge or suspicion of money laundering by submitting a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR). Failure to do so can lead to prosecution and serious professional consequences.

A SAR is a formal disclosure made to the National Crime Agency (NCA) by a person or business who suspects that a transaction or asset may be linked to criminal conduct. It is a crucial part of the UK’s anti-money laundering framework. If you are unsure whether to make a SAR, we can provide specialist advice to help you comply with your obligations safely.

Contact Our Money Laundering Solicitors

If you are under investigation, facing arrest, or have already been charged with a money laundering offence, it is vital that you seek expert legal advice without delay. The earlier we are involved, the greater the opportunity to protect your position and influence the outcome of your case.

At Clifford Johnston & Co., we provide specialist advice and representation to individuals and businesses accused of money laundering across England and Wales. From our offices in Manchester and Stockport, we serve clients throughout Cheshire, Greater Manchester, and beyond.

We understand the serious implications of these allegations and offer a discreet, responsive service designed to support you through every stage of the process. Whether you require immediate representation at the police station, urgent advice on restraint or confiscation orders, or long-term defence in POCA proceedings, our team is here to help.

For a confidential consultation, contact our Money Laundering Solicitors in Manchester or Stockport today. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Call us now or complete the enquiry form below to speak with one of our experienced Solicitors in Stockport.