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Alexander Christian
Alexander Christian
Anti-Money Laundering Audit | Family Law | Co-Parent Mediation | Mediation
  • Regulatory & Legal Requirements

    Pre-onboarding & Ongoing Monitoring

    Pre-onboarding: Know Your Client (KYC), Know ,Your Business (KYB), Client Due Diligence (CDD)
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"Diligence is the mother of good fortune." - Benjamin Disraeli

This quote emphasises the connection between hard work, thoroughness (diligence), and achieving positive outcomes. In the context of Know Your Client (KYC) and Client Due Diligence, it suggests that careful research and investigation are essential for making informed decisions and minimising risk.

Welcome - Pre-onboarding

Before we can book an initial consultation, we are required to pre-onboard our prospective clients.


Reason: 

We are required to comply with legal and regulatory requirements. We need to conduct  "Know Your Client"  and "Client Due Diligence" procedures. 


This is similar to the process you might experience when opening a bank account, and working with an accountant  These Anti-Money Laundering and Sanctions checks are mandatory practice in many sectors (e.g. legal, accountancy, estate agency, company formation, and the financial sector, etc.) 


Pre-onboarding Process: Quick, Secure, and Mandatory

Before we can schedule your initial appointment, we need to comply with legal and regulatory requirements. This involves initially, three simple steps:


  1. Identity Verification: Using a secure app, you'll be asked to complete a biometric identity check. This is similar to taking a selfie and only takes a few minutes.
  2. Source of Funds: We'll request access to a read-only copy of your bank statements via a secure app. This process is also quick and easy, taking just a few minutes.
  3. Questionnaire: Finally, we'll ask you to complete a pre-onboarding questionnaire, which should take approximately 10-15 minutes.


This client due diligence is conducted at the beginning and throughout our business relationship to ensure we meet our legal obligations and maintain the highest standards of security. 


We appreciate your cooperation and understanding.

Identification and Verification

Identity Verification: 

We are required to identify and verify our prospective clients are. We are required to do this before we start a business relationship with them.


Reason: It is a legal and regulatory requirement.


How: This is initially done by a biometric e-verification secure app This is similar to taking a selfie. You will also be requested to scan or upload an image of your passport and driving licence.


Time: This only takes a few minutes.

Source of Funds    

Source of Funds: We need to ascertain -  how you intend to fund your matter and where the funds originally came from. 


To assist with this request we will ask you to complete a source of funds check via a secure app. 


Reason: It is a  regulatory requirement to ascertain how you will fund your matter, and to ascertain the original source of your funding. 


How: This is initially done by secure app. 


Your responses: Depending on your responses, you will be prompted to provide information. E.g. if you state your funding is coming from your bank account, you will be asked for read only bank statements. 


(NB: The app is pre-set to request 12-months worth of bank statements, this is the pre-set by compliance tech provider, and we can't change this.)


Time: This process is also quick and easy, taking a few minutes.


N.B. Please note that this compliance technology was initially designed for conveyancing, as this has the highest risk of money laundering. So, the request may say how do you intend to fund your purchase, please take this to mean how do you intend to fund your matter. 

Pre-onboarding Questionnaire

Questionnaire: Finally, we'll ask you to complete a questionnaire, this is to find out more about you and your needs. 


The questionnaire is usually done prior to the initial appointment or it could be done within the first few minutes of the initial appointment. 


Reason: It is a regulatory requirement to know your client and undertake client due diligence for the purposes of legislation. As a result we are required to ask some further questions of all prospective clients. 


How: We can send you the online form, or the form will be made available at the initial appointment, for its completion.


Time: The questionnaire can take approximately 10-15 minutes


N.B. You may find that many questions are not applicable to you. 

Your Responses

Depending on your responses we may ask for more information and documentation.

Payment: Initial Fixed Fee Appointment

  • Your fixed fee initial appointment is paid in advance via our secure card payment app - this makes payment easy and secure.
  • After funds have been received we will contact you to schedule your in-person appointment.  

Do I need to bring anything to the Initial Fixed Fee Consultation?

  • We will ask you to bring to the initial fixed fee appointment 
  • your original passport and 
  • original driving licence.
    • If we require any further documents we will let you know before the initial fixed fee appointment. 

    Are Fixed Fee Appointments in Person?

    • Yes, initial fixed fee appointments are in-person. 

    Voluntary nature of Pre-Onboarding Process

    We seek your voluntary co-operation to enable us to comply with our legal and regulatory obligations. 


    You will find that an increasing number of professions are requiring compliance checks and documentation. These include estate agents, conveyancers, accountants, banks, financial institutions, casinos, company formation agencies and others


    If you not to comply with our requests for information and documentation, if we feel uncomfortable, or if we do not feel your matter is within our risk appetite, then we will not be able to proceed with on-boarding you as a client. 

    Is there a Charge for these Required Checks

    Yes, we are allowed to charge for these compliance checks.


    Please see our the individual fees page for further information about these Administrative Fees. 

    Please note that Compliance check Administrative Fees are in addition to the fixed fee or hourly rate.

    Administrative Fees are subject to vat which is currently 20%.


    Overview Fees Page

    Audit Fees

    Legal Fees

    Co-parent Mediation Fees

    Mediation Fees


    Ongoing Monitoring

    We are required to update the client due diligence regularly. So if there are any material changes in your circumstances you are required to inform us of the change immediately, We may also during the course of your matter ask you for information and documentation. 


    If you fail to provide this information and documentation, then we will not be able to continue to undertake work for you and the retainer will cease. We will bill you for the work we have untaken. You will need to find alternative provider who is likely to ask you for the information that we requested. 

    Quick Pre-onboarding FAQ

    Do Prospective Clients Comply?
    • In short, Yes.
    • As law firms work in the regulated industry, all firms will have on boarding processes. Thus, on boarding is inevitable, if you are seeking a service within a regulated industry. 
    What Happens If I Don't Comply?

    What Happens if I don't Comply?

    • Whilst you proceed through the pre-onboarding process, you are not a client of the firm. 
    • If you choose not to comply with our requests or for whatever reason we do not have the information we require or we do not feel comfortable  There is no obligation on us to take you on as a client. 
    • You will therefore have to seek assistance elsewhere. 
    How Long is the Process?

    How Long is the Process?

    • As pre-onboarding is client and matter specific. 
    • We will send you the requests and ask you to undertake the process and provide information and documentation. 
    • We will ask you to do so promptly or within a set time period. 
    • If there is a delay in execution, or delivery of information and documentation as requested, we may decide not to proceed with the on boarding process. 
    Is there a Charge for This?

    Is there a charge for you undertaking the on-boarding checks?

    • Yes. We are able to make a charge for the pre-onboarding inquiries even if either you or us decide not to proceed with the on-boarding process or if you do not become a client
    • Please see the relevant Fees Page on this website, then consider the section marked Administrative Fees. 
    What happens to the Data?

    What happens to the Data?

    Quick On-going Monitoring FAQ

    How long does On-going Monitoring take?

    How Long does On-going Monitoring Take?

    What looked like a small patch of purple grass, above five feet square, was moving across the sand in their direction. When it came near enough he perceived that it was not grass; there were no blades, but only purple roots. The roots were revolving, for each small plant in the whole patch, like the spokes of a rimless wheel.

    • Usually a short time.
    • We will request information and ask you to respond promptly or within a short time period.
    What Happens if I fail to Comply?

    What Happens if I fail to Comply?

    If you fail to comply, we will not be able to continue to work for you and our business relationship will terminate.

    What if I have any questions?

    If you have any questions

    If you have any questions, contact us. 

    Book your appointment today!

    Contact Us

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    See our Privacy Page

    See our Client Due Diligence Page

    See our Pre-onboarding Page

    Call Us:  020 4578 4684

    Get in Touch at Any Time

    Do not hesitate to contact us with any queries.

    Alexander Christian

    Harrow Business Centre

    429-433 Pinner Road

    North Harrow

    Middlesex

    Greater London

    HA1 4HN

    Phone : 020 4578 4684

    www.alexanderchristian.co.uk