The Financial Action Task Force (“FATF”) has re-rated the U.S. as “largely compliant” with FATF’s Recommendation 24, which pertains to transparency related to beneficial ownership of legal persons. Specifically, FATF...more
Law Enforcement Has Been Using GTO Data - First of Two Posts on Evolving Issues Regarding Real Estate and Money Laundering - The U.S. Government Accountability Office (“GAO”) has issued a report on the status and...more
Beneficial ownership is a topic which presents significant challenges to compliance officers charged with untangling a web of ownership interests that span numerous international jurisdictions and ownership structures. ...more
The U.S. Department of the Treasury 2020 Strategy (National Strategy for Combating Terrorist and Other Illicit Financing released on February 6, 2020) describes ongoing significant AML/CFT threats. ...more
First in a Two-Post Series - The U.S. Department of Treasury (“Treasury”) has issued its 2020 National Strategy for Combating Terrorist and Other Illicit Financing (“2020 Strategy”)....more
As we blogged yesterday, the issue of the beneficial ownership of entities and the potentially pernicious role of shell companies in perpetuating money laundering is the primary anti-money laundering (“AML”) concern across...more
U.S. House Passes Corporate Transparency Act; FATF Issues Guidance on Identifying Entities’ Beneficial Owners - First Post in a Two-Post Series on Beneficial Ownership - As we often blog, the issue of the beneficial...more
The European Union (“EU”) recently has grappled with a series of massive money laundering scandals and strategized about how to more effectively combat international money laundering and corruption. Generally, the EU has...more
Testimony Supports Bill Requiring States to Collect Beneficial Ownership Information at Entity Formation - As we have blogged, the proposed Corporate Transparency Act of 2019 (the “Act”) seeks to ensure that persons who...more
In late June, Representatives Carolyn Maloney and Peter King of New York introduced The Corporate Transparency Act of 2017 (the “Act”). In August, Senators Ron Wyden and Marco Rubio introduced companion legislation in the...more
On September 15th, FinCEN issued its latest “Advisory on FATF-Identified Jurisdictions with AML/CTF Deficiencies.” The FATF, or the Financial Action Task Force, is a 37-member intergovernmental body, including the United...more
FinCEN has announced the expansion of its Geographical Targeting Orders (GTOs) for high-end cash buyers of real estate. The expansion is two-fold. First, FinCEN has expanded the scope of Form 8300 reportable transactions to...more
FinCEN announced today that it is renewing the existing Geographical Targeting Orders (GTOs) issued in July 2016 that require all title insurance companies to identify and report on the natural persons behind shell companies...more