King & Co (King & Co Solicitors)
238 High Street, Cottenham, Cambridge , CB24 8RZ
Recognised body
54180

Decision - Agreement

Outcome: Regulatory settlement agreement

Outcome date: 30 March 2026

Published date: 14 April 2026

Firm details

No detail provided:

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by agreement.

Decision details

Agreed outcome

King & Co (the Firm), a recognised body authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) agrees to the following outcome to the investigation:

1. King & Co is fined £17,430 under Rule 3.1 (b) of the SRA Regulatory and Disciplinary Procedure Rules (RDPRs).
2. to the publication of this agreement under Rule 9.2 of the RDPRs.
3. King & Co will pay the costs of the investigation of £600, under Rule 10.1 and schedule 1 of the RDPRs.

Summary of Facts

We carried out an investigation into the firm following a review by our AML Proactive Supervision team.      

Our investigation identified areas of concern in relation to the firm’s compliance with the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (MLRs 2017), the SRA Principles 2011, the SRA Code of Conduct 2011, the SRA Principles [2019] and the SRA Code of Conduct for Firms [2019]. 

Allegations

Between 26 June 2017 and 19 December 2025, the firm failed to establish and maintain fully compliant policies, controls, and procedures (PCPs) to mitigate and effectively manage the risks of money laundering and terrorist financing, identified in any risk assessment (FWRA), pursuant to Regulation 19(1)(a) of the MLRs 2017, and regularly review and update them pursuant to Regulation 19(1)(b) of the MLRs 2017.

In four of six files reviewed, the firm failed to assess the level of risk, as required by Regulation 28(12) and Regulation 28(13) of the MLRs 2017.

In four of six files reviewed, the firm failed to conduct ongoing monitoring, including scrutiny of transactions (including, where necessary, the customer’s source of funds), as required by Regulation 28(11)(a) of the MLRs 2017.

Admissions

The firm admits, and the SRA accepts, that by failing to comply with the MLRs 2017, that it breached, for conduct up to 24 November 2019 (when the SRA Handbook 2011 was in force): 

1. Principle 6 of the SRA Principles 2011 – which states you must behave in a way that maintains the trust the public places in you and in the provisions of legal services.  
2. Principle 8 of the SRA Principles 2011 – which states you must run in your business or carry out your role in the business effectively and in accordance with proper governance and sound financial risk management principles.    

and the firm failed to achieve: 

3. Outcome 7.2 of the SRA Code of Conduct 2011 – which states you have effective systems and controls in place to achieve and comply with all the Principles, rules and outcomes and other requirements of the Handbook, where applicable.
4. Outcome 7.5 of the SRA Code of Conduct 2011 – which states you comply with legislation applicable to your business, including anti-money laundering and data protection legislation.     

and from 25 November 2019 (when the SRA Standards and Regulations came into force), the firm breached:   

5. Principle 2 of the SRA Principles [2019] – which states you act in a way that upholds public trust and confidence in the solicitors' profession and in legal services provided by authorised persons.
6. Paragraph 2.1(a) of the SRA Code of Conduct for Firms [2019] – which states you have effective governance structures, arrangements, systems and controls in place that ensure you comply with all the SRA's regulatory arrangements, as well as with other regulatory and legislative requirements, which apply to you.  
7. Paragraph 3.1 of the SRA Code of Conduct for Firms [2019] – which states that you keep up to date with and follow the law and regulation governing the way you work. 

Why a fine is an appropriate outcome

The SRA’s Enforcement Strategy sets out its approach to the use of its enforcement powers where there has been a failure to meet its standards or requirements.

When considering the appropriate sanctions and controls in this matter, the SRA has taken into account the admissions made by the firm and the following mitigation:

1. There is no evidence of harm to consumers, or third parties, and our view is that the risk of repetition is low.
2. The firm took steps to rectify its failures and has since implemented compliant PCPs, ensured that all files in scope of the MLRs 2017 include a completed CMRA and has carried out training with its staff in relation to SoF.
3. The firm has cooperated with the SRA’s AML Proactive Supervision and AML Investigations teams.

The SRA considers that a fine is the appropriate outcome because:

1. The conduct showed a disregard for statutory and regulatory obligations and had the potential to cause harm, by facilitating dubious transactions that could have led to money laundering (and/or terrorist financing). The AML control failings identified as part of this investigation are necessary requirements to help mitigate against these risks.
2. It was incumbent on the firm to meet the requirements set out in the MLRs 2017. The firm failed to do so. The public would expect a firm of solicitors to comply with its legal and regulatory obligations, to protect against these risks as a bare minimum. 
3. The agreed outcome is a proportionate outcome in the public interest because it creates a credible deterrent to others and the issuing of such a sanction signifies the risk to the public, and the legal sector, that arises when solicitors do not comply with anti-money laundering legislation and their professional regulatory rules.

Rule 4.1 of the Regulatory and Disciplinary Procedure Rules states that a financial penalty may be appropriate to maintain professional standards and uphold public confidence in the solicitors' profession and in legal services provided by authorised persons. There is nothing within this Agreement which conflicts with Rule 4.1 of the Regulatory and Disciplinary Rules and on that basis, a financial penalty is appropriate.

Amount of the fine

The amount of the fine has been calculated in line with the SRA’s published guidance on its approach to setting an appropriate financial penalty (the Guidance).

Having regard to the Guidance, the SRA and the firm agree that the nature of the misconduct was more serious (score of three). This is because the firm’s failure to ensure it had proper documentation in place shows a persistent disregard of the firm’s regulatory obligations. This is more serious given the lack of CMRAs and SoF at file level, which translated to a poor understanding of the risks posed by clients and matters.

The firm only became compliant with the MLRs 2017 because of our AML desk-based review and guidance we have provided. The breach has arisen because of a failure to pay sufficient regard to money laundering regulations, published guidance and SRA warning notices.  

The firm has failed to ensure that it was fully compliant with its statutory obligations until 19 December 2025, a period of over eight years since the MLRs 2017 came into effect (notwithstanding the firm’s previous obligations under Regulation 7(3) of the MLRs 2007).

The SRA considers, and the firm agrees, that the impact of the misconduct was medium (score of four). This is because the nature of conveyancing is considered high-risk, owing to the risk of abuse of the system by criminals. The firm currently undertakes more than 90% of its work within scope of the MLRs, predominantly via conveyancing.

As highlighted in our Sectoral Risk Assessment, conveyancing is considered a high risk area for money laundering and terrorist financing, placing the firm at heightened risk of being used to launder illicit funds. While our review did not identify any direct loss to clients or actual harm resulting from the firm’s failure to maintain appropriate documentation, our assessment is its policies, controls, and procedures were not compliant with the Money Laundering Regulations 2017.

The nature and impact scores add up to seven. This places the penalty in Band ‘C’ as directed by the Guidance.

The SRA and the firm agree that a basic penalty in the middle of the bracket to be appropriate.

Based on the evidence the firm has provided of its annual domestic turnover for 2025/2026, this results in a basic penalty of £19,366.

The SRA considers that the basic penalty should be reduced to £17,430. This reduction reflects the mitigation set out in paragraph 5.2 above.

The firm does not appear to have made any financial gain or received any other benefit as a result of its conduct. Therefore, no adjustment is necessary, and the financial penalty is £17,430.

Publication

Rule 9.2 of the SRA Regulatory and Disciplinary Procedure Rules states that any decision under Rule 3.1 or 3.2, including a Financial Penalty, shall be published unless the particular circumstances outweigh the public interest in publication. 

The SRA considers it appropriate that this agreement is published as there are no circumstances that outweigh the public interest in publication, and it is in the interest of transparency in the regulatory and disciplinary process.  

Acting in a way which is inconsistent with this agreement

The firm agrees that it will not deny the admissions made in this agreement or act in any way which is inconsistent with it.  

If the firm denies the admissions, or acts in a way which is inconsistent with this agreement, the conduct which is subject to this agreement may be considered further by the SRA. That may result in a disciplinary outcome or a referral to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal on the original facts and allegations.   

Acting in a way which is inconsistent with this agreement may also constitute a separate breach of principles 2 and 5 of the Principles and paragraph 3.2 of the Code of Conduct for Firms

Costs

The firm agrees to pay the costs of the SRA’s investigation in the sum of £600.