Maureen Ward speaks with CBA National
Magazine on what lawyers need to watch for to keep from getting
caught up in a money laundering scheme.
"We've seen a substantial uptick in financial crime
lately, and Canada is a very popular target for that sort of
activity," she says.
Maureen points out that Canada's law enforcement regime,
which tackles financial crime, is sophisticated but under-resourced
compared to the volume of illicit financial
flows—particularly when compared to enforcement in the United
States.
"Bennett Jones is a big firm and we have a lot of stringent
processes and internal checks to ensure we comply both with the
regulations and law society guidance," Maureen says. "But
all firms have an obligation to protect themselves. Small firms
don't get a pass just because they're small."
