Doug Cornelius on compliance for private equity real estate
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has gotten more active in fighting money laundering. While the last administration mostly focused on putting parties on the sanctions list, the current administration is looking to expand regulatory requirements. One of the several initiative recently launched is targeted at real estate. On December 8, FinCEN announced an Advance Notice … Read more »
With the release of the Pandora Papers, there is a renewed focus on the illicit movement of money and filling the holes in anti-money laundering rules. “The Washington Post and other news organizations exposed the involvement of political leaders, examined the growth of the industry within the United States and demonstrated how secrecy shields assets … Read more »
The Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 brought art dealers under the umbrella of anti-money laundering regulation. Section 6110(a) of the AML Act amends the definition of “financial institution” under the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) to include persons “engaged in the trade of antiquities” and directs FinCEN to promulgate implementing regulations. The value of fine art … Read more »
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Examinations released a Risk Alert on Compliance Issues Related to Suspicious Activity Monitoring and Reporting at Broker-Dealers. While it spent most of the publication laying out the vague requirements of reporting suspicious activity, it took a sharp turn and listed six types of activities that the SEC would … Read more »
There are a few places around the world that you know you can’t do business with. Iran and North Korea have very strict limitations. If it pops up that your business partner wants to ship your products to one of these countries, it’s time to get legal and compliance on the phone before you agree … Read more »
I’m not sure what Anti-Money Laundering has to do with the United States military, but Congress included big changes to anti-money laundering law in the National Defense Authorization Act for 2021. After a veto by President Trump and an override by Congress, NDAA has become the law, including Section 6401-6403, the Corporate Transparency Act. It’s … Read more »
Anti-money laundering 101 is to lookout for for terrorists, drug kingpins and oligarchs. You don’t want to do business with these people because they are on the government enforcement lists. AML 102 is to look out for “politically exposed persons.” The international Financial Action Task Force defines a “politically exposed person as: “an individual who … Read more »
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued its latest collection of Frequently Asked Questions on the requirements for Customer Due Diligence requirements for Covered Financial Institutions. For anyone looking for decisive answers and bright-line tests, you’ll have to look elsewhere. The answers will leave you wondering why FinCEN even bothered to publish this answers. Private fund … Read more »
The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is published A Framework for OFAC Compliance Commitments. OFAC wants to provide organizations its perspective on the essential components of a sanctions compliance program. “As the United States continues to enhance our sanctions programs, ensuring that the private sector implements strong and effective compliance … Read more »
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network announced the issuance of revised Geographic Targeting Orders. The threshold for reporting has been reduced down to $300,000 for all-cash purchases of residential real estate. The geographic scope has been expanded to now include nine cities: Boston; Chicago; Dallas-Fort Worth; Honolulu; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Miami; New York City; San Antonio; … Read more »