Money Laundering
Expert Legal Representation for Money Laundering Charges
Money laundering charges are complex and often involve allegations of links to organised crime, financial fraud, and international transactions. Convictions can lead to severe penalties, including lengthy imprisonment and asset forfeiture. Successfully defending these charges requires a lawyer with extensive experience in financial crime, forensic accounting, and challenging prosecution evidence.
Steven Lack is a specialist criminal defence barrister with over a decade of experience representing individuals accused of money laundering and financial crime. He has acted in some of New Zealand’s most significant cases, defending clients facing allegations of processing illicit funds, structuring transactions, and participating in organised criminal networks. His expertise in challenging financial transaction evidence, forensic banking reports, and regulatory compliance issues provides clients with a strong defence.
Why Choose Steven for your Money Laundering Defence?
Extensive Experience in Financial Crime Defence: Successfully defended clients in complex money laundering cases before the High Court of New Zealand.
Expertise in Organised Crime Cases: Regularly represents individuals accused of laundering proceeds linked to drug trafficking and international syndicates.
Challenging Financial Evidence: Experienced in cross-examining forensic accountants, financial analysts, and regulatory experts.
Strategic Defence Planning: Meticulous case preparation, including deep analysis of banking transactions, financial documents, and electronic evidence.
Defending Money Laundering Charges
Money laundering cases often involve complex financial transactions, international banking laws, and extensive digital evidence. A successful defence strategy requires:
Challenging the Source of Funds: Demonstrating that financial transactions were legitimate and not linked to criminal activity.
Scrutinising Transaction Patterns: Examining whether alleged suspicious transactions had lawful business justifications.
Forensic Analysis of Banking Records: Identifying errors in forensic accounting reports that weaken the prosecution’s case.
Challenging Association Evidence: Disputing allegations of criminal involvement based on financial interactions alone.
Proceeds of Crime Act Defences: Arguing against the unlawful seizure of assets and proceeds.
Regulatory & Compliance Defence: Establishing that transactions complied with New Zealand’s financial laws.
Steven takes a proactive approach to defending money laundering cases, ensuring that every piece of financial evidence is rigorously tested to provide his clients with the strongest defence.
Notable Case Experience
R v N & Ors
Defended a client who was the director of a construction business which was alleged to have been operating as a front company to launder the proceeds of large-scale drug importation and distribution being conducted by an organised crime syndicate. Following a careful analysis of the financial evidence and a succesful cross-examination of the forensic accountant called by the Crown, the charges were dismissed part-way through the High Court trial.
R v T & Anor
Defended a client who’s partner had been found guilty of commercial drug dealing. She had been charged with money laundering in relation to various deposits into bank accounts and purchases made during the period which her partner was drug dealing. She was a successful business and it was able to be estanlished that the a large portion of the money which the Crown asserted was from drug dealing was in fact from legitimate business sources. The quantum of the offending was reduced significantly as a result.
R v W & Ors
Represented a client charged with money laundering for his alleged involvement in the purchase of a high value home with the proceeds of a commercial drug importation conducted by an organised crime syndicate. The case involved complex financial evidence and conjoint proceeds of crime litigation.
Understanding the Legal Process
If charged with money laundering, understanding the legal process is crucial:
Investigation & Arrest: If under investigation or arrested, obtaining legal representation immediately is critical.
Bail & Pre-Trial Hearings: Strong advocacy at the bail stage is essential to protecting rights and freedoms.
Case Preparation: This includes analysing financial records, consulting forensic accountants, and formulating defence strategies.
Trial: In court, Steven will rigorously challenge the prosecution’s case, cross-examining financial experts and exposing weaknesses in the evidence.
Secure the Best Defence for Money Laundering Charges
For individuals facing money laundering allegations, securing a lawyer with experience in complex financial crime and high-stakes trials is essential. Contact Steven today for an initial consultation.