Regulators will demand that law firms named in the published Panama Papers show they have acted within the rules.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority confirmed today that it plans to contact each of the England and Wales firms among the 11.5 million documents leaked from the Panamanian firm Mossack Fonseca.
There is no suggestion any UK firm has breached any rules. Firms will have two weeks to reply and show what advice they provided to individuals and companies linked to the papers.
An SRA spokesman said: ‘We are writing to those firms identified in the media as being linked to the Panama Papers to ask for assurances they have looked into the matter and have acted appropriately.’
It is understood the SRA has been in regular contact this week with the Financial Conduct Authority, which has already asked 20 banks to check if they have links to Mossack Fonseca. The banks have been given until 15 April to respond.
City firm Simmons & Simmons is reported to have advised the directors of investment fund Blairmore Holdings Inc, where Ian Cameron – late father of prime minister David – was a director. The firm made no comment in response to the Gazette’s enquiry.
A second City firm, Holman Fenwick Willan, is reportedly named as an advisor to UAE president Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
In a statement, Mossack Fonseca has said its services are regulated on multiple levels and it has a strong compliance record.
It added: ‘Many of our clients come through established and reputable law firms and financial institutions across the world, including the major correspondent banks, which are also bound by international "know your client" protocols and their own domestic regulations and laws.’
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