Author: Anonymous

What is the purpose of the SRA Financial Services (Conduct of Business) Rules (“the CoB Rules”)?

Which of the following is NOT a warning sign referred to in the Law Society’s Latest Guidance on Mortgage Fraud?

The clients are eager to begin saving for when their children are older and for future university fees. State one investment product they might consider to achieve this goal and why.

A solicitor transfers client funds, which they know are not from a legitimate source, to a bank account in the Cayman Islands, in the name of another individual.  The solicitor is at risk of committing an offence under which of the following provisions?

What records need to be kept by firms which can carry on the work referred to in Questions 22 and 23, above?

If a solicitor acts for a lay executor in administering an estate, which exclusion can they NOT use in selling the stocks and shares of the estate?

The client’s bankers are insisting on him taking out a life policy to cover a loan to one of his companies.  They have required that life policies be taken out on several key directors. Can you advise on and/or arrange these policies under the Scope Rules?

What is the personal allowance for investment in an Individual Savings Account (“ISA”) during 2021/22?

You have been approached by a director of one of the firm’s corporate clients.  He is seeking some general investment advice for himself and his wife. He has an income of £120,000 per annum and has just received a lump sum bonus of £15,000.  His wife works part-time for a charity, earning £35,000 per annum.  They have two children, aged 4 and 6. In respect of his current portfolio, the client advises you that they have an outstanding mortgage on their main home and a holiday property in Spain, which is not mortgaged. Both clients have relatively small sums in occupational/workplace pension plans.  They are particularly concerned about their retirement provision and are considering further personal pension investment. They have about £60,000 in total, spread across several bank and building society savings accounts, but no other forms of investment. Assume that your firm is authorised by the FCA and you are an approved person. What are the four main areas or objectives that need to be considered when advising on personal financial planning?

Your client, Bigwigs Plc, is currently restructuring.  You have been instructed to do the legal work on the sale of some shares in a subsidiary and on the purchase of a target company called Bodgco Ltd.  The sale is to a director of the subsidiary, who already owns 10% of the shares and will take a further 35% of the shares.  Due to weighted voting rights on one class of shares, the 45% will give the director effective control. As he is very busy, the Chief Executive of Bigwigs Plc has arranged for you to have a Power of Attorney to sign certain documents on his behalf. What initial steps would you take in this matter to comply with your obligations under the anti-money laundering regime?