Singapore legislation

Regulation 18A

of Legal Profession (Prevention of Money Laundering, Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation Financing) Rules 2015

Regulation 18A

Group policy for branches and subsidiaries

Amended byS 473/2025 wef 01/07/2025

Subregulation 1

This rule applies to a Singapore law practice which has, whether in Singapore or in a foreign country or territory —

(a)

any branch; or

(b)

any subsidiary where more than 50% of the shares or other equity interests of the subsidiary are owned by the Singapore law practice.

Subregulation 2

The Singapore law practice must implement group-wide programmes for the prevention of money laundering, the financing of terrorism and proliferation financing that apply to, and are appropriate for, every branch and subsidiary mentioned in paragraph (1).

Subregulation 3

The group-wide programmes mentioned in paragraph (2) must include —

(a)

the measures specified in rule 18(2), and for this purpose a reference to the law practice’s partners, directors and employees in rule 18(2)(f) is a reference to the partners, directors and employees of the law practice and every branch and subsidiary mentioned in paragraph (1); and

(b)

subject to paragraph (4), measures to share information —

(i)

between the Singapore law practice’s branches and subsidiaries, and the Singapore law practice; and

(ii)

among the Singapore law practice’s branches and subsidiaries,for the purpose of performing customer due diligence measures or managing the risks of money laundering, the financing of terrorism and proliferation financing.

Subregulation 4

The measures mentioned in paragraph (3)(b) —

(a)

must incorporate adequate safeguards to —

(i)

protect the confidentiality and use of any information that is shared; and

(ii)

not tip off any person arising from any information that is shared (including to not share the information, where appropriate); and

(b)

only apply to the extent permitted by the law of the foreign country or territory that the Singapore law practice’s branch or subsidiary (as the case may be) is in.

Subregulation 5

Amended byS 473/2025 wef 01/07/2025

The Singapore law practice must, as far as possible, ensure that every branch and subsidiary referred to in paragraph (1) operating in a foreign country or territory applies measures for the prevention of money laundering, the financing of terrorism and proliferation financing that are consistent with the measures for the prevention of money laundering, the financing of terrorism and proliferation financing that are applicable in Singapore.