The compliance paradox: from administrative nightmare to automated vigilance in the Belgian legal profession

Belgian law firms are operating in a fundamentally different compliance landscape than they did just a decade ago. Lawyers are no longer seen solely as trusted advisors, protected by professional secrecy, but increasingly as gatekeepers of the financial system. Anti-Money Laundering (AML) legislation, Client Due Diligence (CDD), UBO verification and sanctions screening have become embedded in the daily reality of legal practice. The challenge is not a lack of willingness within the profession. It is the growing mismatch between regulatory expectations and operational feasibility.