Verlata Consulting Launches Risk and Compliance Team for Law Firms

Verlata Consulting announced the launch of its dedicated Risk & Compliance Team, a new division led by experienced legal sector professional Claire Pedley. This expansion marks a significant step in Verlata’s commitment to helping law firms navigate growing regulatory obligations across Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the UK, and beyond.

The newly formed team will support firms with risk management, privacy obligations, customer onboarding, AML/CTF compliance, and information governance. Leveraging our tenured experience with software project delivery and expanding into advisory and training services in the near future. Joining Claire are Solution Consultant Ben Lowry, Project Manager Erin Stoker, and Technical Consultant Mike Cristie, with further team growth planned, including the addition of advisory and legal expertise.

“Risk and compliance are no longer peripheral concerns — they are now central to how firms operate and how they build trust with clients,” said Steve Pickering, CFIO of Verlata Consulting. “The formation of this team reflects our vision: to empower firms with the expertise, tools, and confidence they need to thrive in an increasingly regulated global environment.”

Claire Pedley, who brings deep experience as a former law firm General Manager and Compliance Officer, added: “For firms, compliance isn’t just about meeting requirements, it’s about ensuring efficiency, safeguarding client data, and creating confidence at every step. Our team has lived the realities of law firm operations and can provide practical, tailored support that delivers real impact.”

This launch comes at a time of heightened regulatory change. In Australia, Tranche 2 AML/CTF reforms are set to expand obligations across the legal sector. In the UK, evolving SRA standards continue to raise the bar for firm-wide risk management, while New Zealand firms face ongoing challenges related to privacy, data sovereignty, and governance, and Singapore faces similar AML/CTF obligations. Verlata’s new team will ensure law firms in every region can respond to these demands with clarity, efficiency, and confidence.

The team’s high-level vision is threefold:

• Simplify compliance with confidence – Deliver expert AML, risk, privacy, and information governance services tailored to the legal sector.
• Empower firms through technology – Implement leading compliance and governance platforms to create visibility, control, and efficiencies.
• Build trust and resilience – Help firms meet obligations, safeguard data, and strengthen client confidence.

With more than 500 law firms supported globally across New Zealand, Australia, the UK, Singapore, and Japan, Verlata Consulting continues to blend deep industry insight with technology-driven consulting to deliver measurable outcomes. The Risk & Compliance Team represents the next stage of that journey, expanding beyond system implementation into trusted advisory services for law firms preparing for the future.

For any inquiry about Verlata Consulting or to find out more about the Risk and Compliance team, visit: Legal AML — Verlata Consulting or contact: enquiries@verlata.com.