Built by industry experts with deep experience in compliance and AML
ARP Law Firm
Streamlining compliance
with azakaw
ARP Law Firm is a full-service legal practice based in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), specialising in corporate, commercial, employment, private client, and litigation services. As a Designated Non-Financial Business Provider (DNFBP), the firm operates under strict AML/CFT compliance regulations, requiring robust KYC processes to mitigate risk and ensure regulatory adherence.
Badi Fattah, Head of Corporate & Commercial Practice and MLRO (Money Laundering Reporting Officer), plays a pivotal role in managing risk, overseeing client transactions, and ensuring regulatory compliance. However, traditional compliance methods posed significant challenges for the firm.
The challenge
Prior to implementing azakaw, ARP Law Firm depended on manual processes for client onboarding and due diligence. These methods proved to be both time-consuming and demanding on resources. Each new client necessitated collecting extensive documentation, engaging in numerous email exchanges, and conducting manual KYC checks, which consequently delayed the commencement of legal work.
Key challenges included:
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Lengthy onboarding due to slow, manual processes
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A significant weekly time burden on compliance tasks
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Inefficient monitoring of client profile changes
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Limited scalability under growing regulatory demands
Badi Fattah noted, "Onboarding clients was a cumbersome process. Gathering information, verifying documents, and ensuring compliance took up a third of our time each week".
Faced with these issues, the firm identified the need for a solution that was:
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Efficient
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Automated
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Cost-effective
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Tailored for DNFBPs
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Adaptable to local jurisdictional requirements
The solution
ARP Law Firm chose to partner with azakaw. Although azakaw has a global presence, its platform is designed to adapt to region-specific regulatory frameworks. Its established alignment with ADGM and Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) regulations was a key factor in the firm's decision.
ARP Law Firm worked closely with the azakaw team to customise the platform to suit their specific legal compliance workflows. While some adjustments were needed during integration, azakaw’s dedicated support team ensured a smooth rollout.
We explored other providers, but many were built for financial institutions and weren’t cost-effective for our needs. azakaw, on the other hand, was designed for firms like ours.
Badi Fattah
ARP Law Firm
User experience
The implementation of azakaw brought significant improvements:
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Clients now complete verification online
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Secure link submission for streamlined onboarding
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Centralised document collection
Badi Fattah highlighted the efficiency gains: "The ability to send clients a secure link, have them complete the process digitally, and receive all documents in one place has been a game changer". Clients can now complete their verification online, which removes delays caused by paperwork. The automation extends to ongoing monitoring.
"Instead of manually reviewing client profiles, azakaw alerts us to any changes or risks, allowing us to act proactively rather than reactively," Badi explained. He views azakaw not merely as a tool but as a "compliance partner".
The firm continues to collaborate with azakaw to refine the platform's capabilities for legal practices, with plans to utilise features like digital Know Your Business (KYB) and further automation in the future.
Outcome
Adopting azakaw delivered measurable benefits:
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30–50% reduction in client onboarding time
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Significant time savings - at least one-third of weekly hours reclaimed
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Streamlined compliance monitoring through automation
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Enhanced scalability, eliminating the need for additional headcount
The automation of compliance processes has led to a substantial decrease in administrative workload, freeing up the team to concentrate on core legal services. Badi Fattah confirmed this, stating, "We’re saving at least a third of our time weekly, time we can now dedicate to our clients". Real-time compliance tracking has replaced manual monitoring, ensuring continuous risk assessment without manual intervention.
Furthermore, azakaw's scalability enables the firm to manage expanding compliance requirements effectively without the need to hire additional personnel. This digital transformation has not only improved operational efficiency and reduced risk exposure but has also established a future-ready compliance strategy for the firm.
Badi Fattah concluded, "The cost of compliance is high, but the cost of non-compliance is limitless. azakaw has given us the ability to manage risk, streamline compliance, and focus on what matters most - our clients".
ARP Law Firm
Industry: Law Industry
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Key Results
The integration of azakaw’s platform had a significant impact on ARP Law Firm’s operations.
Onboarding Time Cut by 30%-50%: The shift from manual processes to azakaw's automated platform reduced client onboarding time by 30-50%. "The ability to send clients a secure link, have them complete the process digitally, and receive all documents in one place has been a game changer,” Badi Fattah shared.
Improved Compliance Accuracy: Automation has drastically improved accuracy, eliminating errors during client onboarding and ongoing monitoring. Badi Fattah states, “Instead of manually reviewing client profiles, azakaw alerts us to any changes or risks, allowing us to act proactively rather than reactively.
Significant Time Savings: Automation of compliance tasks has led to a substantial decrease in administrative workload, freeing up the team to concentrate on core legal services. Badi Fattah confirmed this, stating, "We’re saving at least a third of our time weekly, time we can now dedicate to our clients.
