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A planned inspection by the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) into Lusaka-based law firm D. Findlay & Partners has escalated into a legal battle, with the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) warning that the move threatened constitutionally protected lawyer–client confidentiality.
LAZ has formally applied to join ongoing judicial review proceedings in which D. Findlay & Partners is seeking to stop what the firm describes as an intrusive and unlawful inspection.
The association argues that the FIC’s planned full-scope Anti-Money Laundering, Countering Terrorism and Proliferation Financing (AML/CTPF) review risks violating Legal Professional Privilege (LPP) — a cornerstone of the legal profession.
According to filings before the Lusaka High Court, the firm was notified on 19 February 2026 that the inspection would run from 2–6 March 2026, purportedly under Sections 11A and 11B of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act No. 46 of 2010.
In response, D. Findlay & Partners filed for leave to commence judicial review proceedings against the FIC and the Attorney General, seeking to block the inspection entirely.
LAZ president Lungisani Zulu, in an affidavit supporting the association’s bid to be joined to the case, said the matter goes far beyond the interests of a single law firm.
“The intended inspection directly threatens the sanctity of Legal Professional Privilege and the confidentiality of advocate–client communications,” Zulu stated.
He argued that LAZ—established under the Law Association of Zambia Act and mandated to regulate the legal profession—has a duty to intervene where actions by State agencies risk undermining constitutional protections and the independence of the legal profession.
Zulu added that the association’s participation would help the court resolve the complex legal and constitutional issues raised, noting that High Court and Supreme Court rules allow the joinder of any party necessary for effective determination of a matter.
He further stressed that including LAZ in the proceedings would not prejudice the respondents, but instead ensure that the broader implications for legal practice and professional regulation are fully considered.
The case revolves around D. Findlay & Partners, the law firm linked to Dessislava Findlay, who is married to businessman Harry Findlay.
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