Supervision reprimands for the lawyers who assisted Rød-Larsen and Juul with the Frogner apartment
The Norwegian Bar Association has reprimanded two lawyers for breaching regulations in their assistance to Terje Rød-Larsen and Mona Juul during the purchase of a Frogner apartment linked to Jeffrey Epstein.
The Norwegian Bar Association has investigated the involvement of two Norwegian lawyers in the controversial purchase of a Frogner apartment by Terje Rød-Larsen and Mona Juul, which had connections to Jeffrey Epstein. The inquiry revealed significant breaches of legal requirements related to anti-money laundering laws, particularly concerning client due diligence. Despite the seriousness of these violations, the lawyers received a reprimand but will not face sanctions that would revoke their legal licenses.
One of the lawyers, Kåre Moljord, is noted to have had direct contact with Epstein during the negotiations for the apartment, while his colleague Erling Høyte dealt with the financial transactions involved in the deal. Their roles have raised concerns about the thoroughness of compliance with legal standards typically expected in such transactions, especially given the notorious background of Epstein and his connections. As a result, the Bar Association emphasized the necessity of rigorous adherence to the regulatory framework governing money laundering and client verification.
Moljord has publicly acknowledged his shortcomings regarding proper case registration, confirmation of assignments, and insufficient documentation as cited by the Bar Association's review. This incident may prompt further scrutiny of legal practices within Norway, especially in cases involving high-profile figures. The decision to only reprimand the lawyers suggests a balancing act between accountability and preserving professional licenses in a context of significant legal and ethical lapses.