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February 20, 2023

West Coast Anti Money-Laundering Forum

West Coast Anti-Money Laundering Forum

May 7-9, 2025

West Coast Anti-Money Laundering Forum is a San Francisco-based conference that fosters continuous learning on a variety of financial crime compliance topics, facilitates public-private sector partnership, and supports networking opportunities among industry professionals. 

This year's conference will be held May 7-9, 2025 at the Marines’ Memorial Club & Hotel in San Francisco, California. 

Registration is now open! To receive updates about the event, join our mailing list using the subscribe form below. We look forward to seeing you!

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West Coast AML is supported by

OUR STORY

About WCAML

Over thirty years ago, a small group of San Francisco-based bankers began meeting with local representatives from IRS Criminal Investigation over lunch to discuss Bank Secrecy Act-related matters. This causal meeting evolved into the West Coast Anti-Money Laundering Forum, a nationally recognized conference where industry professionals, regulators, and law enforcement come together with common goals: to better understand financial crime-related challenges, learn about current industry topics and trends, and build cooperative relationships.

The conference is planned and executed by a group of volunteers from the financial services industry and law enforcement. The agenda encompasses a variety of timely topics, including law enforcement case studies, industry best practices, regulatory updates, and more. Attendance is limited and press is not allowed, creating an opportunity for candid discussion and networking. 

Mission

The West Coast Anti-Money Laundering Forum provides compliance professionals, regulators, and law enforcement an opportunity to openly and candidly exchange information, share best practices, and learn about timely topics in the fight against financial crime. 

Vision

Attendees of West Coast Anti-Money Laundering Forum increase their knowledge and develop a professional network that supports career growth, learning, and the prevention and detection of financial crimes. 

Who we are

Leadership Team

The West Coast Anti Money Laundering Forum is put on by a dedicated group of volunteers, with a wealth of experience in financial crime compliance. Whether through their innovative ideas, tireless work ethic, or unwavering commitment to our mission, this team truly embodies the spirit of our forum.

Executive Committee

Kevin Lowell -
Chair

Gina Jurva -
Co-Chair

Attorney

Lynn Antolin

Federal Agency Partner

Nicole Beranger

Federal Agency Partner

Jennifer Chiou

Federal Agency Partner

Kristina French

Crowe LLP

Erik Vingelen

Banner Bank

Nicki Kenyon

Institute for Financial Integrity

Darren Lian

Federal Agency Partner

Rio Miner

Refine Intelligence

Alissa Mojica

SchoolsFirst FCU

Jas Randhawa

StrategyBRIX

Joe Robinson

Hummingbird

Mar-Dinnah Tomke

CTBC Bank Corp

Melissa Triplett

Pacific Premier Bank

Mark Twitchell

Federal Agency Partner

Board of Directors

Anthony Orlando – Chairman

East West Bank

Melissa Strait

Coinbase

Shannon Hodges

BDO USA

Maria Alvarez - Treasurer

Amanda Connell - Secretary

First Northern Bank

Advisory Board

Babette Bilger

Umpqua Bank

Chuck Taylor

NASDAQ Verafin

Arjun Kalra

Crowe LLP

Dennis Lormel

DML Associates, LLC



Agenda

7:30am – 8:30am

Registration and Continental Breakfast  

8:45am – 9:00am

Welcome

Kevin Lowell, Chair
Gina Jurva, Co-Chair
West Coast AML Forum
9:00am – 9:25am
Public and Private Partnership Keynote

Building Effective Teams to Combat Financial Crime

Marina Torres, Partner, Willkie Farr
Former United States Department of Justice
9:30am – 10:25am

A Fireside Chat with FinCEN’s Former Director

Moderator: Kevin Lowell, Chair, West Coast AML Forum
Kenneth Blanco, former FinCEN Director, former Assistant Attorney General, United States Department of Justice
10:25am – 10:45am

Networking Break

10:45am – 11:30am

LA Confidential: Convergence of a Real Estate Boom, Financial Crime and Corruption in LA’S City Hall

Moderator: Gina Jurva, Co-Chair, West Coast AML Forum
Cassie Palmer, Assistant United States Attorney
Susan Har, Assistant United States Attorney
Brian Faerstein, Assistant United States Attorney
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California
11:30am – 11:50am
Cyber Crime Keynote

Stopping the Flow of Money Laundering Tied to Cybercrime

Omer Meisel, Executive Vice President, FINRA
National Cause & Financial Crimes Detection Program
11:50am – 1:15pm

Lunch

1:15pm – 2:15pm

Sanctions Update: An Evaluation of Current OFAC Enforcement Trends and Evolving Evasion Techniques

Moderator: Mehrnoush Yazdanyar, Founder, Yazdanyar Law
Alice Rojas, Managing Director
Americas Head of Sanctions, Societe General
Alessio Evangelista, Partner
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
Former Senior Leader, U.S. Department of Treasury
Mariah Rodriquez, Managing Director, BDO
2:15pm – 3:10pm

TD Bank Guilty Plea: Pitfalls and Takeaways for Compliance Professionals

Moderator: Marietou Diouf, Counsel, White & Case
Patrick Dutton, Global Head of Financial Crimes Analytics, Monitoring, and Surveillance, Wells Fargo
Aixa Maldonado, Partner, Zeichner, Ellman & Krause
3:10pm – 3:30pm

Networking Break

3:30pm – 4:15pm

The Wynn Case: Casinos, Cash and the Collapse of an International Money Laundering Network

Moderator: Nina Marino, Partner, Kaplan Marino
Daniel Silva, Shareholder, Buchalter
4:15pm – 5:00pm

Regulatory Roundtable: A Survey of the Current Landscape

Moderator: Maleka Ali, President, Arc-Serv
Kimberly Schaefer, BSA/AML Lead Expert, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
Nicole Murray, Financial Crimes Director, New York Department of Financial Services
Cathy Philpott, Senior Financial Institution Banking Examiner, State of California, Department of Business Oversight
5:00pm – 5:15pm

Presentation of Banker’s Award

7:30am – 8:30am

Continental Breakfast

8:30am – 9:10am
Public Sector Keynote

Without Borders: Confronting Global Financial Crime

Guy Ficco, Chief, IRS-CI
9:10am – 10:10am

Emerging Financial Crimes Trends:
Perspectives and Insights from Compliance and Enforcement Leaders

Moderator: Sharon Cohen Levin, Partner, Sullivan & Cromwell
Ryan Korner, Special-Agent-in-Charge, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Los Angeles
Jason Prince, Partner, Akin Gump
Former Chief Counsel to OFAC
10:10am – 10:30am

Networking Break

10:30am – 11:30am

Transforming Compliance with AI: How to Integrate AI into Your Compliance Program

Moderator: Jas Randhawa, Managing Partner, StrategyBRIX
Melissa Strait, Chief Compliance Officer, Coinbase
Pedro Morales, Compliance and Risk Management Director, Google
11:30am – 12:15pm

Accurately Assessing Risk: Breaking Down Data Silos to Enhance Internal Controls and Compliance

Moderator: Joe Robinson, CEO, Hummingbird
AJ Khan, Head of Compliance, Bill.com
Morgan Kootz, BSA Officer, Check
Victoria Lutterloh, Technical Architect AML, USAA
12:15pm – 1:30pm

Lunch

1:30pm – 1:50pm
Victim Impact Keynote

Developing a Victim-Centric Approach to Financial Crimes Enforcement

Renee Williams, CEO
National Center for Victims of Crime
1:50pm – 2:45pm

Countering Financial Crimes Targeting Vulnerable Victims: The Impact of Pig Butchering, Elder Abuse, and Human Trafficking

Moderator: Erik Vingelen, Senior Vice President, Banner Bank
Courtney Johnson, Executive Director, Chase Bank
Ryan Rezaei,  Assistant United States Attorney, Office for the Northern District of California
Daniel Boyle, Partner, Boies Schiller Flexner LLP
2:45pm – 3:05pm

Networking Break

3:05pm – 4:00pm

Trust and Safety in Tech: A Viewpoint from the Frontlines

Michael Sew Hoy, Director and Associate General Counsel, Meta
Mysti Degani, Senior Counsel, Discord
Michael Waks, Trust & Safety Counsel, Whatnot
4:00pm – 5:00pm

Building Collective Risk Management Models: How Financial Institutions and Fintechs can Promote Compliance

Moderator: Nicki Kenyon, Associate Managing Director
Institute for Financial Integrity
Himamauli Das, Senior Managing Director and Counsel, K2
Former FinCEN Director
Gabriel Hidalgo, Senior Managing Director, Guidepost
5:00pm – 7:00pm

Hosted Networking Reception – 11th Floor Ballroom

7:30am – 8:30am

Continental Breakfast

8:30am – 9:00am
Innovation Keynote

Striking the Right Balance Between Protecting Consumers and Promoting Innovation

Teresa Goody Guillen, Partner, Baker Hostetler
9:00am – 10:00am

Conducting White Collar Financial Investigations: Perspectives from Both Sides of a Case

Moderator: Mark Twitchell, Supervisory Special Agent, IRS-CI
Jeffrey Mitchell, Assistant United States Attorney
Central District of California
John Kucera, Partner, Boies Schiller Flexner LLP
Kathy Enstrom, Director for Investigations
Moore Tax Law Group
Robert Beranger, Managing Director, The Beranger Advisory Group
10:00am – 11:00am

Following the Money: The Impact of Investigative Journalism on Unmasking Global Criminal Networks

Moderator: Jas Randhawa, Managing Partner, StrategyBRIX
Spencer Woodman, The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists
11:00am – 11:20am

Networking Break

11:20am – 12:05pm

The Collapse of the Al-Assad Regime in Syria: Developing a Playbook to Manage the Associated AML and CFT Risks

Moderator: Rio Miner, Head of Intelligence, Refine Intelligence
Dennis Lormel, DML Associates
12:05pm – 12:20pm

Wrap Up & Adjournment

12:30pm – 1:30pm

WCAML Forum 2025 Lunch and Recap

Register Now!

May 7-9, 2025

Marines’ Memorial Club & Hotel in San Francisco, CA
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Frequently Asked Questions

How can I contact the West Coast Anti-Money Laundering Forum?

You can reach us at info@wcamlforum.org. This email address is monitored daily during the Forum’s annual registration period. The rest of the year, the email address is monitored less frequently.

How do I know my registration information will be safe?

Registration is handled via Eventbrite, which uses strong encryption methods and key management procedures to ensure your sensitive information is protected. More information can be found at Eventbrite’s Security page.

What happens after I’ve placed my registration?

You will receive an email confirming your registration. This is the only notification you will receive. All materials will be available at the Forum when you check-in. You do not need a ticket for entry.

What if I need to make a change to my registration information?

You can contact us at info@wcamlforum.org with those changes. 

Where can I find more information on the agenda and speakers?

The agenda is updated regularly on the Eventbrite registration page. We also offer PDF versions of the agenda and speaker bios for download.

2025

32nd Annual WCAML Forum

  • CAFP: 15.00
  • CRCM: 14.25
  • CERP: 11.00
2024

31st Annual WCAML Forum

  • CAFP: 17.75
  • CRCM: 17.75

Contact Us

To get in touch with us, please fill out the form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Trouble with the form? Email us at info@wcamlforum.org

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
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