Civil fraud and asset recovery disputes invariably require parties to react quickly and decisively and on very short notice in order to identify the perpetrators of a fraud and then to pursue, secure and to preserve information and assets, often in a number of jurisdictions and/or cross-border.
Our dedicated team of fraud and asset recovery specialists is drawn from both our commercial litigation and regulatory departments. We also have a significant advantage over many of our competitors as we are also able to access our highly-experienced criminal team, when necessary.
We have significant experience in dealing with civil fraud and asset recovery matters, having acted for both Claimants and Defendants in a number of high profile cases.
Our areas of expertise include:
- Commercial & corporate fraud & misfeasance
- Cross-border registration & enforcement of judgements
- Data protection
- E-disclosure
- Evidence preservation orders
- Freezing orders ("Mareva Injunctions")
- Search & seizure orders/dawn raids ("Anton Piller orders")
- Third party disclosure orders
- Tracing claims
- Mortgage fraud
- Insurance fraud
Our cases frequently require us to work closely, both nationally and internationally with other law firms, forensic accountants, insolvency practitioners, the police and regulatory and judicial authorities. We have an established network of contacts and referrals in other fields and professional disciplines that can be called upon, when appropriate, to work with us to maximise our client's strategic objectives and, ultimately, achieve successful enforcement and asset recovery.
Our specialist team includes members of the London Solicitors Litigation Association ("LSLA") and Commercial Litigation Association ("CLAN") mediators, insolvency practitioners and a Deputy District Judge.
Cases
- Engaged in an international arbitration and subsequently enforcing an ICC arbitration award, which resulted in the obtaining of a worldwide freezing order over assets in a number of jurisdictions.
- Acting for the Law Society and the Solicitors Regulation Authority on a number of reported high-profile, high value and complex fraud and asset tracing claims arising into the intervention of solicitors' practices.
- Acting for the respondents/defendants to a search and seize order and springboard relief applications and in subsequent civil proceedings relating to the alleged theft and misappropriation of confidential information regarding a number of property transactions (value in excess of £20m).
- Acting for an international trading company in arbitration and subsequent High Court proceedings in an international fraud case.
- Acting for the liquidator in the pursuit of fraudulent trading claims against the directors of a ship construction company.
- Conducting asset tracing and "false accounting" proceedings in conjunction with a worldwide freezing order for an individual in his claims against his former business managers for the recovery of misappropriated earnings.
- Advising the expelled partners of a partnership regarding their entitlement to undisclosed profits arising from breaches of their former partners' statutory and fiduciary duties.
- Representing an overseas trust company in ICC arbitration proceedings against a former director for breach of his service contract and shareholders' agreement; including obtaining injunctive relief in various offshore jurisdictions to freeze assets to enforce the arbitration award.
- Conducting intervention proceedings in the High Court on behalf of a group of overseas investors against the trustee in bankruptcy relating to their beneficial entitlement to assets falling within the bankrupt's estate.
- Assisting the Serious Fraud Office and Securities Exchange Commission in the garnering of information relating to the investigation of the affairs of Directors of an overseas trust company.
- Acting for a venture capital company in relation to breach of warranty, fraud and misrepresentation claims against certain former directors of a company in which it had invested.