Civil Fraud & Asset Tracing

Fraud litigation and asset tracing are central to our practice, and areas in which our partners are widely regarded as market leaders. Our team has acted in some of the most complex and high-value fraud disputes, securing the recovery of misappropriated assets and the enforcement of judgments across multiple jurisdictions. We are highly experienced in deploying urgent interim remedies to preserve assets, disrupt fraudulent schemes, and support enforcement efforts.

Recovering concealed and misappropriated assets

Asset tracing is often a critical component of our work, requiring sophisticated investigative techniques and legal strategies to identify and recover assets concealed through offshore structures, nominee arrangements, and trust vehicles. We regularly work with forensic accountants, intelligence specialists, and litigation funders to pursue and execute multi-jurisdictional recovery strategies.

Expertise in diverse fraud typologies

Our experience spans a wide range of fraud typologies, including Ponzi schemes, banking and investment fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, embezzlement, and fraudulent trading. We have also acted in cases involving cryptocurrency fraud and asset dissipation through digital payment systems, requiring innovative legal solutions to secure recoveries.

Freezing injunctions and enforcement

We have a long track record of obtaining and defending freezing injunctions in the English courts and coordinating multi-jurisdictional litigation, often involving offshore jurisdictions such as the British Virgin Islands and Cyprus. Our expertise extends to post-judgment freezing injunctions and injunctions in support of parallel proceedings, including arbitration and foreign litigation. Our team is well-versed in cross-border enforcement, including the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards, the deployment of disclosure tools such as Norwich Pharmacal and Bankers Trust orders, and the use of international treaties to secure cooperation across jurisdictions.

Navigating civil and criminal overlap

Many of the cases we handle involve a significant civil and criminal overlap, requiring a coordinated approach between litigation, regulatory authorities, and law enforcement agencies. We regularly advise clients facing parallel civil fraud claims and criminal investigations, ensuring that strategic decisions in one forum do not prejudice their position in another. This often involves liaising with financial regulators, insolvency practitioners, and specialist investigators to safeguard client interests in complex, multi-dimensional disputes.

Thought leadership and industry recognition

Simon Bushell is listed in Legal 500’s Hall of Fame for his work in fraud and asset tracing. He and fellow partner Gary Milner-Moore are co-authors of the leading text on Norwich Pharmacal disclosure orders against innocent third parties, a critical tool in international asset tracing and fraud investigations. Simon has also edited the Chambers & Partners International Fraud and Asset Tracing Global Practice Guide, to which partners Gareth Keillor and Kevin Kilgour have also contributed.