Fraud and asset recovery

Our specialist team has unparalleled experience at both bringing and defending fraud claims. We are ranked in Tier 1 of The Legal 500, and a number of our lawyers are ranked as leading individuals.
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In fraud litigation, speed is essential. Our lawyers' in-depth knowledge means we can step in to take urgent action to protect our clients. This means we can help you achieve the best possible results.

Our team has extensive experience of bringing and defending:

  • fraud claims
  • multi-jurisdictional and domestic asset tracing
  • freezing injunctions, in support of domestic and foreign proceedings
  • other injunctions, including search and seizure order, receivership orders and gagging.

We have acted on many of the largest fraud claims in England and globally. Much of our work is international, and we have significant expertise of fraud claims arising from emerging markets, including the CIS/CEE, Africa and India. Our team is ranked in Chambers for dispute resolution (expertise based abroad) for Russia.

Our team includes specialists in financial services fraud, who have decades of experience of fraud claims for and against banks, funds, and senior employees/directors of companies in the financial services sector. We often manage fraud claims with concurrent parallel proceedings including civil, criminal, regulatory and arbitration proceedings (domestically and abroad). 

Winning a case is not the final step in litigation. We regularly assist clients to trace assets and enforce judgments and arbitration awards, in England and abroad. Our expertise in this area is recognised by Chambers Asset Tracing & Recovery (Law Firms) global guide, noting that we "quarterback some of the biggest mandates around" and are "a very big litigation and asset tracing focused firm."

Our lawyers are proactive and imaginative, and our advice is always clear and commercial. We help clients reach the outcomes they want. Often, this is settlement and we can devise strategies to help achieve this. But where a case goes to trial, we can be trusted to achieve the best possible outcome. In a recent survey, we were ranked amongst the Top 10 UK law firms for our success rate in winning cases in Court.

"A fantastic group of people doing some of the most high-profile fraud work in the London market – a highly efficient and savvy team with real strength in depth."

The Legal 500 UK 2022

Administrator of a Latvian bank

Acting for the administrator of an insolvent CEE bank in fraud proceedings against the bank's former owner, a Russian businessman. Successfully obtained freezing orders, search orders and succeeded at trial with a US$70+ million judgment for our client.

Former Yukos shareholders v Russia

Representing the former shareholders of Yukos Oil Company in English proceedings to enforce a US$54+ billion arbitration award against the Russian Federation. To our knowledge, this is the largest ever enforcement claim brought before the English court.

Madoff fraud

Advising an investment bank on its overall global strategy to maximise its recoveries and minimise its exposure to claims following its €600 million exposure to the Madoff fraud.

Ukrainian parties

Successfully discharged a worldwide freezing order which had been obtained in support of an arbitration claim against our Ukrainian clients. We discharged this multi-million dollar injunction early on, after a contested application before the Tribunal and with indemnity costs.

Asset recovery action

Advised on bringing claims in excess of US$1 billion against an oligarch's former business associate and successfully obtaining an injunction against his former financial advisers, freezing sums held in banks in the former CIS and offshore.

Arab Republic of Egypt

Advising on the tracing and recovery of assets, estimated to be up to US$70 billion, misappropriated by former President Hosni Mubarak's regime, involving investigations in over a dozen jurisdictions. This is, to our knowledge, the largest investigation into a former leader's mismanagement of state funds. 

Liquidators of Rangers FC

Acting for the liquidators of the Rangers football club, bringing substantial fraud claims against individuals involved in the takeover of the club. The fraud is now the subject of high profile criminal proceedings in Scotland.

Igor Mints

Acting for a successful Russian businessman and the co-owner of an international investment management company headquartered in London. On 28 June 2019, two Russian banks, PJSC National Bank Trust and PJSC Bank Otkritie Financial Corporation, commenced proceedings claiming US$572 million against him, his father and his two brothers.

Libyan Investment Authority

Acting in relation to the affairs of the Libyan Investment Authority ("LIA") representing one of the persons claiming to be chairman of the LIA in various claims, based on misappropriation of Libyan assets during the Gaddafi era, in different jurisdictions around the world, including the UK, Cayman Islands, the Netherlands and France and including the appointment by the English Commercial Court of receivers and managers in relation to LIA assets and claims.

Lawyer

Alan Bercow Partner

T:  +44 20 7809 2242
M:  Email Alan | Vcard Office:  London

Lawyer

Ros Prince Partner

T:  +44 20 7809 2320
M:  +44 7771 374 054 Email Ros | Vcard Office:  London

Latest news & insights

09 Nov 2021

From Insights

Hong Kong to end its 'fraud exception rule'

In this article we explain how and when Hong Kong will fall into line with other common law jurisdictions and abolish the fraud exception rule thereby allowing fraud v..

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28 Sep 2021

From Insights

Getting the Deal Through's edition of 'Asset Recovery' UK chapter by Ros Prince, Justin McClelland, Alan Ward and Harriet Campbell

Ros Prince, Justin McClelland and Alan Ward have written a chapter on asset recovery in the UK for Getting the Deal Through's 10th edition of 'Asset Recovery 2022'.

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29 Jun 2021

From Insights

Trusts And Corporate Structures Between Warring Factions

In a piece first published by IFC, fraud partner Ros Prince shares her insights about the vulnerabilities of global asset holding structures in the context of fraud.

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08 Feb 2021

From Insights

Worldwide freezing orders and third parties: practical steps for claimants and third parties

Worldwide freezing orders (“WFOs”) are a crucial tool in the fight against fraud, as fraudsters will often move assets across multiple jurisdictions.

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30 Nov 2020

From Insights

Four recent civil cases concerning the recovery of the proceeds of fraud

In this article we explain how and why vesting orders have recently come under considerable scrutiny in Hong Kong’s High Court. Whether a fraud victim can now obtain s..

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20 Aug 2020

From Insights

Victims of fraud – what do they have to prove in fraud litigation?

In England, in criminal trials the prosecution has to prove guilt “beyond reasonable doubt”. However, the standard of proof in civil fraud claims is the same as in al..

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24 Apr 2020

From Insights

Act in haste, rejoice at leisure?

ArcelorMittal USA LLC (“AMUSA”)’s application for US$1.5bn freezing order against Mr Ravi Ruia, Mr Prashant Ruia and Essar Global Fund Limited (“EGFL”) is dismissed in..

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28 Jan 2020

From Insights

Recognition of UAE judgments - an easier path to enforcement in India

On 17 January 2020, the Indian Ministry of Law and Justice issued a notice in the Official Gazette declaring the UAE to be a reciprocating territory for the purpose of..

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17 Jul 2019

From Insights

Rogachev v Goryainov: A reminder of the dangers of non-disclosure in without notice applications

The English Court will generally only grant freezing orders if you can show that your opponent will try to dissipate their assets, so as to evade enforcement of any la..

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07 May 2019

From Insights

Jurisdiction of the English Courts over foreign disputes: how wide will the net now be cast?

England has for many years been a leading centre for international disputes, with foreign parties often trying to litigate in London. One of the ways in which English ..

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07 May 2019

From Insights

Юрисдикция английского суда в иностранных спорах: кого охватит его невод?

На протяжении многих лет Англия была ведущим центром международных споров. Иностранные стороны и сейчас часто пытаются судиться в Лондоне. Одним из способов установле..

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26 Mar 2019

From Insights

Post-Judgment Freezing Orders under the spotlight

Spring is in the air but two recent Court of Appeal cases confirm that the chilling effect of a post-judgment freezing order can continue, no matter how long ago it wa..

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21 Mar 2019

From Insights

Fraud v Finality: a bare-knuckle fight?

The general rule in English litigation is that claimants have one chance to put their case: they have one trial and need to use all their evidence and arguments at th..

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© Stephenson Harwood LLP 2016. Any reference to Stephenson Harwood in this document means Stephenson Harwood LLP and/or its affiliated undertakings. Any reference to a partner is used to refer to a member of Stephenson Harwood LLP.