Civil fraud and asset recovery

Blake Morgan’s expert civil fraud and asset recovery litigators have conducted fraud-related litigations in over seven jurisdictions with some US $10bn in contention in the last three years.

Frequently handling high-stakes cross-border fraud and asset recovery situations, our recognised civil fraud and asset recovery lawyers are specialists in asset freezing, offensive discovery, tracing and recovery of misappropriated assets across borders, and bringing or defending complex fraud cases to trial.  Clients instruct the team for its expertise, speed and discretion in the most sensitive cases.

Main areas of practice

Our team act on market leading civil fraud and asset recovery engagements, including:

Emergency situations

Obtaining or defeating asset freezing injunctions, search and seizure of assets and asset protection orders, with domestic and international impact.

Fraud investigations

Seeking discovery of assets and wrongdoing from third parties and targets, before and during substantive litigation.

Misappropriated asset repatriation

Tracing assets through sham transactions and corporate structures, appointing receivers, liquidating assets.

Trials

Trials of claims for fraudulent misrepresentation, deceit, breach of fiduciary duty, conspiracy, secret profits, breach of trust, dishonest assistance and unjust enrichment.

Cross border campaign design

Leveraging multi-jurisdiction experience, the team can design and lead fraud and asset recovery campaigns across multiple jurisdictions.

Blake Morgan's complementary capabilities can:

  • Conduct cross-border liquidations and bankruptcies.
  • Protect client reputation throughout hard fought litigation.
  • Defend Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 restraint and confiscation proceedings.
  • Pursue and defend private prosecutions in the Criminal Courts.
  • Advise on anti-money laundering regulation, bribery and corruption, and whistle-blowing policies designed to minimise the occurrence of corporate fraud.

Highlights

Successfully defending Georgian Civil Code claim in the Court of Appeal concerning alleged misappropriation of assets arising out of the world's largest intestacy. Multi-US $100m at stake - Blue Tropic, Coppella Ventures v Chkhartishvili [2016] EWCA Civ 1259.

Acting in a complex fraud claim in the UK with parallel proceedings in Germany and Jersey attacking sham trusts, onshore and offshore companies and individuals. Successfully obtained and enforced worldwide freezing order.

Acting for Seychelles entity in fraud claims arising out of Russian land development joint venture with connected proceedings in UK and Cyprus.

Acting for an alleged de facto director in fiduciary duty, dishonest assistance and unjust enrichment claims brought by Liquidator – successfully responding to worldwide freezing order and connected proceedings in the BVI and Switzerland.

Designing US $100m asset recovery campaign for investment bank following asset stripping of real estate group, involving litigation and offensive discovery in the UK, Cyprus and the US.

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