At the forefront of our civil fraud team is Robert Lawrie, a distinguished figure ranked for Civil Fraud in Chambers & Partners, recognised as a Leading Individual in Legal 500, and recommended in Who’s Who Legal for Asset Recovery.
Time sensitivity is paramount when dealing with fraud, especially for victims seeking to swiftly identify perpetrators, freeze assets, and initiate litigation – often spanning international borders. In cases of suspected internal fraud within your business, our team conducts thorough internal investigations to mitigate losses and safeguard your reputation, collaborating closely with our specialist criminal lawyers.
Our proficiency extends to the multi-jurisdictional tracing, freezing, and recovery of fraud proceeds. We assist clients in successfully pursuing applications for Norwich Pharmacal orders, search orders, and orders to freeze assets while preserving crucial documents and evidence.
Equally adept in defending claims for fraud, we assist clients in resisting applications for injunctive relief and securing appropriate settlements or prevailing at trial. Given the potential for criminal investigations and prosecutions, our civil fraud team seamlessly collaborates with our market-leading Corporate Crime, Financial Crime, and Regulatory specialist teams. In cases involving concurrent civil and criminal investigations, our integrated approach ensures comprehensive legal representation and strategic coordination.
Our experience
- Representing shareholders in a $130 million claim against auditors of a Lebanese bank for failing to identify its use in money laundering and terrorist financing.
- Defending claims brought by liquidators of Bernard Madoff’s US and UK companies in two cases.
- Acting for the defendant in a £95 million civil fraud claim by HMRC, arising from a failed criminal prosecution.
- Representing shareholder claimants in a £38 million fraud claim related to the undervalued sale of a company.
- Successfully concluding the settlement of insolvency claims of £20 million pursued by a liquidator, stemming from VAT assessments, with negotiations spanning over 18 months.