Civil Fraud
Complex fraud, asset tracing, and recovery proceedings, including urgent injunctive relief and cross-border enforcement.
Overview
Twenty Essex is a market-leading set in civil fraud, with members acting in the most complex and high-value fraud cases before the English courts. The set's expertise encompasses Ponzi schemes, investment fraud, bribery and corruption, dishonest assistance, knowing receipt, and proprietary claims. Members are adept at obtaining and resisting freezing injunctions, search orders, and other urgent relief, and have extensive experience of multi-jurisdictional asset tracing and recovery. The set works closely with leading forensic accountants, investigators, and insolvency practitioners.
Representative Matters
Acting for the liquidators of a Cayman Islands fund in a $2.8bn fraud claim against former directors and associated entities, involving asset tracing across twelve jurisdictions.
Representing a major bank in proceedings to recover assets misappropriated by a rogue trader, including the successful enforcement of a worldwide freezing order in the BVI, Cayman Islands, and Switzerland.
Acting for the victim of an investment fraud in obtaining a proprietary injunction and tracing assets through a complex web of offshore structures.
Advising a sovereign state in proceedings to recover assets looted by a former head of state, raising issues of state immunity and foreign sovereign compulsion.