Fraud & Asset Recovery

Our team of fraud lawyers has a proven track record of successfully representing claimants and defendants in international and domestic fraud cases, both civil and criminal.

We can assemble at short notice a multi-disciplinary team with experience not only in fraud work, but also in employment, financial services, banking and corporate law to meet our clients’ specific needs, whether they are victims of fraud or facing allegations of fraud. We have extensive experience in obtaining and defending emergency injunctive relief (such as search and freezing orders) in this country and our strong international focus and connections mean we can co-ordinate cross-border claims to protect our client’s position.

When fraud is suspected, it is important to act quickly and decisively. From the investigations that should be carried out on discovery of the fraud, to tracing the proceeds and determining the commercial merits of pursuing a claim and enforcing a judgment, our specialist fraud lawyers advise at every stage of the process.

We have acted for many businesses and individuals – particularly professionals faced with allegations of fraud that put their reputation and livelihoods at risk. Even in the face of the most aggressively pursued claims we defend our clients’ interests robustly and help guide them through what can seem a very oppressive and alien process. Our reputation management service can also assist in shaping the public perception of the case.

We can help by:

  • Providing advice on the prevention and detection of fraud and on corporate governance
  • Assisting with employment issues arising from the discovery of theft by an employee or company officer
  • Helping victims to find, preserve and recover stolen money and assets
  • Obtaining urgent injunctions, such as search and worldwide freezing orders
  • Making applications for orders to secure and obtain disclosure of information and documentation, both from parties and non parties to litigation
  • Handling multi-jurisdictional and complex disputes
  • Vigorously defending our clients’ interests
  • Providing crisis and reputation management

For legal updates and news, please visit the Fladgate Dispute Resolution Hub

Sophia Purkis

Sophia Purkis

If you have any questions or queries please call Sophia on +44 (0)20 3036 7275 or email spurkis@fladgate.com

“Fladgate LLP’s ‘wide-ranging’ practice acts primarily for corporate clients. Led by the ‘tactical and effective’ Sophia Purkis, the team handles a number of high-value claims and is involved in ongoing FX investigations.”

Legal 500

Fraud & Asset Recovery team

 

Fladgate continues with strong showing in Chambers UK 2019

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How will the disputes battleground change after Brexit?

Peter Reynolds

Recent decisions from the English Courts on arbitration matters

Frances Jenkins, David Breslin

Singularis Holdings Ltd (in liquidation): a cautionary tale for banking institutions?

Wing Tang, Tom Bolam

Breach of freezing order is grounds for conspiracy claim

Is a UK parent liable for the conduct of its foreign subsidiary? (Update)

The SFO v ENRC: Erosion of fundamental rights and dangerous precedent or a valid aid to law enforcement?

Fladgate continues to be highly rated by Chambers UK 2018

The Competition Appeal Tribunal’s “fast track” procedure: evening the playing field

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Fladgate continues to be highly rated by Chambers UK 2018

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Fladgate LLP has continued to be highly rated by Chambers Guide to the UK Legal Profession 2018, with a number of the firm’s partners ranked as leading individuals. Construction: Purchaser Lawyers ranked Gillian Birkby, Alan Erwin, Alan Woolston What the team is known for Well-regarded practice with a purchaser-side focus. Advises on high-value transactional and contentious matters […]

The Competition Appeal Tribunal’s “fast track” procedure: evening the playing field

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Given that most high-profile competition law actions tend to involve the decisions of large-scale regulators following heavily-protracted investigations (such as the recent seven-year EU commission investigation into Google’s online shopping offering), small businesses and consumers could be forgiven for thinking that redress in competition law is not a realistic proposition. It was, however, with this […]

‘Something tells me it’s all happening at the zoo’

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Chester Zoo fell victim to a type of fraud called ‘invoice hijacking’, where fraudsters intercept correspondence between two parties that have an existing contractual relationship and invoice the target for services that have actually been rendered. Chester Zoo had engaged Laing O’Rourke to carry out construction works for a safari experience valued at approximately £17 […]

How to respond to online banking fraud

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Online banking fraud is becoming more sophisticated, causing large losses to individuals and companies. Unsurprisingly, the number of cases against banks involving online fraud is increasing. In March, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, head of London’s Metropolitan Police, suggested banks should not fully refund victims of fraud who have not protected themselves. Whilst not universally well received, […]

Pursuing fraud claims – the correct approach

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A party claiming fraud in proceedings brought under English law must adopt an exacting standard when setting out their allegations. Claims of fraud need to be unambiguous and specific, and the relevant causes of action and relief claimed clearly identified. The party alleging fraud must also be prepared to back up their claims in evidence, […]

Across the board rankings for Fladgate in Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers 2015

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Fladgate is delighted that a number of its partners and associates have been ranked in the 2015 Super Lawyers UK List, published by Thomson Reuters. Super Lawyers Banking Law Paul Howcroft Kim McMurray Charles Proctor Business Affairs Paul Airley Avram Kelman Eddie Powell David Robinson Commercial Litigation Simon Ekins Commercial Property Antonia Brandes Allen Cohen […]

The big freeze: English courts are meeting fraud claims head on

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The English Courts have never shied away from addressing fraud claims head-on. The courts have responded to the trend claimants to seek increasingly wide forms of freezing orders by taking a flexible approach to compel disclosure (thus assist the preservation of assets) while simultaneously seeking to protect the respondent’s position appropriately. To reflect corporate ownership […]

Subject to contract

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A simple phrase is crucial to avoid being unintentionally bound by an agreement in settlement negotiations, explains Sophia Purkis. Settlement negotiations may often be challenging and conducted under pressure. In Bieber v Teathers (in liquidation) [2014] EWHC 4205, the court issued a stark reminder to make sure that offers are made expressly ‘subject to contract’ […]

SFO - a new dawn?

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After facing a barrage of criticism over the last few years following a series of high profile failures, such as the Tchenguiz affair, the SFO appears to have clawed some pride back after the Sustainable AgroEnergy PLC (SAE) convictions at Southwark Crown Court. But has there truly been a turn in its fortunes? Many believed […]

Are NOMADs at risk?

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Fraud is estimated to cost the UK economy more than £50 billion and cybercrime nearly £30 billion annually. Fraud, bribery and corruption can be internal, committed by an employee or senior manager, or external, committed by suppliers and customers (though external frauds often require insider assistance). Types of fraud include: asset misappropriation (theft of cash, […]

Rise of 'DIY justice' as funding cuts hit CPS

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Private prosecutions are again in the headlines. Recently a 20 year old university student went to extreme lengths by purchasing specially adapted sunglasses to record the actions of his harasser. Using the evidence gleaned, he then brought a private prosecution which resulted in the defendant pleading guilty and spending a day in jail. The right […]

SFO faces fresh attempt at NCA merger

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After failing in her attempts to overhaul the Serious Fraud Office three years ago in the face of staunch opposition from the former attorney general, Dominic Grieve QC, and Justice Minister, Kenneth Clarke, Theresa May is now considering reviving her plans to dismantle the much maligned organisation. The SFO has received its fair share of […]

Fladgate LLP’s ‘excellent partner-led litigation team’ wins plaudits for its ‘great commercial approach and solid judgement’, and is ‘a strong contender in the civil fraud market’. The firm is noted for its strong international focus with multiple foreign desks; examples include acting for a Swiss claimant in a matter regarding unpaid returns by a bank and alleged conspiracy to defraud, and advising PCP Capital Partners in alleged fraudulent misrepresentations made by Barclays, into which the client had invested £3bn in Middle Eastern money. Simon Ekins heads the practice, and Sophia Purkis ‘fights tenaciously for her clients’ and has a long track record of successes.

Legal 500

Sophia Purkis of Fladgate LLP advises claimants and defendants in relation to large-scale civil fraud claims, often in conjunction with parallel criminal proceedings. “She knows that field and is smart, inventive and creative”, comments an interviewee.

Chambers UK

Sophia Purkis of Fladgate LLP has a growing reputation in the fraud arena. She recently acted for a defendant involved in the Innovator and Keydata claims.

Steven Mash of Fladgate LLP has impressive experience in fraud disputes. His litigation expertise is complemented by his arbitration practice.

Chambers UK

Fladgate LLP’s ‘comprehensive’ team, led by Simon Ekins, sits in the firm’s wider dispute resolution department. The practice, which includes the ‘standout’ Sophia Purkis, was instructed by a former director of GMAC Commercial Finance on claims alleging fraudulent misrepresentation brought by the company.

Legal 500

Steven Mash of Fladgate LLP regularly works on complex fraud cases. He is “able to consume details better than anyone in the profession,” according to one source, while another praises his ability to “deal with complex law and complicated facts.”

Chambers UK

Sophia Purkis of Fladgate LLP “has an overwhelming ability to grasp and use detail to guide strategy and always positions her clients in the best place.” She is noted for handling cases that cross over between fraud and professional negligence.

Chambers UK

At Fladgate LLP, Sophia Purkis is “a superb strategic thinker” who “can make the best of a difficult case”, Fergus Buckley is “incisive”, and Alexander Wildschütz is also recommended. The team has recently been acting in a number of investment-related disputes.

Legal 500

Sophia Purkis recently joined Fladgate LLP from Kingsley Napley. Sources say that she is “particularly good at long and strategically difficult cases”, and has an “incredible ability to stay on top of large amounts of detail”.

Chambers UK

Sources say: “We go back for the quality service, reasonable fees and strength across the board”.

Chambers UK

Sophia Purkis of Fladgate LLP handles civil fraud work, with considerable experience in complex cross-border work. Market sources say: “She is extremely experienced, very easy-going, really into the detail and a very strategic thinker.”

Chambers UK

  • Highly complex multi-party action – representing a former partner of an established firm of solicitors against claims valued up to £90m for breach of FSMA, negligence, misrepresentation and dishonest assistance arising out of the provision by one of his clients of technology investment schemes which were designed to be tax efficient.
  • Former director of Bernard Madoff’s London trading entity – claims brought by English and US liquidators seeking to recover funds on behalf of investors in Mr Madoff’s Ponzi schemes.
  • Well-known financier – US$50m+ fraud claim by a bank including responding to a freezing order.
  • Commodities trader – claims for breach of fiduciary duty and receipt of secret profits brought by a multinational company in which corresponding proceedings were issued in Latvia, Jersey and the BVI, including representing the defendant in committal proceedings to the Court of Appeal.
  • Former director of a well–known department store group – claims brought in this country against him by the administrator of the group in Germany for fraudulent misrepresentation and deceit.
  • Overseas investor – claims for conspiracy, deceit and dishonest assistance against defendants in India, Switzerland, Jersey and Scandinavia, including tracing the monies invested into offshore bank accounts.
  • Many companies of varying sizes – a wide range of commercial activities in connection with claims against current and former employees alleged to have misappropriated company funds, including in the application for and execution of search and freezing orders.
  • German company – diversion of millions of dollars as a result of cyber phishing, including obtaining Norwich Pharmacal orders to identify the potential defendants and a freezing order over their accounts.

Integrated

Our clients come to us to solve problems that are often complex and multifaceted. We draw together the multiple strands of a business or personal challenge into a coherent, integrated legal response that combines the knowledge and experience of experts in all the relevant fields.

Partner-led

We operate in small teams in which partners not only take the lead but also do a significant amount of the detailed work. Clients can be assured that the partners they engage and brief will remain closely involved in developing and delivering the advice as part of our close-knit, expert teams.

Experienced

Fladgate has a long heritage of delivering high-quality legal advice. We have been providing practical legal solutions to businesses and private clients for over 250 years. Today we are one of the UK’s top 100 law firms, with over 70 partners and a reputation for providing solutions that work.