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
If you have any questions or queries please call Sophia on +44 (0)20 3036 7275 or email spurkis@fladgate.com
Legal 500“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.”
Fraud & Asset Recovery team
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.
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