“a select team of pre-eminent civil fraud practitioners” – Chambers UK
4 Stone Buildings has long enjoyed an enviable reputation in the field of civil fraud and asset recovery, particularly in the corporate and commercial context.
Our members have both the experience and the expertise to handle all stages of modern civil fraud litigation, either on behalf of those seeking recovery or on behalf of those accused of having perpetrated the fraud. We have been at the forefront of developments of this area of law, from cases such as Guinness, Barlow Clowes and Polly Peck, through the collapses of BCCI and the Maxwell empire, and onwards to more recent failures such as Madoff and Enron. Over many years we have developed a depth of experience and expertise in acting for liquidators, administrators, directors, creditors, bondholders, bond trustees, shareholders and creditors. These cases often have an international dimension involving cross-border insolvencies, worldwide tracing claims and freezing orders. Other cases may be relatively simple ones, involving disputes between private individuals in one country.
Civil fraud claims may give rise to a range of different actions, whether in contract, tort, equity, or under company or insolvency legislation. Our members are equally well able to deal with all such issues in all such cases, drawing upon their widely recognised expertise in our core practice areas to suit each client’s needs.
Civil fraud claims often involve making or defending extensive pre-trial protective measures. Our members regularly advise and act in both obtaining and resisting interim relief of all kinds, including worldwide freezing orders, receiverships, search orders and other injunctive relief, as well as related remedies such as asset disclosure, cross-examination and contempt of court.
With any judgment or award comes the need for enforcement. Our members can advise and act in connection with the tracing and recovery of (or enforcement against) assets located both in England & Wales and overseas.
