4 Stone Buildings have a great deal of experience of civil proceedings seeking to recover the proceeds of crime and have a deep understanding and knowledge of the asset recovery regime contained in the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Member’s of 4 Stone Buildings are are also able to draw upon our wider expertise to assist our clients with disputes in this field.
Members of Chambers are specialists in (among other areas) large scale commercial fraud, insolvency, banking, company law and financial services. We are therefore ideally placed, and are particularly sought after, for the most complex cases in this area, particularly those involving a financial, business or insolvency element.
In practical terms, members’ experience in obtaining freezing injunctions and proprietary orders is particularly valuable when seeking property freezing orders, when that relief is an available option as part of the statutory regime.
We are frequently instructed by government bodies to recover the proceeds of crime. Our experience acting for the government means we are well placed also to offer specialist advice and representation for individuals and other entities caught up in asset recovery proceedings.
Recent cases and advice has included:
- Advice and representation to the SFO in respect of a £22 million property portfolio of the eldest daughter of the former President of Uzbekistan
- Advice and representation to the NCA to obtain a freezing order over £100 million of assets alleged to represent the proceeds of the criminal conduct of the former President of Nigeria – and civil recovery order of over c.US$ 23 million of those funds.
- Advice and appearance for HMRC in its then largest ever POCA Account Forfeiture Order application
- Advice to HMRC on the exercise of its then new powers to obtain unexplained wealth orders.
