Expertise – Fraud Investigations

Expertise

arbitration

Commercial Litigation

Restructuring & Insolvency

Power Projects, EPC & Marine Construction

Commodities Trading, Transport & Finance

Fraud, Investigations & Asset Recovery

Blockchain & Digital Assets

ESG & Carbon Credits

Arbitration

Commercial Litigation

RESTRUCTURING & INSOLVENCY

POWER PROJECTS, EPC & MARINE CONSTRUCTION

COMMODITIES TRADING, TRANSPORT & FINANCE

FRAUD, INVESTIGATIONS & ASSET RECOVERY

Fraud, Investigations & Asset Recovery

Our lawyers have been advising on fraud cases for more than a decade and have been involved in several high profile fraud cases including the 2020 trade fraud cases in Singapore. Our offering in that regard is unique: as trade and commodities experts, we are well placed to understand trade flows and detect fictitious or inflated trades across the world assisting creditors, lenders and insurers.

Through our in-depth knowledge of how commodities are moved across the globe, we have acted and investigated cases involving phantom trades, mirror trades and synthetic trades both on voyages and with inventory in warehouses and storage tanks.

Our asset recovery and enforcement practice builds on our strengths in crisis management and our ability to lead and coordinate teams of product experts, loss adjusters, shipping operators and foreign lawyers to coordinate an effective investigation and enforcement strategy. Our team is experienced in obtaining freezing injunctions, asset disclosure orders, tracing orders, orders for the examination of directors of companies as part of the investigations process.

Knowing which tools to apply in a global enforcement exercise can make all the difference in a successful asset recovery.

Key Contacts

Representative Experience

Acting as lead counsel in respect of a global enforcement exercise against a shipping group responsible for diverting sums in excess of $150 million from various lenders. Coordinated and led the preparation of a successful application for a freezing injunction against six defendants in the UK; successfully acted in heavily contested bankruptcy proceedings in Singapore; and a contested sale of a vessel pursuant to a mortgage. The nature of the fraud required an immediate crisis response and spearheading a global team of lawyers and experts, including from the UK, India, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka.
Investigating commodities’ claims in excess of $70m made by various trade finance funds and acting as lead counsel in Singapore litigations involving allegations of fictitious trades.
Advising a global company in relation to an internal investigation including recovery actions arising from an employee embezzlement of millions of dollars.
Assisting insurers in relation to investigating alleged commodities trades in excess of $400 million across Asia, South America and Europe.
Advising various creditors in relation to claims arising from the Hin Leong, Agritrade and Zenrock collapses.
Acted for a trade finance fund in pursuing recoveries in excess of $100 million against various third parties in India, UAE and HK connected with the Phoenix Group collapse.
Assisting a global UK law firm to investigate possible fictitious trades involving agri-products and metals used for receivables financing.
Acting for investors in respect of asset diversion of crypto investments including tracing the movement of assets and pursuing various proprietary claims.
Investigating parties responsible for a hacking and spoofing of invoices leading to diversion of payments to China and Hong Kong.
Investigating commodities trades in excess of $500 million conducted by a Singapore commodities trader.
Acting for lenders in respect of a failed oil project involving fraud in the placement of insufficient guarantee cover.
Investigating a failed Singapore trader and its use of illegitimate/recycled freight forwarder BLs to generate the appearance of trading volume.
Assisting an insurer to carry out investigations into suspected circular trades involving sale of copper between related parties.
Advising a creditor in respect of claims arising out of non-payment of a supply contract involving a large MNC in Malaysia; successfully obtained recovery.