Civil Fraud and Investigations

Our highly regarded and experienced team of specialist civil fraud lawyers can trace, preserve and recover stolen money and assets around the world as well as defend those accused of fraudulent behaviour.
 

The cost of fraud to businesses and individuals runs into billions of pounds each year. The international nature of commerce and reliance on electronic communications means that there has been a sharp increase in the number and value of fraud claims. 

We act for both the victims of fraud and the defendants to civil fraud proceedings.

For victims of fraud

When fraud is suspected or discovered, the first steps you take are critical. At short notice, regardless of the scale and reach of the issue, we can assemble a multi-disciplinary team to provide swift strategic advice. Freezing assets and seizing evidence are crucial to a successful fraud investigation.

We are experienced in tracing, preserving and recovering stolen money and assets around the world and we regularly advise on obtaining freezing injunctions to preserve assets and search orders and disclosure orders to protect and obtain evidence.

We have substantial experience in conducting internal investigations where the fraud has been perpetrated by someone within your business. We work to minimise your losses and safeguard your reputation. We often work with our Criminal and Employment teams in such matters.

For defendants who are accused of fraud

We have represented defendants in some of the biggest fraud cases in the English courts, often challenging freezing and other injunctions.

Drawing on the expertise of our highly regarded Criminal team we are able to act for clients facing simultaneous criminal and civil proceedings.

In collaboration with our acclaimed Reputation Management team we seek to minimise any reputational damage to our clients.

Our Partners are regularly ranked both as a team and individually in the a number of legal directories, including Chambers and Partners, and Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal.

We have acted on high profile and important recent fraud cases including:

• Successfully opposed the CPS’s appeal to the Supreme Court on the effect of a confiscation order on assets held on constructive trust;
• obtained a multi million pound summary judgment acting for the victims of a Ponzi scheme based around investment-grade wine;
• obtained the only judgment in favour of a member of the Ablyazov family in the wide-ranging and on-going litigation brought by BTA Bank;
• acted for the liquidator of a Cayman company in relation to a pension scheme being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office;
• acted for an African government trying to recover assets stolen by a former head of state;
• obtained judgment in favour of a PPI reclaim company against one of its directors /shareholders and assisting with the recovery of the substantial amounts owed to it;
• acted for a Saudi Arabian Sheikh in successfully discharging a world-wide freezing order;
• represented one of over 100 defendants in five consolidated claims brought by the Danish tax authority seeking to recover over £1 billion in withholding tax.

 

What clients and directories have said

Our experienced team is recognised by the legal directories Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500.

It's a robust and responsive team at both partner and associate level, which is able to work well under pressure and to tight timetables with a client-friendly approach."

Chambers and Partners, 2025

They bring innovation, focus and place the client's interests first in all circumstances - above all, it's a great collaborative team."

Chambers and Partners, 2025

Kingsley Napley's multi-faceted team approach enables them to provide timely and insightful analysis of the many complex and sophisticated issues which a multi-jurisdictional fraud case entails."

Chambers and Partners, 2025

Their focus is what is in the client's best interest rather than their billable hours. What enables them to be so innovative is their detailed understanding of the law, never hesitating to push the boundaries and challenge groupthink."

The Legal 500, 2025

A great business with standout, long-established rainmakers, a body of excellent partners, and well-recruited and trained associates, who are given early responsibilities and development opportunities. They provide a first-rate, results-driven service, with a very diverse group of practitioners - an excellent all-round firm."

The Legal 500, 2025

The team is highly innovative, continually seeking the most effective means of achieving the stated objective, even when that objective may migrate through time."

The Legal 500, 2025

We have been impressed by the knowledge and experience of Kingsley Napley's team, and by their ability to draw on other skills in their wider teams."

Chambers and Partners, Litigation Support, 2024

Kingsley Napley are very user-friendly and on top of the latest developments of the law. They also have a wealth of real-life, practical experience, which sets them apart from most firms."

Chambers and Partners, Litigation Support, 2024

Kingsley Napley's multi-faceted team approach to this complex case has enabled them to provide us a timely and insightful analysis of the many complex and sophisticated issues which this case entails."

Chambers and Partners, Litigation Support, 2024

Kingsley Napley has a cohesive and collaborative team that communicates very effectively."

Chambers and Partners, 2024

The team are very responsive, analytical and commercial."

Chambers and Partners, 2024

This is a very strong team and benefits from the synergy which the firm has in having strong cross-departmental ability and experience."

The Legal 500, 2024

The breadth of their service line and experience across the teams."

The Legal 500, 2024

The team has a very strong profile for fraud-related work, and boasts a deep bench of strong and capable partners."

The Legal 500, 2024

The team are a cohesive and supportive unit with different personalities and approaches and as a consequence innovative and self challenging. Each are great lawyers at the top of their game for their respective levels. Sue Thackeray is a wonderful lead."

The Legal 500, 2024

The team is big and diverse. They really do have decades of experience between them."

The Legal 500, 2023

They have strength in depth and a diverse team of civil fraud practitioners with a highly-regarded criminal team to complement their civil offering."

The Legal 500, 2023

They are able to communicate complicated matters simply and also show an enormous amount of understanding during a difficult situation."

Chambers and Partners, 2023

The firm thoroughly understood our problem and could pull in experts as required."

Chambers and Partners, 2023

Kingsley Napley did an excellent job of navigating through a nuanced and difficult situation."

Chambers and Partners, 2023

They are the ultimate professionals."

The Legal 500, 2023

tenacious, patient, efficient and hugely knowledgeable and ethically correct but yet very resourceful. Totally dedicated to achieving a result for the client whilst managing expectations and setting realistic objectives in case management. The team machinery runs like clockwork"

The Legal 500, 2022

The team has some very bright lawyers and the quality of its legal analysis compares favourably with departments at competing firms. It also has a very deep understanding of this sphere of practice, the level of which which is not replicated at many other firms"

The Legal 500, 2022

Kingsley Napley is one of the leading firms in the London market for large civil fraud disputes, with particular strength in asset tracing and multi-jurisdictional work"

The Legal 500, 2021

 

For more information, read our frequently asked questions on civil fraud vs criminal fraud disputes and details regarding supervising solicitors.