The Client

A HNWI UK citizen defrauded by a long-standing business partner.

The Problem

The HNWI was the victim of a multi-million fraud perpetrated over a number of years by a trusted business partner. Eventually, our client won the legal battle and had an English High Court award for USD 25 million. But the losing side didn’t appear to have sufficient assets to seize, nor any apparent base in the UK.

The Outcome

• OSINT/HUMINT investigation in the EU, FSU, Caribbean and Singapore revealed seemingly incoherent data points, which we triangulated to uncover a network of offshore companies ultimately controlled by the former business partner.

• Using a proprietary EAST search tool, we next identified unencumbered property worth USD 80 million in central London owned by this offshore network. 

• Crucially, the owners had made no application to the UK’s new Register of Offshore Entities, and without our ability to reverse search public datasets, would have remained anonymous and unknown.

• We amassed a compelling weight of circumstantial evidence, including articles of association signed by the UBO, to show that the former business partner was the de facto owner of the Kensington mansion.

• Negotiations ensued, and our client’s award was satisfied in full. 

  We regularly use our proprietary search tools to help clients and their legal advisors identify UK property held by overseas entities, get in touch if you'd like to know more