Recovery starts with the paper trail.
We trace misappropriated money through accounts, companies and borders, then pursue it through the courts, regulators or prosecutors who can actually freeze it. Most matters begin with a box of documents and a date something went missing.
First reply within two business days. No recovery work begins before a written assessment.
First reply
Two business days
From a named case contact, not a queue.
Assessment
Fixed fee, quoted first
A written memo before any recovery work.
Reporting
Every 30 days
Written, with costs and next steps.
What we actually do
Five kinds of work, usually in this order. Each one produces a document you can act on, not a status update.
- Trace
We read bank statements, invoices, ledgers, registry filings, shipping records and email headers, then build a transaction map: where value moved, through which entity, and who authorised it.
Deliverable — Transaction map and entity chart
- Preserve
Before the other side knows anyone is looking, we advise on preservation: freezing orders where the court allows them, evidence-retention letters, registrar cautions, and instructions to local counsel.
Deliverable — Preservation plan and draft orders
- Pursue
Civil claim, regulatory complaint, criminal referral, or a combination. The route follows the evidence and the jurisdiction, not a template.
Deliverable — Route memo with costs and risks
- Transact
Where value sits in a business rather than an account — a distressed sale, an asset purchase, a restructuring — the deal discipline does the work: diligence on the records, valuation with stated assumptions, and funds-flow on verified accounts.
Deliverable — Diligence report and funds-flow plan
- Return
Enforcement, settlement and repatriation, with a closing report that accounts for what came back, what was written off, and why.
Deliverable — Closing account and recovery statement
How a case runs
No one can promise a timeline in this work. We can tell you what each stage involves, what it costs, and what would make us stop.
These ranges are indicative. Mutual legal assistance requests can take a year or more. We will tell you when that is the likely path.
30 minutes
First call
You describe what happened. We ask what documents exist and whether anything is still moving. If we are not the right fit, we say so and point you elsewhere. No charge.
10–15 business days
Preliminary assessment
We read the documents, check corporate registries and map the jurisdictions involved. You receive a written memo: what the evidence supports, which routes are open, what each is likely to cost, and where it could fail.
4–12 weeks
Tracing
We follow the money through intermediary accounts, related companies and property records. Where the trail leaves the jurisdiction, local counsel handles the local searches and filings.
Months, not weeks
Recovery
We file, negotiate or refer, depending on the route. You get a written update every 30 days and an honest read on momentum. If the trail goes cold, we tell you before the invoice arrives.
What we need from you
You do not need a complete file. You need enough to show that money moved, where it went, and who moved it. If some of this is missing, say so. We would rather know early.
- Contracts, invoices and purchase orders
- Bank statements showing the outbound payments
- Emails or messages with the counterparty
- Company registry extracts, if you have them
- A short chronology: who agreed what, when, and who knew
- Any prior complaint, judgment or police report
Send a list first, not the files. We will tell you what is relevant and how to send it securely.
What it costs
Recovery pricing attracts euphemism. Here is the structure, in plain terms.
We do not quote a recovery percentage before we have read the documents. If a firm does, ask what happens when the case fails.
Assessment
A fixed fee, quoted before we start. You receive the memo whether or not you decide to proceed.
Recovery work
A retainer against hourly rates, or a capped fee for a defined stage. Scope and budget are agreed in writing.
Success fee
Only where the jurisdiction permits it, and only as part of a written agreement. Never as a substitute for an assessment.
Disbursements
Court fees, local counsel, translation and travel are itemised at cost. We do not mark them up.
Questions we get asked
Short answers. The longer answer usually depends on documents we have not seen yet.
Ask something elseCan money sent by bank transfer be recovered?
Sometimes. It depends on how much time has passed, whether the receiving bank still holds funds, and whether the account holder can be identified. The first useful step is a dated payment record and the receiving bank details.
What if the recipient is in another country?
Most cross-border matters need local counsel in the destination jurisdiction. Some routes use mutual legal assistance treaties, which are slow; others use local civil claims, which can be faster but depend on enforceable assets being there.
Do you work on a no-win, no-fee basis?
Occasionally, where the jurisdiction permits it and the evidence is strong enough. It is never the starting assumption, and it is never agreed verbally.
How much does an assessment cost?
It depends on the number of jurisdictions and the volume of documents. We quote a fixed fee after a short call, before any work begins.
What if the amount is relatively small?
We will tell you if the likely cost of recovery exceeds the amount at stake. In that case we may suggest a demand letter or a regulatory complaint instead of litigation.
Do you guarantee recovery?
No. Anyone who does is guessing about evidence they have not seen. We commit to a documented assessment and a clear account of what is achievable.
Confidential inquiry
Tell us what went missing.
A short description is enough to start. We will tell you whether the documents support an assessment, and what that assessment would cost.
Start an inquiryPlease do not send original documents or account credentials with a first message.