David Chalcraft > HFW > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Led by the ‘smart, charming and quick-thinking’ Rick Brown, HFW delivers ‘high-quality legal advice’ to IPs, in particular, in relation to high-value contentious insolvency matters. In this context, the team is particularly skilled at handling matters where there is an overlap with fraud and insolvency, with Brown particularly accomplished at handling matters involving offshore jurisdictions. The ‘technically very sound’ David Chalcraft and the ‘intelligent and resourceful’ Neil Chauhan are additionally recommended, with both also very visible in offshore-related matters.

Representing claimants and defendants, HFW‘s ‘strong civil fraud practice’ focuses on cross-border matters where fraud overlaps with insolvency issues. Rick Brown, who is ‘adept at handling complex and large-scale fraud litigation’, co-heads the fraud and insolvency team; David Chalcraft is a specialist in disputes involving international civil fraud and insolvency aspects; and Neil Chauhan‘s experience includes acting in major fraud cases across multiple jurisdictions, including Jersey, the Isle of Man and the BVI. Hong Kong-based Noel Campbell adds expertise in fraud and asset recovery cases in offshore jurisdictions.

Active in the Commercial Court, HFW specialises in the aerospace, commodities, construction, energy, insurance and shipping sectors. The team ‘punches well above its weight’, adept at obtaining freezing injunctions and boasting experience in proceedings before the High Court and the Supreme Court. Practice head Andrew Williams brings particular expertise in financial and crypto disputes to the team. Damian Honey fields particular experience in the Middle East, while Rick Brown handles breach of contract, fraud and asset-tracing claims. Other key figures include David Chalcraft, who focuses his cross-border disputes practice on insolvency, fraud and asset-tracing, and Gordon Rieck, who is active in multijurisdictional disputes.