Wedlake Bell LLP‘s ’helpful and collaborative team’ assists with the investigation and pursuit of civil fraud claims against directors, employees and third parties, including international asset tracing. Its expertise covers search, seizure and disclosure orders, injunctions, receiverships, and freezing and proprietary injunctions. Insolvency and restructuring head Frances Coulson has ‘vast knowledge and experience’; Ed Starling heads the disputes practice; and art and luxury group co-head Tim Maxwell specialises in disputes concerning forgeries, fraud, title, provenance, restitution and authenticity.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Wedlake Bell really know what they're doing with fraud - they seem to get a flavour of the case straight away, and come up with strategy accordingly.’

  • ‘Helpful and collaborative team, always providing timely advice and following up on matters when required.’

  • ‘The team is second to none in the area of insolvency litigation, with a huge amount of experience, particularly acting for office holders in complex fraud cases. Their results speak for themselves, with substantial recoveries for office holders.'

  • ‘Each team member contributes to the success of the team and they complement each other to achieve excellent results.’
  • ‘Frances Coulson is without doubt one of the most experienced and savvy insolvency lawyers in London. Vast knowledge and experience.’
  • ‘Ed Starling is really smart and sensible - aggressive when he needs to be, cool when needed to be. On top of all that, it's a delight to work with him.’

  • ‘Sara Crystal is extremely efficient in her document preparation and provision of advice. Excellent organisational skills in all areas of complex litigation.’
  • ‘Richard Saunders combines a tenacious ability to achieve outstanding results for clients with huge experience and knowledge of insolvency law.’

Key clients

  • Begbies Traynor
  • Moore Kingston Smith
  • Azets
  • Resolve
  • RSM UK
  • PKF
  • Grant Thornton UK
  • Interpath
  • Mazars

Work highlights

  • Successfully acted for Mercy Global Consult (in liquidation) in a complex umbrella payroll case.
  • Acted for JD Group (in liquidation) in proceedings brought under sections 212 and 213 Insolvency Act 1986, in relation to missing trading (VAT) fraud conducted by JD Group in 2006.
  • Acted for Linda Hickox, a victim of Timothy Sammons, the notorious art dealer who defrauded clients out of tens of millions of pounds by operating his business as a Ponzi scheme.

Lawyers

Practice head

Frances Coulson

Other key lawyers

Ed Starling; Tim Maxwell; Edward Saunders; Richard Saunders; Sara Crystal