POCA & Asset Recovery
We are the leading set in proceeds of crime and asset recovery, ranked tier 1 by the Legal 500 and band 1 by Chambers and Partners.
Our members act for individuals, companies, receivers, financial institutions, third parties, foreign requesting states, and specialist prosecuting authorities including the SFO, FCA, and CPS. We regularly advise foreign governments, sovereign wealth funds, and international public bodies on the registration and enforcement of foreign forfeiture orders.
Members of chambers assisted in drafting the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and continue to advise and train judges, prosecutors, and investigators worldwide. Members are also responsible for the leading textbook, Mitchell, Taylor & Talbot on Confiscation and the Proceeds of Crime.
Our work in this area covers restraint and confiscation, civil recovery, unexplained wealth orders, account freezing orders, production orders, and the interaction between confiscation and LPA receiverships, insolvency, and family proceedings. We also advise on the money laundering regulations, suspicious activity reporting, sanctions obligations, legal professional privilege, and the overlap between POCA and commercial litigation.
Representative cases
Close cases
Operation Diazoma
Civil Recovery Claim over property obtained in a fraud on the Kuwaiti Health Authority
Hamilton v Katung [2025] EWHC 1401 (KB)
Civil Recovery – Beneficial interest in property recovered from unlicensed money exchange business.
Wang v Tianjin Lantian Gerui Electronic Technology Co Ltd [2024] EWHC 2059 (Ch)
As well as representing the DPP and the Trustee holding the bitcoin, acting for many thousands of Chinese victims of an investment scheme that transpired to be a Ponzi fraud. They are advancing a proprietary claim to a significant share of Bitcoin currently worth $5.5 billion that is held by the UK authorities pursuant to a property freezing order issued by the High Court.
R (On Application of the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police) v City of Salford Magistrates’ Court ex parte Sarwar and Sons Knitwear Limited (2008)
Judicial review relating to civil cash seizures and the meaning of property ‘obtained by unlawful conduct’.
R (World Uyghur Congress) v NCA (Spotlight on Corruption intervening) [2024] 1 WLR 4532 (Court of Appeal).
Acquisition of criminal property; Supply Chains. Acted for Spotlight in guideline case on laundering in supply chains.
R. (on the application of Mileage Reclaim Ltd (t/a Taxbuddi)) v North Somerset Magistrates Court [2024] EWHC 1531 (Admin)
Acting for company in bank account freezing order judicial review. Now £8m compensation claim.
Taktouk [2025] EWCA Crim 1473; [2025] 11 WLUK 276
Private Prosecutor’s costs out of central funds.
Ahmet v Tatum [2024] EWCA Civ 255; [2024] 1 W.L.R. 3630
Proceedings begun in the High Court Chancery Division by a third party claiming a beneficial interest in a property subject to a confiscation order were struck out as abuse of process.
DPP v Su and Ors.
The first UWO obtained by the DPP over London real property valued at £85m
DPP v Binance Holdings Limited and Ors
Civil Recovery proceedings (shāzhūpán) against Binance and Ors. in the Cayman Islands
Project XYZ
For Receivers in a $3bn+ Crypto-asset Civil Recovery order
Acting in civil asset-recovery proceedings, including for the defence in recovery actions and offshore enforcement actions.
Re Smith [2024] EWHC 3154 (Comm), [2024] EWHC 3161 (Comm).
Leading in the Commercial Court for the SFO in the Orb/ Gerald Smith £80m proceedings involving 27 parties, BVI and Jersey liquidators and High Court receivers to recover the proceeds of breach of trust and fraudulently obtained property. Contempt; Restraint Orders
Director of Public Prosecutions v Surin [2025] EWHC 10 (KB)
Acting for DPP where summary judgment was granted on a claim for a civil recovery order in respect of Bitcoin held in an overseas crypto exchange by a UK national living in Dubai.
Ahmad & Fields (SC)
Apportionment and enforcement of multi-handed cases
Taktouk [2025] EWCA Crim 71; [2025] 1 W.L.R. 4131
£4.5m confiscation order in private prosecution. Reconsideration of confiscation order in light of fresh evidence
R v GH (Supreme Court)
Money laundering offences. S.328
R. v Haden (Mark) [2024] EWCA Crim 344; [2024] 1 W.L.R. 4777
Consolidated confiscation appeals re exceptional circumstances to extend confiscation proceedings.
HMRC v PS, THL (a Gibraltar Company)
Intervening third party corporate applicant (s.301 PoCA). Defeated allegation of Directors' corruption.
Representative cases
Operation Diazoma
Civil Recovery Claim over property obtained in a fraud on the Kuwaiti Health Authority
Project XYZ
For Receivers in a $3bn+ Crypto-asset Civil Recovery order
Hamilton v Katung [2025] EWHC 1401 (KB)
Civil Recovery – Beneficial interest in property recovered from unlicensed money exchange business.
Acting in civil asset-recovery proceedings, including for the defence in recovery actions and offshore enforcement actions.
Wang v Tianjin Lantian Gerui Electronic Technology Co Ltd [2024] EWHC 2059 (Ch)
As well as representing the DPP and the Trustee holding the bitcoin, acting for many thousands of Chinese victims of an investment scheme that transpired to be a Ponzi fraud. They are advancing a proprietary claim to a significant share of Bitcoin currently worth $5.5 billion that is held by the UK authorities pursuant to a property freezing order issued by the High Court.
Re Smith [2024] EWHC 3154 (Comm), [2024] EWHC 3161 (Comm).
Leading in the Commercial Court for the SFO in the Orb/ Gerald Smith £80m proceedings involving 27 parties, BVI and Jersey liquidators and High Court receivers to recover the proceeds of breach of trust and fraudulently obtained property. Contempt; Restraint Orders
R (On Application of the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police) v City of Salford Magistrates’ Court ex parte Sarwar and Sons Knitwear Limited (2008)
Judicial review relating to civil cash seizures and the meaning of property ‘obtained by unlawful conduct’.
Director of Public Prosecutions v Surin [2025] EWHC 10 (KB)
Acting for DPP where summary judgment was granted on a claim for a civil recovery order in respect of Bitcoin held in an overseas crypto exchange by a UK national living in Dubai.
R (World Uyghur Congress) v NCA (Spotlight on Corruption intervening) [2024] 1 WLR 4532 (Court of Appeal).
Acquisition of criminal property; Supply Chains. Acted for Spotlight in guideline case on laundering in supply chains.
Ahmad & Fields (SC)
Apportionment and enforcement of multi-handed cases
R. (on the application of Mileage Reclaim Ltd (t/a Taxbuddi)) v North Somerset Magistrates Court [2024] EWHC 1531 (Admin)
Acting for company in bank account freezing order judicial review. Now £8m compensation claim.
Taktouk [2025] EWCA Crim 71; [2025] 1 W.L.R. 4131
£4.5m confiscation order in private prosecution. Reconsideration of confiscation order in light of fresh evidence
Taktouk [2025] EWCA Crim 1473; [2025] 11 WLUK 276
Private Prosecutor’s costs out of central funds.
R v GH (Supreme Court)
Money laundering offences. S.328
Ahmet v Tatum [2024] EWCA Civ 255; [2024] 1 W.L.R. 3630
Proceedings begun in the High Court Chancery Division by a third party claiming a beneficial interest in a property subject to a confiscation order were struck out as abuse of process.
R. v Haden (Mark) [2024] EWCA Crim 344; [2024] 1 W.L.R. 4777
Consolidated confiscation appeals re exceptional circumstances to extend confiscation proceedings.
DPP v Su and Ors.
The first UWO obtained by the DPP over London real property valued at £85m
HMRC v PS, THL (a Gibraltar Company)
Intervening third party corporate applicant (s.301 PoCA). Defeated allegation of Directors' corruption.
DPP v Binance Holdings Limited and Ors
Civil Recovery proceedings (shāzhūpán) against Binance and Ors. in the Cayman Islands
Our POCA & Asset Recovery Barristers
For a confidential conversation please contact Chief Executive and Director of Clerking, Sam Carter.
“The clerks always go above and beyond to assist. They understand the needs of instructing solicitors, particularly in identifying suitable counsel for cases”
Chambers & Partners
“A friendly and integrated service. The clerks systems and client handling are excellent - with a can-do attitude, enabling easier planning on my side.”
Legal 500
People / Barristers
Address
For a confidential conversation please contact Chief Executive and Director of Clerking, Sam Carter.
“The clerks always go above and beyond to assist. They understand the needs of instructing solicitors, particularly in identifying suitable counsel for cases”
Chambers & Partners
“A friendly and integrated service. The clerks systems and client handling are excellent - with a can-do attitude, enabling easier planning on my side.”
Legal 500
People / Barristers
Address
For a confidential conversation please contact Chief Executive and Director of Clerking, Sam Carter.
“The clerks always go above and beyond to assist. They understand the needs of instructing solicitors, particularly in identifying suitable counsel for cases”
Chambers & Partners
“A friendly and integrated service. The clerks systems and client handling are excellent - with a can-do attitude, enabling easier planning on my side.”
Legal 500
People / Barristers
Address