FINANCIAL CRIME AND INVESTIGATIONS
ADG’s Financial Crime and Investigations practice focuses on the Middle East and Africa regions. We advise both claimant victims of financial crime and accused defendants. We have been instructed to work on some of the region’s most important financial crime matters.
On the claimant side, we are aware that many investigations are both costly and time-consuming. While this is sometimes inevitable, our starting point is to make them as quick and effective as possible. Our lawyers are experienced in filing criminal complaints in numerous jurisdictions and liaising with prosecutors. Where a civil recovery route is chosen, we can assist in seeking to obtain civil attachment orders or, in common law jurisdictions, injunctions. We work on internal investigations but also on complex international frauds.
When representing defendants, our starting point is that what we read in the news is usually only one party’s opinion. We approach all our cases with an open mind and seek to put a defendant in the best position possible to fight their case. Not only do we thoroughly investigate and advise on the allegations the defendant faces, but we also advise them on where to locate themselves during the process and on ways to seek to bring matters to a close as soon as possible. As the trend today is for claimants to commence proceedings against anyone who might have had any involvement in their story rather than just those who are likely to be culpable, in some cases, it is possible to persuade claimants to drop their claims or settle for a low sum.
Given the international nature of financial crime allegations in the region, we almost always work with leading firms in other jurisdictions. We instruct and are instructed by firms from all over the world, particularly from the US, UK, and Europe. In jurisdictions where we do not currently have a presence, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, we work with local counsel to meet our client’s needs. We draw upon our own network of law firm relationships worldwide to achieve this. We also work with the other professionals required to manage cases of this nature successfully. That includes investigators, cyber-experts, forensic accountants, reputational advisors, and others. We have led multidisciplinary teams and have been brought in by others to join them.
Bringing and defending financial crime claims is complex and evolving. Each case requires a bespoke approach. If you would like to learn more about how we may be able to help you, please get in touch with us.