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Fieldfisher has successfully recovered a significant portion of funds for a Spanish corporate client who fell victim to an authorised push payment (APP) fraud totalling £3 million.
In what is believed to be the first case of its kind, on 10 July 2025, the team obtained an order under section 303Z17A of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA), recovering a substantial portion of the client’s losses, amounting to hundreds of thousands of pounds.
This matter is one of a number of instructions where the team has deployed both criminal and civil recovery methods to trace and reclaim assets. Leveraging their civil expertise, the team secured multiple disclosure orders from various institutions across a complex transaction chain. This enabled them to identify funds held following an application by an English police force.
Until Fieldfisher’s involvement, the authorities had been unable to identify or contact the ultimate victim. The team liaised with the relevant force, supported their ongoing enquiries and submitted a compelling evidential package demonstrating the client was the true owner of the funds, despite competing interests.
Ultimately our approach in the matter led to an agreed position on the eve of a formal application at court. This in turn saved the client significant costs. The order of the Magistrates' Court was made pursuant to section 303Z17A of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) – a provision which only came into force on 7 November 2024. This provision was created to enable victims of crime to recover at an earlier stage in criminal investigations than was previously the case.
William Glover, Director, commented:
“We were delighted to achieve this result for an overseas corporate client who, as a result of failed attempts prior to our involvement, had virtually lost all hope in a positive outcome. This is typical of the outcomes which we can achieve through the familiarity we have in both civil and criminal asset recovery techniques.”
The instruction demonstrates how the firm continues to lead the way in relying on novel and creative recovery methods for all kinds of victims of fraud, including both domestic and international clients, as well as corporates, individuals and groups of individuals.
The Fieldfisher team was led by William Glover (Director), supported by Stephen Cartwright (Director), Vanessa Mendonça (Associate), Jessica Solsberg (Solicitor), and Dan Bishop (Trainee Solicitor).
Fieldfisher instructed Nick James and Faisal Osman of 33 Chancery Lane, who provided their typically superlative support with the court proceedings.