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Civil recovery

Specialist civil recovery lawyers advising government, law enforcement and victims of fraud on POCA civil recovery of the proceeds of crime, including crypto assets.

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Overview Services Our work Our team What others say Insights

We help clients recover the proceeds of financial crime, with specialist expertise in civil recovery investigations, interim orders (including Property Freezing Orders, Unexplained Wealth Orders and Account Freezing Orders) and civil enforcement under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA).

Our team has extensive experience supporting government bodies, law enforcement agencies and victims of fraud on the investigation, recovery and civil enforcement of assets linked to money laundering, corruption, sanctions breaches and other financial crime.

Our work covers the full lifecycle of civil recovery – from obtaining investigative and freezing orders, through High Court proceedings under Part 5 of POCA, to enforcement and post-enforcement issues. We are frequently instructed in high-value and multi-jurisdictional claims, including those involving Politically Exposed Persons, Organised Crime Groups, white-collar criminals and complex international money laundering schemes such as the ‘Azerbaijani Laundromat’.

Our lawyers have acted on several landmark matters, including securing one of the UK’s first crypto wallet freezing orders under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, the first recovery of sanctioned assets under POCA and the first use of the statutory presumption under POCA.

Our team combines civil fraud and litigation expertise with insight gained from working in law enforcement. We collaborate across Burges Salmon’s specialist teams, and where needed, with trusted firms internationally, to deliver efficient outcomes in complex and sensitive cases.

Services

Investigative orders

Obtaining disclosure and production orders, including Unexplained Wealth Orders.

Civil recovery proceedings

Acting in High Court claims under Part 5 POCA.

Account freezing and forfeiture

Advising on proceedings under the Criminal Finances Act 2017.

Recovery and enforcement

Managing enforcement of recovery orders, including cases before the Court of Appeal.

Sanctioned asset recovery

Acting on the recovery of sanctioned assets, including the first case of its kind under POCA in the UK.

Crypto asset recovery

Securing crypto wallet freezing orders and advising on crypto-related asset recovery.

Examples of our work

Government enforcement agency

Issued a £61.5 million civil recovery claim under POCA relating to assets linked to the ‘Azerbaijani Laundromat’, held by a Politically Exposed Person.

Government enforcement agency

Advised on a £50 million civil recovery investigation into property held by an Organised Crime Group, linked to money laundering, smuggling and bribery in central Asia.

Government enforcement agency

Secured Interim Freezing, Unexplained Wealth and Property Freezing Orders in a case worth in excess of £20 million — the UK’s first instance of triggering POCA’s presumption of recoverability.

Government enforcement agency

Achieved settlement of civil recovery claims against a Politically Exposed Person, who was the subject of the UK’s first Unexplained Wealth Order.

Government enforcement agency

Obtained an Account Freezing Order over funds suspected as proceeds of grand corruption in the Seychelles, followed by a Forfeiture Order.

Government enforcement agency

Secured a settlement of Account Freezing Orders against accounts held by a religious figure who misused charitable funds.

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Our team

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What others say

“Burges Salmon has a highly commended team of well-reputed practitioners, known for handling high-value national and international disputes.”

Chambers UK 2025

“Michael Ward leads a dynamic team and has no limits in his dedication to client care.”

Legal 500 UK 2024

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FAQs

Civil recovery is a process under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) that allows government and law enforcement agencies to recover assets believed to be the proceeds of unlawful conduct, without the need for a criminal conviction.

Civil recovery claims are typically brought by agencies such as the National Crime Agency, government departments or law enforcement bodies. Victims of civil fraud may also seek advice on asset recovery.

Civil recovery can apply to a wide range of assets, including property, bank accounts, investments and crypto assets. It is often used in cases involving money laundering, corruption, sanctions enforcement and fraud.

Insights

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