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06 November 2008
Issue: 7344 / Categories: Features , Commercial
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Civil service

William Christopher explains why he recommends pursuing perpetrators of fraud in civil courts

An economy facing an impending recession has resulted not only in increased levels of fraud, but also in greater incidents of fraud being discovered. If a company is the victim of fraud there are two ways to deal with it.

The first, and most obvious option is to report the fraud to the police. However, this should not be the option chosen by a victim wishing to recover the money lost.

Instead, the victim should pursue the perpetrators of fraud through the civil courts. A solicitor acting for a victim has a focus on preserving and recovering assets. The prosecuting criminal authority’s primary interest is in securing a conviction. Any consideration of compensation is very much a secondary consideration, if considered at all. A powerful legal arsenal in the civil courts can be used to discover where the victim’s assets have gone and get them back.

Effective remedy
4Eng Limited v Harper and Another, [2007] EWCH 7568 (Ch), [2008] Times, 23 June, illustrates how

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Charles Russell Speechlys—James Paterson

Charles Russell Speechlys—James Paterson

Charles Russell Speechlys further bolsters Private Equity expertise with the appointment of James Paterson

Ellisons—Samuel Flower

Ellisons—Samuel Flower

Ellisons strengthens Rural Affairs team with senior appointment

Sidley—Carl Hotton

Sidley—Carl Hotton

Sidley adds insurance mergers and acquisitions partner to London office

NEWS
A deputy costs judge correctly exercised his discretion to allow late service rather than strike out the point of dispute, the Court of Appeal has held
Prince Harry, Baroness Doreen Lawrence and five others have lost their case against the publisher of the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and MailOnline, in Various Claimants v Associated Newspapers [2026] EWHC 1637 (KB)
Public confidence in the justice system is being undermined by a lack of accessible, useable data, magistrates have warned
The Sentencing Council has launched draft guidelines for facilitation and endangering another person during a sea crossing to the UK
Government proposals to make independent written legal advice a prerequisite for workplace non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) may prove unworkable, according to a senior employment lawyer
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