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27 February 2026
Issue: 8151 / Categories: Legal News , Crypto , Technology , Criminal , Fraud , Cybercrime
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NLJ this week: Crypto fightback offers ‘new frontier for law’

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A year after the $1.5bn Bybit heist, crypto fraud is booming—but so is recovery. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Holloway, founder and CEO of M2 Recovery, warns that scams hit at least $14bn in 2025, fuelled by ‘pig butchering’ cons and AI deepfakes

Yet the surge presents opportunity: asset tracing and cross-border injunctions are moving centre stage as courts treat stolen tokens as recoverable property. With legal costs topping £250,000, specialist firms now blend recovery with insurance, while preventive tools flag suspect wallets before funds vanish.

‘Crypto recovery’, Holloway argues, is no mere niche but ‘a defining feature of commercial litigation’—essential if digital assets are to become a ‘legitimate, trusted pillar’ rather than a risky frontier.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Ward Hadaway—19 promotions

Ward Hadaway—19 promotions

19 promotions across national offices, including two new partners

Brabners—Ruth Hargreaves

Brabners—Ruth Hargreaves

Partner promoted to head of corporate team

Slater Heelis—Liam Hall, Jordan Bear & Joe Madigan

Slater Heelis—Liam Hall, Jordan Bear & Joe Madigan

Chester office expansion accelerates with triple appointment

NEWS
As AI chatbots increasingly provide legal and commercial advice, English law is beginning to confront who should bear responsibility when automated systems get things wrong
Businesses are facing a ‘dramatic rise in prosecution risks’ as sweeping reforms to corporate criminal liability come into force, expanding the net of who can be held responsible for wrongdoing inside organisations
The Court of Appeal’s decision in Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys has reignited debate over what exactly counts as the ‘conduct of litigation’ in modern legal practice
A controversial High Court financial remedies ruling has reignited debate over secrecy, non-disclosure and fairness in divorce proceedings involving hidden wealth
Britain’s deferred prosecution agreement regime is undergoing a significant shift, with prosecutors placing renewed emphasis on corporate cooperation, reform and early self-reporting
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