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06 February 2026
Categories: Legal News , Crypto , Criminal , Technology , Cybercrime , Fraud
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NLJ this week: Victims chase crypto through the courts

241909
A £5bn Bitcoin haul has thrown victims’ rights into sharp focus. In this week's NLJ, Gary Pons, Sarah Wood and Barnaby Hone of 5 St Andrew’s Hill examine how UK law tackles cryptoassets under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

The Zhang case, involving 61,000 Bitcoin linked to a massive investment fraud, highlights both the ease with which crypto can be moved anonymously and the legal complexity of getting it back.

Victims may intervene in confiscation, civil recovery or magistrates’ court forfeiture proceedings—each with different burdens and remedies. ‘What is the best forum for a victim to try to recover any stolen funds that can be traced into crypto?’ the authors ask. Their answer is pragmatic: early engagement with law enforcement and expert tracing can be faster and cheaper than traditional routes. The courts now face the challenge of turning digital traces into real-world justice.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Sidley—James Inness

Sidley—James Inness

Partner joins capital markets team in London office

Haynes Boone—William Cecil

Haynes Boone—William Cecil

Firm announces appointment of partner as UK general counsel

Devonshires—Nicholas Barrows

Devonshires—Nicholas Barrows

Firm appoints first chief marketing officer to drive growth strategy

NEWS

The Court of Appeal has slammed the brakes on claimants trying to swap defendants after limitation has expired. In Adcamp LLP v Office Properties and BDB Pitmans v Lee [2026] EWCA Civ 50, it overturned High Court rulings that had allowed substitutions under s 35(6)(b) of the Limitation Act 1980, reports Sarah Crowther of DAC Beachcroft in this week's NLJ

A seemingly dry procedural update may prove potent. In his latest 'Civil way' column for NLJ this week, Stephen Gold explains that new CPR 31.12A—part of the 193rd update—fills a ‘lacuna’ exposed in McLaren Indy v Alpa Racing
The long-running Mazur saga edged towards its finale as the Court of Appeal heard arguments on whether non-solicitors can ‘conduct litigation’. Writing in NLJ this week, Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School reports from a packed courtroom where 16 wigs watched Nick Bacon KC argue that Mr Justice Sheldon had failed to distinguish between ‘tasks and responsibilities’
Cheating in driving tests is surging—and courts are responding firmly. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Parpworth of De Montfort Law School charts a rise in impersonation and tech-assisted fraud, with 2,844 attempts recorded in a year
As AI-generated ‘deepfake’ images proliferate, the law may already have the tools to respond. In NLJ this week, Jon Belcher of Excello Law argues that such images amount to personal data processing under UK GDPR
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