Co-Chair
Sara Sheffield

Co-Chair
Tomislav Šunjka

Asset Recovery Committee

The Asset Recovery Committee, re-launched as an independent committee in 2023, provides an international platform for private and public-sector practitioners, civil society, international and regional organizations, policy makers, experts and funders to meet and discuss best practice and experience in the field of asset tracking and recovery, including asset recovery laws and orders, practical tools and techniques, know-how and case studies, from both criminal and civil law perspectives, across both civil and common law jurisdictions.

About the Asset Recovery Committee

The Asset Recovery Committee, re-launched as an independent committee in 2023, provides an international platform for private and public-sector practitioners, civil society, international and regional organizations, policy makers, experts and funders to meet and discuss best practice and experience in the field of asset tracking and recovery, including asset recovery laws and orders, practical tools and techniques, know-how and case studies, from both criminal and civil law perspectives, across both civil and common law jurisdictions. Asset Recovery is a multi-disciplinary practice area with asset recovery tools being relevant to asset recovery in cases concerning fraud, public and private corruption, insolvency, financial services, digital assets and cryptocurrency, sports, sanctions, shipping, private law matters, and war crimes. It is an important consideration both before and during the course of securing of judgments, orders and arbitral awards, at enforcement stages, and for the purposes of the financing of those processes.

The Asset Recovery Committee aims to create a model Asset Recovery Law in the near future to enhance the rights and tools available to plaintiffs and creditors, and is committed to providing a collaborative environment for key stakeholders to contribute to that process. In order to achieve that purpose, the Asset Recovery Committee will continue the significant efforts of its predecessor, the Asset Recovery Sub-Committee, in organizing regular conferences, seminars and workshops, distributing newsletters, and engaging to enable members to stay well informed of the latest developments in asset recovery practices globally.

IBA Annual Conference Paris 2023

We were involved in four sessions at the IBA Annual Conference Paris 2023.

Inaugural Asset Recovery Conference Vienna December 2023

  • Chris Phillips (Quantuma): “The conference was a combination of really high-class content via fully engaging panels (on a truly global scale) and really outstanding networking both in the hotel, at the dinner and two fun drinks receptions – all in a stunning Winter setting. I am sure we would be delighted to continue to support the Asset Recovery committee in the future”.
  • Jacques-Alexandre Genet (Archipel Law), Paris: “Honestly, this event stands among the very best I have attended in the asset recovery area over the last few years – format, sizing and content were all excellent. I was very happy, and honoured to participate as a speaker to this inaugural conference”: How to track and to recover cryptocurrency?
  • Piers Rake – Partner, Astraea Group: “One of the best conferences I’ve attended. As with everything in life, it’s all about the people you meet, and shared experiences. The conference was finishes off with an address by Lord Justice Briggs, and a great Q&A. I am looking forward to next years’ International Bar Association Asset Recovery Conference in Madrid”.
  • Barry Robinson - BDO: “What a great inaugural IBA Asset Recovery conference. Such great attendees and networking events in a memorable location”
  • Yves Klein: "Congratulatios and thank you to all for a great conference, the bar is set high for the next one”.
  • Marc Hassberger, Chabrier: “The amount of talent, experience and brain matter that was gathered together is mind blowing. It is only surpassed by the feeling of deep friendship and camaraderie running in this group”
  • Dr Angelika H – Rahman Ravelli: “It was a remarkable event and I am already looking forward to the next one”.

Forthcoming conferences and webinars View All Conferences

Committee Projects

 

An IBA Asset Recovery Committee initiative produced in conjunction with the IBA Anti-Corruption Committee.

Experts from around the world give their views on asset recovery.

 

An IBA Asset Recovery Committee initiative produced in conjunction with the IBA Anti-Corruption Committee.

Asset Recovery experts from around the world were invited to give their views on anti-corruption developments in their jurisdictions. The film was created in 2019 at the 17th Annual IBA Anti-Corruption Conference.

Reports

Going for Broke

Insolvency Tools to Support Cross-Border: Asset Recovery in Corruption Cases

Download Report

Publications

Proposed amendments to Switzerland’s anti-money laundering and sanctions framework

An article on proposed amendments to Switzerland’s anti-money laundering and sanctions framework by Matthias Gstoehl and Benoit Mauron.

Released on Mar 27, 2024

Editor's Note, August 2023

In the first issue of the newsletter, we focus on the latest judgments and trends in the world of asset recovery.

Released on Sep 07, 2023

Cryptocurrency – super asset or ‘cryptonite’?

How cryptocurrency is conceived of as property or asset and different jurisdictions’ approach to restraints, forfeitures and seizures. This article will discuss how Australia, the UK and the US have identified and categorised cryptocurrency as an asset or as property and the implications of that classification for regulatory and enforcement outcomes.

Released on Aug 28, 2023

Asset recovery in Pakistan: a call for international cooperation

There are substantial difficulties regarding asset recovery in Pakistan. Collaborations between global institutions, such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC), the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and INTERPOL, aim to curb this issue. Efforts to counter this problem include promoting national policies for tracing, seizure and confiscation of criminal assets, as well as enhancing operational cooperation and information sharing. This article will discuss the policy framework under the National Accountability Bureau Ordinance 1999 (‘Ordinance’).

Released on Aug 14, 2023