Co-Chair
Stephen Baker
Co-Chair
Kate McMahon
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.
Forthcoming conferences and webinars View All Conferences
Of Ponzi and pyramid schemes: crossing international borders and building the picture
14 May 2025 1300 - 1400 BST
Webinar
IBA Annual Conference Toronto 2025
02 Nov - 07 Nov 2025
Toronto , Canada
When litigation meets crime
28 Jan - 30 Jan 2026
Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
IBA Annual Conference Copenhagen 2026
04 Oct - 09 Oct 2026
Copenhagen , Denmark
Publications
When is a scam a fraud under Swiss criminal law?
In financial matters, there are numerous cases of scammers promising investors a high return in a short period of time. To target potential victims, scammers show boundless imagination and use all kinds of manoeuvres. They present themselves as providers of cutting-edge financial services, relying in particular on attractive subjects such as cryptocurrency. For Swiss criminal courts, however, there is an important and sometimes difficult distinction between a scam where the investor is the victim of a fraud and a high-risk investment based on aggressive promotional strategies.
Released on Apr 15, 2024
A dream come true: Black Swan freestanding orders are expressly made available in Cyprus
The implementation of the new Civil Procedure Rules in Cyprus, coupled with amendments in the legislature, make Black Swan freestanding orders a dream come true, adding to the tools available for asset recovery legal practitioners.
Released on Apr 15, 2024
Dispute resolution: redress and remediation in complex crypto litigation
Disputes involving crypto assets can have their own unique and sometimes novel challenges. To seek redress, litigants have had to rely on existing dispute resolution mechanisms and traditional legal remedies, with varying levels of success.
Released on Apr 15, 2024
The UK’s new failure to prevent fraud offence – should crypto firms brace for impact?
The United Kingdom recently introduced legislation which expands the scope of corporate criminal liability. The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (the Act) aims to strengthen the UK’s response to financial crime through an array of measures. For crypto firms, the primary touchpoints in the Act are the standalone provisions which concern crypto assets in Part 4. Those provisions are focused on the powers of UK law enforcement agencies to seize and recover crypto assets and enable the seizure and forfeiture of crypto assets believed to be the proceeds of crime, or which are connected to terrorism on reasonable grounds without first requiring a criminal conviction. This article, however, considers how the introduction in Part 5 of the Act of a new offence of failing to prevent fraud, that may have a wider impact on crypto firms and make it easier for criminal prosecutions to be brought against organisations.
Released on Apr 15, 2024
Youth Asset Recovery Club
The Youth Asset Recovery Club is a branch of the Asset Recovery Committee targeting the next generation of asset recovery professionals. While the Asset Recovery Committee is open to members of all ages and at any stage of their career, the Youth Asset Recovery Club is aimed at giving a voice to the younger generation, allowing them to hone their skills in a targeted manner and providing them with a platform to network, as the future leaders in the field. The Youth Asset Recovery Club is actively involved in the events organised by the Asset Recovery Committee, both by contributing to content (e.g. attendance on conference panels) and also by arranging sub-events for the next generation of asset recovery professionals.
The first formal meeting of the Youth Asset Recovery Club will take place on December 4th, from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm in Riu Plaza España Hotel, during the 2nd Annual IBA Asset Recovery Conference.
The criteria for joining the Youth Asset Recovery Club are the following:
- Membership of the IBA and the Asset Recovery Committee
- Professional experience of 15 years or less
If you are interested in joining, please contact Théo Reljic at treljic@svz.fr
Past Events
- 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: "Congratulations 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”.
Subcommittees and other groups
The Asset Recovery Committee also coordinates the activities of the following subcommittees/working groups.
- Asset Recovery Committee Advisory Board
Join us on LinkedIn
If you are a member of the Asset Recovery Committee, for additional networking opportunities, programs, interviews with fellow members and tips all exclusive to members, join our LinkedIn page at: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12834262/.