When Fraud Strikes: Navigating Investigations, Scrutiny and Reputation Risk

I am a partner in our forensic and investigation services practice, with a particular focus on aiding companies facing urgent, complex, cross-border issues including fraud, bribery and corruption, misconduct and asset recovery.

I have extensive experience investigating high-profile public interest matters representing governments, public companies and private individuals throughout Europe, Africa, Asia and South America.

I am regularly named in Who’s Who Legal’s asset recovery, forensic accountants and consulting experts lists, where I am described by clients as “an eloquent and very innovative practitioner”, who is “extremely pragmatic and commercial in how he presents his advice” and “a great investigator who works extremely hard for his clients”.

Lawrence is a leading corporate communications specialist with a track record as an analyst, in City PR and in investor relations. Co-founding DRD Partnership in 2012, Lawrence previously worked at Brunswick and as Head of Financial and Corporate PR at Marks and Spencer Group plc. In addition to his leadership role at DRD, Lawrence now advises a range of clients with a particular focus on litigation, risk preparedness, ESG reporting, crisis and reputation management.

Barry acts for high-net worth individuals, governments, insolvency practitioners and multi-national companies. Over the past 15 years, Barry has acted in several major cases including London Capital & Finance Plc v Thomson & Ors, BTA Bank v Ablyazov and Dar Al-Arkan v Al Refai.

He undertakes the following work:

Investigations – Obtaining documents and information via the Norwich Pharmacal and Bankers Trust jurisdictions, the Evidence (Proceedings in Other Jurisdictions) Act 1975 and Section 1782 of Title 28 of the United States Code.

Asset Recovery - Obtaining worldwide freezing orders, search orders and computer imaging orders in England & Wales, Hong Kong and in other common law jurisdictions.

Contentious Insolvency - Leading investigations for insolvency practitioners (in particular, using the powers available pursuant to s234, s235 & s236 of the Insolvency Act 1986), advising insolvency practitioners in relation to the realisation of assets and their duties to the Court and creditors and advising directors in disqualification proceedings.

Commercial Disputes – Bringing and defending claims founded in the economic torts (conspiracy and deceit), breaches of contract, breach of directors and fiduciary duty and breach of trust.

Enforcement - Pursuing enforcement around the world (including taking possession of real estate, delivery up of valuable chattels such as yachts and supercars, and the winding up of corporate entities).

Arbitration – Acting for commercial entities in arbitral proceedings brought under the major institutional rules (e.g. - LCIA, ICC, SCAI) in the UK and Switzerland.

Vittoria Trigilio specialises in the defence of serious crime, with a particular focus on corporate and economic crime, and serious violence.

She is experienced in advising companies and individuals in complex and sensitive cases, and is sought after in substantial offshore financial crime investigations and associated litigation. She has particular experience of Deferred Prosecution Agreements, having recently worked on securing the first Deferred Prosecution Agreement in Jersey. She also has experience in matters relating to MONEYVAL evaluations.

Vittoria is fully bilingual in Italian and has a good working knowledge of French, and is especially experienced in multi-jurisdictional matters.