FIRE International: Vilamoura

The flagship International Asset Recovery event in the fraud & insolvency practitioner's calendar

20th - 22nd May 2025 | Anantara Hotel, Vilamoura, Portugal

View 2025 Agenda View 2025 Enhanced Networking

Agenda

International Speaker Dinner
7.00pm

TL4 are excited to welcome our international speakers who have travelled from across the globe to lend us their expertise. We look forward to a relaxed evening wining and dining on the beach. 

By invitation only

View the agenda in PDF

Click here to download

Pre-event Networking Activities
10.00am

5k Run Club Intro to Golf Lesson
Late nights and early mornings! Join our fun run club to kick start your day. They shout FORE, we shout FIRE - hone your driving skills with other beginners at the range. 
FIRE Padel Tennis Tournament  Walking Tour of Albufeira
Bring the HEAT in our FIRE Padel Tennis Tournament - have you got what it takes? Experince old town Albufeira. Explore the ancient fishing village, churches, taverns and museums.

 

Registration & Badge Pick-Up
12.00pm

Portuguese Welcome Lunch
12.30pm

Advisory Board Welcome Remarks
2.00pm

Keynote Session – Leading by Example
2.10pm

Andrew Strauss, former Captain
England Cricket Team

Complexities Of Enforcing in Multi-Jurisdictions
2.50pm

  • A global world – cross border issue with asset recovery
  • Regulatory and legislative update for FIRE
  • Practical challenges to coordinate enforcement
  • Ensuring communication across teams

Sushmita Gandhi, Partner
IndusLaw (India)

Bakhyt Tukulov, Partner
Tukulov Kassilgov Shaikenov (Kazakhstan)

Andreas Pollak, Partner
Petsche Pollak (Austria)

Gary Miller, Partner / Chair
Mishcon de Reya / International Fraud Group

Networking & Refreshment Break
3.30pm

Ensuring Effective Enforcement of Freezing Injunctions
3.50pm

  • Enforcing in other and foreign jurisdictions
  • When to challenge a freezing injunction
  • Risks of dissipation of an asset

Dr. Alexander Amann, Managing Partner and Attorney at Law
AMP Amann Partners Attorneys at Law (Liechtenstein)

Maureen Ward, Partner
Bennett Jones (Canada)

Edward Palmer , Director
Greyhawk

Amidst The Sanctions Era
4.30pm

  • Sanctions aren’t going anywhere – ensuring prevention of issues arising with sanctions
  • How sanctions can interfere with efforts to enforce judgements
  • Delving into sanctions regime and how that impacts your asset recovery

Emile Simpson, Barrister
4 New Square

Olexander Martinenko, Partner, Head of Dispute Resolution
Kinstellar (Ukraine)

Chairpersons' Summary and Close of Day 1
5.10pm

Welcome Drinks Reception
5.15pm

Welcome to Portugal - Dinners, Cocktails & Cooking Classes
7.30pm

Conference Partner Dinners Women in FIRE Dinner
To welcome our delegates to Vilamoura our event partners will be hosting networking dinners - Please reach out for options! Introduced in 2024, our oversubcribed Women in FIRE dinner is back by popular demand! Open to Women and ALL allies, network with the leading lights of Fraud litigation, Asset Recovery and Insolvency.
Gin Cocktail Making Class Portuguese Culinary Lessons
We know you can drink them, but can you make them? Unleash your inner mixologist and experiment with creative cocktails. Sign up for a true taste of Portugal. Embark on a culinary adventure and explore the bold flavours of Portugal with a new contact.
Sip and Paint Portuguese Wine Tasting

Swap paperwork for paintbrushes as you sip on your favourite drink while channelling your inner Picasso. Who knows, you might just create a masterpiece - or if not, a great conversation starter…

Pop the cork on an exquisite local vintage AND a set of new industry contacts! Who says you can't blend business with a little Bordeaux?

 

Networking and Morning Refreshments
9.00am

Welcome Back Advisory Board Opening Remarks
9.30am

Insights to Court Litigation
9.40am

  • How the English Courts are approaching fraud
  • How receptive are judges on asset recovery and fraud litigation
  • UAE – how to use the local and DIFC courts to obtain and get the best result for asset recovery
  • Understanding the different processes and mechanisms of different courts

Muhammad Dele Belgore, Partner
Sofunde, Osakwe, Ogundipe & Belgore (Nigeria)

Adrian Wong, Partner, Head of Dispute Resolution
Rajah & Tann (Singapore)

Tim Chelmick, Barrister
4 New Square

Paulo Magalhaes Nasser, Partner
M Nasser Advocacia Estrategica (Brazil)

Unpacking The Developments of Tracing in The Digital Assets World
10.20am

  • Recovering crypto offshore
  • Working on non-traditional asset tracing
  • Navigating the anonymity of blockchain tracing

Jansen Chow, Co-Head, Fraud Asset Recovery & Investigation
Rajah & Tann (Singapore)

Networking & Refreshment Break
11.00am

Obtaining Evidence from Abroad in Heavyweight Commercial Disputes
11.30am

  • Relevant treaties, legislation and procedural rules
  • Procedure for Letter of Request under the Hague Convention
  • Exploring Part 23 Civil Procedure Rules
  • Challenges to the Letters of Request
  • Litigation following the challenges

Taher Abdeen Ibrahim, Partner
Hadef & Partners (UAE)

Azizur Rahman, Senior Partner
Rahman Ravelli (UK)

Yves Klein, Partner
Monfrini Bitton Klein (Switzerland)

Case Study: 1Malaysia Development Berhad Scandal
12.10pm

  • War stories in court – high profile cross examination
  • Can this be prevented?
  • Impacts on policies and legislations
  • Looking at the offshore side

Kwan Will Sen, Partner
Lim Chee Wee Partnership (Malaysia)

Lezgin Polater, Partner
Archipel (Switzerland)

Chairpersons' Summary and Close of Day 2
12.50pm

Networking Lunch at the Hotel
12.55pm

Meet for Afternoon Networking Activities
1.55pm

Marine Safari Boat Trip Wine Tasting at Vineyard & Sculpture Garden 
Intimate networking opportunity to ride the waves with an eye out for dolphins. Exclusive of 10 people per boat – 3 boats available! Combining art and wine delegates can enjoy award winning tipples and uniquely interesting sculptures set up in beautiful gardens.
FIRE Mini Golf Tournament Intro to Golf Lesson FIRE Volleyball Tournament 
Test (or, show off) your abilities and get to know your competitors as you tee off in the sunshine! They shout FORE, we shout FIRE - hone your driving skills with other beginners at the range. Bring the HEAT in our FIRE Padel Tennis Tournament  - have you got what it takes?

Sunset Drinks Reception
6.00pm

Unmissable Poolside Gala Dinner
7.30pm

Evening Drinks at the Hotel Bar
9.30pm

Networking and Morning Refreshments
9.00am

Welcome Back from Advisory Board
9.30am

Build You Own Agenda: choose your streams/topic areas, and get involved with interactive workshops.

STREAM A - Proof, Evidence, and Information Gathering
9.40am

  • How to prove fraud
  • Effectively using your investigative powers across borders
  • What data and information can be obtained
  • Using appropriate software to help your investigations

Iris Pfander, Associate
Baldi & Caratsch (Switzerland)

Aboubacar Fall, Senior Partner
AF Legal Law Firm (Senegal)

STREAM B - Insolvencies with Crypto Exchanges
9.40am

  • Choosing where the main insolvency proceedings will be
  • What liquidators decide to do with the valuation of digital assets
  • A need for expert opinions and separate valuation committees for digital and crypto assets
  • Lessons learned from crypto insolvency and the precedence set

Douglas Curran, Shareholder
Anderson Kill (USA)

Morgan Patterson, Partner
Womble Bond Dickinson (USA)

STREAM A - The Inevitable Growth of DAOs (Decentralised Autonomous Organisations)
10.20am

  • Financial risks involved with DAOs
  • Managing the various assets in DAOs
  • How trust and transparency can impact the vulnerabilities of security
  • Do existing laws translate well with DAOs?

Howard A. Fischer, Partner
Moses & Singer (USA)

STREAM B - Insolvency Tools to Support Cross-Border Asset Recovery
10.20am

  • Impacts of a challenging insolvency regimes
  • Navigating the different insolvency tools in Malaysia
  • Exploring new insolvency tools in Canada and Panama
  • Ability to give release to shareholders
  • How can we ethically forum shop

Claudia Cheah Pek Yee, Partner
Skrine Advocates & Solicitors (Malaysia)

Karen Fellowes KC, Senior Counsel
Stikeman Elliott (Canada)

Marlyn Narkis, Partner
MDU Legal (Panama)

Ericka Johnson, Director
Bayard Law (USA)

Networking & Refreshment Break
11.00am

STREAM A - The Intersection Between Arbitration and Insolvency
11.30

  • Examining arbitration proceedings with insolvent companies
  • Using arbitration in the ‘pre-insolvency’ stage
  • How arbitration centres have developed insolvency-specific rules?

Geraldo Fonseca, Partner
Fonseca Vannucci Abreu (Brazil)

Stephanie Oneyser, Counsel
Walder Wyss (Switzerland)

Mercy Okiro, Advocate, Arbitrator and Law Lecturer
(Kenya)

STREAM B - The Growth of Mediation – Confidential and Flexible
11.30am

  • Implementing the use of mediation in your asset recovery process
  • Why you should use mediation – advantages to help with recovering assets
  • Using mediation to allow time to find solutions, whilst ensuring assets are not being touched

Advisory Board Thank You & Farewell Lunch
12.10pm

Meet For Afternoon Networking Activity
2.30pm

The FIRE Boat Party FIRE Mini Golf Tournament Wine Tasting at Vineyard & Sculpture Garden 
Mingle with your new connections amidst the backdrop of the stunning Portuguese sunset and crystal clear waters. Test (or, show off) your abilities and get to know your competitors as you tee off in the sunshine! Combining art and wine delegates can enjoy award winning tipples and uniquely interesting sculptures set up in beautiful gardens.

Conference Partner Dinners
7.30pm

The Big Closing Drinks by the Marina
9.30pm

7.00pm
International Speaker Dinner

TL4 are excited to welcome our international speakers who have travelled from across the globe to lend us their expertise. We look forward to a relaxed evening wining and dining on the beach. 

By invitation only

View the agenda in PDF

Click here to download

10.00am
Pre-event Networking Activities
5k Run Club Intro to Golf Lesson
Late nights and early mornings! Join our fun run club to kick start your day. They shout FORE, we shout FIRE - hone your driving skills with other beginners at the range. 
FIRE Padel Tennis Tournament  Walking Tour of Albufeira
Bring the HEAT in our FIRE Padel Tennis Tournament - have you got what it takes? Experince old town Albufeira. Explore the ancient fishing village, churches, taverns and museums.

 

12.00pm
Registration & Badge Pick-Up
12.30pm
Portuguese Welcome Lunch
2.00pm
Advisory Board Welcome Remarks
2.10pm
Keynote Session – Leading by Example
Andrew Strauss - former Captain - England Cricket Team
2.50pm
Complexities Of Enforcing in Multi-Jurisdictions
  • A global world – cross border issue with asset recovery
  • Regulatory and legislative update for FIRE
  • Practical challenges to coordinate enforcement
  • Ensuring communication across teams
Sushmita Gandhi - Partner - IndusLaw (India)
Bakhyt Tukulov - Partner - Tukulov Kassilgov Shaikenov (Kazakhstan)
Andreas Pollak - Partner - Petsche Pollak (Austria)
Gary Miller - Partner / Chair - Mishcon de Reya / International Fraud Group
3.30pm
Networking & Refreshment Break
3.50pm
Ensuring Effective Enforcement of Freezing Injunctions
  • Enforcing in other and foreign jurisdictions
  • When to challenge a freezing injunction
  • Risks of dissipation of an asset
Dr. Alexander Amann - Managing Partner and Attorney at Law - AMP Amann Partners Attorneys at Law (Liechtenstein)
Maureen Ward - Partner - Bennett Jones (Canada)
Edward Palmer - Director - Greyhawk
4.30pm
Amidst The Sanctions Era
  • Sanctions aren’t going anywhere – ensuring prevention of issues arising with sanctions
  • How sanctions can interfere with efforts to enforce judgements
  • Delving into sanctions regime and how that impacts your asset recovery
Emile Simpson - Barrister - 4 New Square
Olexander Martinenko - Partner, Head of Dispute Resolution - Kinstellar (Ukraine)
5.10pm
Chairpersons' Summary and Close of Day 1
5.15pm
Welcome Drinks Reception
7.30pm
Welcome to Portugal - Dinners, Cocktails & Cooking Classes
Conference Partner Dinners Women in FIRE Dinner
To welcome our delegates to Vilamoura our event partners will be hosting networking dinners - Please reach out for options! Introduced in 2024, our oversubcribed Women in FIRE dinner is back by popular demand! Open to Women and ALL allies, network with the leading lights of Fraud litigation, Asset Recovery and Insolvency.
Gin Cocktail Making Class Portuguese Culinary Lessons
We know you can drink them, but can you make them? Unleash your inner mixologist and experiment with creative cocktails. Sign up for a true taste of Portugal. Embark on a culinary adventure and explore the bold flavours of Portugal with a new contact.
Sip and Paint Portuguese Wine Tasting

Swap paperwork for paintbrushes as you sip on your favourite drink while channelling your inner Picasso. Who knows, you might just create a masterpiece - or if not, a great conversation starter…

Pop the cork on an exquisite local vintage AND a set of new industry contacts! Who says you can't blend business with a little Bordeaux?

 

9.00am
Networking and Morning Refreshments
9.30am
Welcome Back Advisory Board Opening Remarks
9.40am
Insights to Court Litigation
  • How the English Courts are approaching fraud
  • How receptive are judges on asset recovery and fraud litigation
  • UAE – how to use the local and DIFC courts to obtain and get the best result for asset recovery
  • Understanding the different processes and mechanisms of different courts
Muhammad Dele Belgore - Partner - Sofunde, Osakwe, Ogundipe & Belgore (Nigeria)
Adrian Wong - Partner, Head of Dispute Resolution - Rajah & Tann (Singapore)
Tim Chelmick - Barrister - 4 New Square
Paulo Magalhaes Nasser - Partner - M Nasser Advocacia Estrategica (Brazil)
10.20am
Unpacking The Developments of Tracing in The Digital Assets World
  • Recovering crypto offshore
  • Working on non-traditional asset tracing
  • Navigating the anonymity of blockchain tracing
Jansen Chow - Co-Head, Fraud Asset Recovery & Investigation - Rajah & Tann (Singapore)
11.00am
Networking & Refreshment Break
11.30am
Obtaining Evidence from Abroad in Heavyweight Commercial Disputes
  • Relevant treaties, legislation and procedural rules
  • Procedure for Letter of Request under the Hague Convention
  • Exploring Part 23 Civil Procedure Rules
  • Challenges to the Letters of Request
  • Litigation following the challenges
Taher Abdeen Ibrahim - Partner - Hadef & Partners (UAE)
Azizur Rahman - Senior Partner - Rahman Ravelli (UK)
Yves Klein - Partner - Monfrini Bitton Klein (Switzerland)
12.10pm
Case Study: 1Malaysia Development Berhad Scandal
  • War stories in court – high profile cross examination
  • Can this be prevented?
  • Impacts on policies and legislations
  • Looking at the offshore side
Kwan Will Sen - Partner - Lim Chee Wee Partnership (Malaysia)
Lezgin Polater - Partner - Archipel (Switzerland)
12.50pm
Chairpersons' Summary and Close of Day 2
12.55pm
Networking Lunch at the Hotel
1.55pm
Meet for Afternoon Networking Activities
Marine Safari Boat Trip Wine Tasting at Vineyard & Sculpture Garden 
Intimate networking opportunity to ride the waves with an eye out for dolphins. Exclusive of 10 people per boat – 3 boats available! Combining art and wine delegates can enjoy award winning tipples and uniquely interesting sculptures set up in beautiful gardens.
FIRE Mini Golf Tournament Intro to Golf Lesson FIRE Volleyball Tournament 
Test (or, show off) your abilities and get to know your competitors as you tee off in the sunshine! They shout FORE, we shout FIRE - hone your driving skills with other beginners at the range. Bring the HEAT in our FIRE Padel Tennis Tournament  - have you got what it takes?
6.00pm
Sunset Drinks Reception
7.30pm
Unmissable Poolside Gala Dinner
9.30pm
Evening Drinks at the Hotel Bar
9.00am
Networking and Morning Refreshments
9.30am
Welcome Back from Advisory Board

Build You Own Agenda: choose your streams/topic areas, and get involved with interactive workshops.

9.40am
STREAM A - Proof, Evidence, and Information Gathering
  • How to prove fraud
  • Effectively using your investigative powers across borders
  • What data and information can be obtained
  • Using appropriate software to help your investigations
Iris Pfander - Associate - Baldi & Caratsch (Switzerland)
Aboubacar Fall - Senior Partner - AF Legal Law Firm (Senegal)
9.40am
STREAM B - Insolvencies with Crypto Exchanges
  • Choosing where the main insolvency proceedings will be
  • What liquidators decide to do with the valuation of digital assets
  • A need for expert opinions and separate valuation committees for digital and crypto assets
  • Lessons learned from crypto insolvency and the precedence set
Douglas Curran - Shareholder - Anderson Kill (USA)
Morgan Patterson - Partner - Womble Bond Dickinson (USA)
10.20am
STREAM A - The Inevitable Growth of DAOs (Decentralised Autonomous Organisations)
  • Financial risks involved with DAOs
  • Managing the various assets in DAOs
  • How trust and transparency can impact the vulnerabilities of security
  • Do existing laws translate well with DAOs?
Howard A. Fischer - Partner - Moses & Singer (USA)
10.20am
STREAM B - Insolvency Tools to Support Cross-Border Asset Recovery
  • Impacts of a challenging insolvency regimes
  • Navigating the different insolvency tools in Malaysia
  • Exploring new insolvency tools in Canada and Panama
  • Ability to give release to shareholders
  • How can we ethically forum shop
Claudia Cheah Pek Yee - Partner - Skrine Advocates & Solicitors (Malaysia)
Karen Fellowes KC - Senior Counsel - Stikeman Elliott (Canada)
Marlyn Narkis - Partner - MDU Legal (Panama)
Ericka Johnson - Director - Bayard Law (USA)
11.00am
Networking & Refreshment Break
11.30
STREAM A - The Intersection Between Arbitration and Insolvency
  • Examining arbitration proceedings with insolvent companies
  • Using arbitration in the ‘pre-insolvency’ stage
  • How arbitration centres have developed insolvency-specific rules?
Geraldo Fonseca - Partner - Fonseca Vannucci Abreu (Brazil)
Stephanie Oneyser - Counsel - Walder Wyss (Switzerland)
Mercy Okiro - Advocate, Arbitrator and Law Lecturer - (Kenya)
11.30am
STREAM B - The Growth of Mediation – Confidential and Flexible
  • Implementing the use of mediation in your asset recovery process
  • Why you should use mediation – advantages to help with recovering assets
  • Using mediation to allow time to find solutions, whilst ensuring assets are not being touched
12.10pm
Advisory Board Thank You & Farewell Lunch
2.30pm
Meet For Afternoon Networking Activity
The FIRE Boat Party FIRE Mini Golf Tournament Wine Tasting at Vineyard & Sculpture Garden 
Mingle with your new connections amidst the backdrop of the stunning Portuguese sunset and crystal clear waters. Test (or, show off) your abilities and get to know your competitors as you tee off in the sunshine! Combining art and wine delegates can enjoy award winning tipples and uniquely interesting sculptures set up in beautiful gardens.
7.30pm
Conference Partner Dinners
9.30pm
The Big Closing Drinks by the Marina

Event Partners

Media Partner

Contact Us

Speakers

For Speakers enquiries please contact Melody on +44 (0) 20 3997 8527 or email melody@thoughtleaders4.com

Partnership

For Partnership enquiries please contact Ben on +44 (0) 20 3965 4386 or email ben@thoughtleaders4.com

Booking & General Enquiries

For Booking & General Enquiries enquiries please contact Paul on +44 (0) 20 3398 8510 or email paul@thoughtleaders4.com

Venue & Logistics

For Venue & Logistics enquiries please contact Laura on +44 (0) 20 3433 2284 or email laura.fraser@thoughtleaders4.com

Marketing

For Marketing enquiries please contact Yelda on +44 (0) 20 3398 8551 or email yelda@thoughtleaders4.com