Monfrini Bitton Klein
FIRE International: Vilamoura
The flagship International Asset Recovery event in the fraud & insolvency practitioner's calendar
20th - 22nd May 2025 | Anantara Hotel, Vilamoura, Portugal
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
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
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
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. |
- A global world – cross border issue with asset recovery
- Regulatory and legislative update for FIRE
- Practical challenges to coordinate enforcement
- Ensuring communication across teams
Bakhyt Tukulov - Partner - Tukulov Kassilgov Shaikenov (Kazakhstan)
Andreas Pollak - Partner - Petsche Pollak (Austria)
Gary Miller - Partner / Chair - Mishcon de Reya / International Fraud Group
- Enforcing in other and foreign jurisdictions
- When to challenge a freezing injunction
- Risks of dissipation of an asset
Maureen Ward - Partner - Bennett Jones (Canada)
Edward Palmer - Director - Greyhawk
- 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
Olexander Martinenko - Partner, Head of Dispute Resolution - Kinstellar (Ukraine)
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? |
- 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
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)
- Recovering crypto offshore
- Working on non-traditional asset tracing
- Navigating the anonymity of blockchain tracing
- 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
Azizur Rahman - Senior Partner - Rahman Ravelli (UK)
Yves Klein - Partner - Monfrini Bitton Klein (Switzerland)
- War stories in court – high profile cross examination
- Can this be prevented?
- Impacts on policies and legislations
- Looking at the offshore side
Lezgin Polater - Partner - Archipel (Switzerland)
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? |
Build You Own Agenda: choose your streams/topic areas, and get involved with interactive workshops.
- 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
Aboubacar Fall - Senior Partner - AF Legal Law Firm (Senegal)
- 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
Morgan Patterson - Partner - Womble Bond Dickinson (USA)
- 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?
- 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
Karen Fellowes KC - Senior Counsel - Stikeman Elliott (Canada)
Marlyn Narkis - Partner - MDU Legal (Panama)
Ericka Johnson - Director - Bayard Law (USA)
- Examining arbitration proceedings with insolvent companies
- Using arbitration in the ‘pre-insolvency’ stage
- How arbitration centres have developed insolvency-specific rules?
Stephanie Oneyser - Counsel - Walder Wyss (Switzerland)
Mercy Okiro - Advocate, Arbitrator and Law Lecturer - (Kenya)
- 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
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. |
Event Partners
Event Partner
Networking Partner
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