Astraea Group

Astraea launched as an alternative business structure (“ABS”) in 2021 with a view to transforming the delivery of legal services and expert advocacy. Leading commercial silk, James Ramsden KC, and chartered accountant and tax advisor, Nina Stewart FCA are founding partners. With rapid expansion in the last few years, supporting partners are Rob Bedford, Oliver Mishcon and Piers Rake. The firm is “going from strength to strength” and “is expanding steadily both at partner and associate level.”

The ABS model brings together a team of barristers, solicitors, private client/tax experts and accountants in-house who work together, cost-effectively, in the client’s best interests. “The service is very personal and benefits from the combined decades of experience of disputes partners James Ramsden KC and Robert Bedford (and their teams).” The firm has the ability to scale resources using its developed network of consultants, foreign lawyers, forensic investigators and intelligence analysts. The firm has an “efficient, dedicated team that is always in contact with clients.”

Work undertaken:

Dispute Resolution:

The firm undertakes the full range of disputes work, including mediation, arbitration, and litigation. With a focus on complex cross border litigation, Astraea represents high net worth individuals, family offices, major multi-nationals (including FTSE 100, Dow Jones and SSE listed companies), financial institutions and regulatory bodies, as well as governments and state-owned entities.

The core business involves Commercial Litigation, Arbitration, International Enforcement, Jurisdictional Disputes and Public and Administrative Law.

Commercial Litigation:The firm’s lawyers litigate, arbitrate and mediate internationally including within the UK, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the US, Russia, Ukraine, Iceland, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Uruguay, Australia, New Zealand, BVI, Cayman, Jersey and The Isle of Man. James Ramsden KC has appeared as lead advocate in several of the most publicised Commercial Court cases of recent years with a particular emphasis on cryptoasset disputes for which is he considered a “star individual” and leading industry specialist. He acted as Counsel in the seminal case Tulip Trading Limited (a Seychelles company) v Wladimir Jasper van der Laan & Ors. The wider team, Rob Bedford, Rory Mulchrone, Joe Young and Lisa McCreath are recognised for their solid commercial litigation experience.

Arbitration: The arbitration practice extends to all of the main arbitration forums and rules including the London Court of International Arbitration (“LCIA”), the International Chamber of Commerce (“ICC”), the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (“SIAC”) and the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (“HKIAC”). The firm also deals with ad hoc arbitrations.

International Enforcement: Partner Rob Bedford and Senior Associate Lisa McCreath are particularly well versed in enforcement matters having managed a complex cross-border enforcement strategy in respect of a US$500 million investor-state arbitration award, issued under the rules of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (Stati & others v The Republic of Kazakhstan). Astraea led and oversaw the work of law firms in eight jurisdictions from the US, BVI, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, Gibraltar and Sweden.

Jurisdictional Disputes: The firm often advises on cross border disputes and strategic forum shopping. The firm recently successfully established jurisdiction in the UK in respect of a claim relating to an alleged cartel operating in Brazil.

Public and Administrative Law: The firm advises individuals and businesses on disputes with public bodies, including judicial review claims. The firm advises on the lawfulness of decisions made by governmental or regulatory bodies, including issues related to human rights, planning, environmental law, and regulatory enforcement.

Regulatory and Compliance Advisory

The firm acts for multinationals on US, EU and UK sanctions (both compliance and investigations), and regularly acts for the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in relation to the prosecution of regulated firms.
James Ramsden KC has represented the Law Society, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and the Intellectual Property Regulation Board (IPReg).
The firm has a team of leading experts in Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorism Financing (CTF) work and is retained by a number of City legal and financial institutions to advise on relevant regulatory issues. The firm also advises on compliance with (and investigations by) the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA), the Prudential Regulation Authority Rules (PRA) rules and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) guidelines.

Rory Mulchrone is known for his work in this area.

Forensic Investigations and Intelligence

The firm investigates issues that might have criminal, regulatory or civil repercussions including suspicions of bribery, fraud, cartel activity, sanctions breaches, money laundering breaches or inappropriate relationships in a corporate setting. Experience of acting for regulators and prosecuting bodies means the firm is ideally placed to advise on whether a report to the relevant authorities is required (or to advise in situations where an investigation is likely/underway).

Piers Rake joined the firm in 2023 as head of the firm’s Forensic Investigations and Intelligence practice.

Reputation Management and Crisis Response

In response to crisis situations (adverse media, blackmail, emergency injunctions and regulatory and law enforcement investigations), the firm works with clients to establish a cohesive strategy reflecting legal advice, necessary investigative/forensic accountancy work and PR input (to ensure reputation management).

Fintech and Digital Assets Advisory

The firm often acts on crypto disputes; a largely unregulated sector prone to fraud and money laundering. The firm has acted in a Sino-Hong Kong digital asset dispute involving alleged investor fraud. It has also acted as global counsel in one of the largest alleged crypto frauds to go to trial in the US.

With a proven disputes track record, the firm advises generally on cross-border fintech regulatory compliance. It advises on legal aspects of blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies and smart contracts.

Civil fraud

The firm has expertise in issues concerning the tracing and recovery of assets in civil fraud cases and is regularly instructed by government and public bodies in large scale fraud investigations. The firm has advised in relation to the Malaysian Sovereign Wealth Fund (1MDB) scandal involving the embezzlement and global diversion of US$ 5.6 billion from the fund. It has also been instructed in significant international tracing and enforcement cases (including in relation to a $1bn Moldovan bank fraud).

The firm has significant experience of asset freezing, search, and disclosure orders.

Private Client Advisory

The firm offers specific expertise for high-net-worth individuals and owner-managed businesses on their personal planning and wealth holding structures (both in the UK and internationally). Work includes estate planning and wills, trusts and foundations (including contentious trusts and probate) and succession planning.

Special Situations Advisory

In 2024, Simon Lewis OBE, Sir Michael Rake and Kathryn Ludlow joined the firm as Special Situations Advisory Panel members. All three individuals are independent experts with extensive hands-on experience in leading and advising governments and international organisations in special/crisis situations.

Key Clients

- Solicitors Regulation Authority
- Capsticks LLP
- Bitcoin Association & Ors
- Anatoli Stati & Ors
- O Soloshansky &- BTC Core & Ors
- Kin Ming Je
- Molson Equipment Services Ltd

Work Highlights

- Acting as global counsel for a group of international investors enforcing US$500 million investor-state arbitration award against the Republic of Kazakshtan.
- Acting for the leading group of successful defendants in US$4.5 billion claim, Tulip Trading Ltd v Bitcoin Association for BSV & others [2022] EWHC 667 (Ch), one of the most important decisions so far in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space.
- Acting for a defendant to a US$6million claim for unlawful means conspiracy and fraudulent misrepresentation and coordinating proceedings in relation to collateral criminal allegations in the United States in respect of an alleged US$1billion fraud.