Stewart (who heads the Charles Russell Speechlys Fraud and Investigations Group) specialises in complex and high value international disputes (both in Court and Arbitral forums) and investigations, usually involving allegations across the spectrum of dishonesty including fraud, dishonesty and corruption, with particular emphasis on Financial Services and Energy and Natural Resources. As the vast majority of Stewart's cases involve allegations of fraud, dishonesty and corruption, key legal issues arising include conflicts of law, interim (injunctive) remedies to prevent dissipation of assets and/or preservation of evidence, asset recovery and tracing, as well as contentious insolvency scenarios and investigations.Stewart’s most recent cases include acting successfully for the liquidators of six defendant companies in the Cayman Islands’ longest-ever trial - 129 days - about one of the world’s largest-ever Ponzi schemes – US$330 billion. Stewart also led a team successfully acting for one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical wholesalers in relation to a complex high-value letter of credit fraud perpetrated on it by a fraudster, and which involved related proceedings in a number of jurisdictions in Europe, the Caribbean and the Pacific. He also has a great deal of experience in advising corporates in relation to product mis-selling within the financial services sector.Stewart is admitted to practise in England and Wales and has limited admission in the Cayman Islands (in relation to the AHAB vs SAAD litigation). He is also a member of the Fraud Lawyers Association. Experience highlights: Leading a team advising Joint Official Liquidators in connection with an alleged $9.2Bn fraud before the Cayman Courts An external administrator to Awal Bank BSC (in Administration), as appointed by the Central Bank of Bahrain in a multi-billion dollar alleged fraudulent scheme of arrangement involving a large number of inter-related cases in various jurisdictions, where Stewart leads the teams dealing with US and Cayman issues Advising individuals/entities in relation to an on-going SFO investigation into payments against a backdrop of multi-billion USD sales of defence equipment to the Middle East Led a team advising the Central Bank of Bahrain that forged new US Bankruptcy Ch11 law in the US against a backdrop of acting as External Administrator to a Middle Eastern Bank (in administration) and currently under US Ch15 recognition Advisor the joint-venture entities involved in a dispute relating to a West African mining project valued at between $800m-$1.5Bn Advised one of the world's largest pharmaceutical wholesalers in a complex multi-jurisdictional letter of credit fraud Advising a world famous academic institution in relation to an investigation relating to wrongdoing Advising international investors in relation to an investigation concerning corruption relating to a Government contract in North Africa
England - London • Crime, fraud and licensing
Charles Russell Speechlys LLP
Charles Russell Speechlys LLP excels in pursuing and defending a broad spectrum of cross-border fraud actions, including those with freezing orders, injunctions and search orders. The team, which caters to businesses, central banks, regulators, governments and professional advisers, is especially acclaimed for its work within the crypto, digital assets and technology sectors. Practice head Stewart Hey and Charlotte Pender are both also accomplished within the banking space, meanwhile Caroline Greenwell is likewise noted for her retail, consumer and leisure know-how.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘A good team with strong experience in civil fraud and broader commercial litigation.’
‘Rhys Novak is excellent. He is very commercial and gets right to the heart of what the client cares about. Abigail Rushton is an associate who operates at a very high level - she is capable of running files by herself to great success.’
‘I really like working with the CRS team. On top of their undoubted technical abilities they bring a warmth and strong sense of enjoyment to the client-solicitor collaboration. They are also highly commercial.’
‘Stewart Hey, Charlotte Pender and Caroline Greenwell are the partners I have worked most closely with. They are all steely individuals when a firm approach is required; yet commercial and receptive when a non-contentious resolution is the more appropriate way forward. They all display the good characteristics I describe under the Team heading above.’
- All absolutely superb, incredibly well-connected and are a real pleasure to deal with at all times. A very classy firm.’
Key clients
- RSM
- FRP Advisory
- Central Bank of Bahrain
- Gulf Air
- Grant Thornton
- Begbies Traynor
- PwC
- Credit Suisse
- Ooredoo Q. s.c
- Aldemore Bank plc
- Guy Colegate, former employee of Shell
- Ocorian Trust
- Shaw Industries
- Global Steel
- Estate of Pouncey
- Bilta (UK) Ltd
Work highlights
- Retained by the Bilta (UK) Ltd group of companies and their appointed liquidators on the retrial of this landmark fraud case.
- Defending the client, the co-founder of one of the first bespoke data centre businesses, who was the victim of a high profile and complex fraud perpetrated by twice-convicted fraudster Dr Gerald Smith and others.
- Successfully acted for a former employee of a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell, which, together with ENI, was alleged to have engaged in international bribery and corruption in respect of a 2011 settlement of various disputes concerning the rights to a deepwater oil block off the coast of Nigeria.
Lawyers
Leading individuals
Next Generation Partners
Caroline acts for corporate and individual clients in relation to a variety of disputes involving breaches of contract and misrepresentations, civil fraud and asset tracing, allegations of bribery and corruption, regulatory and health & safety breaches, breaches of restrictive covenants, and Judicial Review Caroline has experience of litigating through the Courts domestically and internationally. She is also, however, experienced in resolving disputes through arbitration, mediation and other alternative means of resolution. Caroline is currently part of the team defending a multi-billion dollar fraud claim in the Cayman Islands. Caroline is admitted to practise in England and Wales. Experience highlights: Acting for corporate clients in connection with an alleged $9 billion fraud currently being litigated in the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands Acting for 2 individuals in connection with an SFO investigation into allegations of bribery and corruption in a multi-billion pound telecommunications contract Acting for a sub-contractor to a telecommunications contract in a multi-million pound arbitration Acting for a well-known high street retailer in a dispute concerning a concession agreement Acting for a corporate owner and operator of care homes in claims for breach of warranty and misrepresentation against the vendors of the care homes
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Stewart Hey