Asset Recovery

Why Cooley

We have worked internationally on some of the most innovative and successful claims to recover the proceeds of corruption and, in addition to cases in our own jurisdictions, have assisted states in formulating and implementing international asset recovery strategies, taking into account the complex practical and legal issues that arise in cases involving multiple countries.
We also understand the relative advantages and disadvantages of criminal and civil mechanisms to recover the proceeds of corruption, assist with requests for mutual legal assistance in corruption matters, and advise on the enforcement of foreign civil or criminal restraint and forfeiture and confiscation orders. We often have worked alongside domestic and foreign law enforcement agencies, to the extent permitted in law. 

Representative Matters

• Advising the government of the Turks and Caicos Islands, a British Overseas Territory, in one of the largest civil recovery programs in the world, involving numerous cases seeking to recover land obtained by corruption, the termination of substantial development agreements, and claims for misappropriated funds and evaded stamp duty.  Many of these cases also involve appeals to the Turks and Caicos Court of Appeal and the Privy Council.  
• Advising Nigeria in various English proceedings against the family, associates and corporate vehicles of former leader General Sani Abacha.   
• Advising Nigeria in a series of claims in England and elsewhere against Nigerian state governors who amassed substantial wealth while in office. 
• Helping to train government and law enforcement officials from across the world on mechanisms to recover the proceeds of corruption. 
• Assisting governments and other organizations on legislative and operational reviews and gap analysis. 
• Our lawyers have written extensively on asset recovery issues, and we regularly speak at anti-corruption events organized by governments, international organizations and NGOs.    

Cases 

We also have advised governments in Africa, Caribbean and Southeast Asia on cases and asset recovery issues. Our case studies in the public domain include:

• Abacha 
• Alamieyeseigha 
• Dariye 
• Turks and Caicos Islands civil recovery program

Several of our cases are included in "Public Wrongs, Private Actions: Civil Lawsuits to Recover Stolen Assets," published by the Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative, a partnership of the World Bank and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.