Fraud Prevention & Recovery

In an increasingly sophisticated world, companies are more exposed to incidences of fraud. The right prevention strategies can help to avoid such events and minimise their potential impact on finances and staff morale.

Overview

Henry Davis York's fraud prevention and recovery team works closely with clients to develop appropriate processes to minimise the risk of fraudulent activity.

We make it our business to understand what clients really want and develop strategies and processes to reduce the opportunity for fraud to occur. If it does happen, we work with expert forensic teams to recover funds and assets.

Breadth of experience

Using financial, analytical and IT forensic skills, our team of dedicated experts is able to investigate many fraud or inappropriate corporate-related activities, including theft, misappropriation of funds, misuse of information, computer fraud and other suspicious activity.

Our breadth of experience across many different sectors gives us the edge when it comes to making the right judgment call. In preventing fraud and recovering misappropriated money, we draw on our appreciation of commercial, cultural and political sensitivities to assist private and public sector clients to minimise the impact of fraud on their businesses.

Our experts know that a successful outcome doesn't always just mean recovery of misappropriated funds.

Consultative approach

Our approach is to work closely with clients to create a culture that promotes openness within their organisations so employees may feel comfortable to report fraud, without fear of reprisal.

When fraud has occurred, we consult with clients to understand the facts along with their imperatives in any given situation. Our consultative approach flows through to employees who are encouraged to participate in the free flow of information.

A team of dedicated lawyers

Our lawyers have a seasoned background in debt recovery and asset repossession, and work with our banking clients and their appointed insolvency practitioners. They also draw upon the firm's significant litigation expertise where appropriate or necessary.

Expertise

Our expertise includes:

  • anti-money laundering advice
  • asset freezing and asset tracing (both within Australia and internationally) 
  • cheque conversion, theft and forgery 
  • compliance with regulatory standards/corporate governance 
  • computer-assisted fraud 
  • fraud risk management and policy preparation 
  • fraudulent loans and securities 
  • fraudulent tendering and procurement 
  • insider trading and securities fraud 
  • misappropriation of trust monies 
  • theft of property by staff member.

Credentials

$100 million fraud

Advised financial sector client in relation to a $100 million fraud, assisting in achieving a full recovery of the funds.
Superannuation fund

We advised one of Australia's largest superannuation funds in relation to a $160 million international fraud.

Financial institution

We acted on the recovering and selling 80 properties which were the subject of an internal fraud by a senior lending manager of a financial institution in excess of $25 million.

Financial institution - insolvency

We acted for a financial institution and its appointed receivers in relation to the collapse of a group of companies which was brought about, in part, by the alleged misappropriation of funds by the Group's CEO, who was also a director.

Bank - cheque fraud

We acted on behalf of the paying bank in relation to a number of cheques which had been fraudulently endorsed and paid into an account of a company held by the client bank.

Overseas fraud

We acted for an innocent recipient of funds which were the subject of a fraud perpetrated overseas by one of its customers against several international financial institutions.

Publications