Commercial Fraud: A Legal Guide to Justice for Victims

From discovery and investigation to enforcement of judgments, this guide gives legal and practical guidance for victims of commercial fraud. Business owners, managers, in-house and non-specialist lawyers will find expert guidance on: justice options, investigations, choosing, using and paying for lawyers, navigating the civil and criminal justice systems in England and Wales, making financial recoveries and international cases. The Authors: Ian Smith is a barrister (England and Wales) who specialises in representing victims of fraud. Ian works in both the civil courts and criminal courts, focusing on obtaining compensation for victims. He advises businesses and individuals on their justice options and their opportunities for recoveries in both domestic and international cases. Ian is a founding member of VOCAL - the Victims of crime Association of lawyers – an association which aims to improve awareness of the legal needs and rights of victims of crime in Europe. Ian is also an expert in anti-money laundering for other professionals and businesses. David Shepherd’s engineering business was a victim of fraud. He successfully sought justice through both the criminal and civil courts. The fraudsters were jailed for over six years and David’s business obtained compensation through the civil courts. The experience inspired David to undertake postgraduate research into fraud and he was awarded his Doctorate from the University of Portsmouth. David has switched career and is now a published researcher specialising in fraud and corruption.