Cryptocurrency recovery

Cryptocurrency and digital assets present unique challenges in estate and trust disputes.

Issues often arise where crypto assets are missing, inaccessible, or subject to competing claims.

Our specialist team advises on recovering cryptocurrency and digital assets in inheritance, trust and fraud-related disputes.

Free initial consultation

We offer a free, no obligation initial consultation as well as flexible pricing options, tailored to your needs. Please contact us for further information.

Common cryptocurrency issues

We advise on:

tracing and recovering crypto assets
accessing wallets and private keys
disputes over ownership
crypto held in exchanges or offshore structures
fraud and misappropriation

Cryptocurrency in estates and trusts

Digital assets may form part of an estate even if they are not mentioned in a will. Early action is essential to prevent loss or dissipation.

Internal link: What happens to cryptocurrency when someone dies?

What happens to cryptocurrency when someone dies?

Cryptocurrency forms part of a person’s estate, but accessing it can be challenging if passwords or private keys are unavailable.

Key issues for executors

Executors may face difficulties where:

crypto assets are not disclosed
wallets are inaccessible
exchanges are overseas
ownership is disputed

Early specialist advice can prevent permanent loss.

Case study: Advising on cryptocurrency scam

We advised an individual who believed they had been encouraged to invest in cryptocurrency by someone who had first approached them online and appeared to be developing a personal relationship.

The individual transferred funds into cryptocurrency wallets through links provided by the scammer. They were later shown an apparent investment balance but were told they needed to make a further payment before the funds could be released.

At that stage, they became concerned that the arrangement might be fraudulent.

We reviewed the circumstances and advised that the pattern had the hallmarks of a relationship-based cryptocurrency investment scam, sometimes known as a “pig-butchering” scam. We also engaged a specialist blockchain tracing provider to investigate the movement of the digital assets.

We advised on potential means of recovery and prevented the client from making further payments.

Disclaimer

These examples are based on matters handled by our team. Names, figures and certain background details may have been omitted or generalised to protect confidentiality. Every case depends on its own facts and circumstances, and the outcomes described do not guarantee a similar result in another case.

How we help

We work with forensic experts and international advisers where necessary to trace and recover crypto assets.

Key contact

Roman Kubiak TEP

Partner

Roman Kubiak is a Partner and Head of the market leading Private Wealth Disputes team. He advises across the whole spectrum of private wealth disputes, with a particular focus on high value, complex and cross-border disputes including: trust disputes, breach of trust claims and applications to remove trustees; will disputes, particularly those with an international element; claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975; and claims for equitable relief under proprietary estoppel, constructive trusts and resulting trusts.