S&D E25: Bridging Public and Private Asset Recovery

In this episode, Aidan speaks with Carmel King, Partner at Grant Thornton UK, about the role of insolvency practitioners and liquidators in recovering assets lost to fraud and financial crime, especially in the context of digital assets. They discuss how these powers work alongside law enforcement efforts and why collaboration, trust, and clear communication between the public and private sectors are key to delivering better outcomes for victims.  

Want to go deeper?

Watch our most recent webinar, ‘Closing the Asset Recovery Gap’ on demand on the Asset Reality Academy, where former law enforcement professionals draw on their cross-sector experience to explore how civil recovery routes work alongside law enforcement and how specialised technology platforms are strengthening coordination across sectors.  

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction and Background  

04:00 – The Hidden Powers of Liquidators  

09:00 – Bridging Public and Private Sector Efforts  

16:00 – Real-World Cases & Lessons Learned  

24:00 – Tackling Law Enforcement & Victim Challenges  

30:00 – Crypto Recovery: Success Stories & Civil Routes  

38:00 – Navigating Jurisdictional & Valuation Hurdles  

45:00 – The Future of Asset Recovery & Collaboration  

About our Guest

Carmel King is a Partner at Grant Thornton UK, where she leads the digital asset recovery team. With extensive experience in insolvency and asset recovery, Carmel specialises in combating financial crime and recovering assets for victims. Her work often involves collaboration with law enforcement and private sector professionals to navigate the complexities of cross-border asset recovery and the evolving landscape of crypto assets.

Key Takeaways

Insolvency as a Recovery Tool: Insolvency and liquidation powers provide a unique mechanism to recover assets lost to fraud, complementing traditional law enforcement efforts.  

Collaboration Between Public and Private Sectors: Effective asset recovery relies on coordination between law enforcement, investigators, and private practitioners to overcome legal, technical, and operational challenges.  

Digital Asset Challenges: Cryptocurrencies and other digital assets introduce new complexities, requiring specialised approaches to trace, value, and recover funds.  

Preventing Re‑Victimisation: Awareness and education are critical to protect victims from fraudulent recovery schemes and ensure fair outcomes.  

Evolving Landscape of Asset Recovery: Case studies and ongoing developments illustrate how the field is constantly changing, highlighting the importance of innovation, technology, and co‑operation.  

Resources Mentioned

Crypto Fraud and Asset Recovery Network (CFAAR)  

Grant Thornton UK  

Met Police | Two people convicted following world's largest crypto seizure

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