Asset Searches To Detect Money Laundering, Bribes & Hidden Money, Abjuja, Nigeria, October 8-11, 2018.

This workshop is a joint project of the European Union and the Inter Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering In West Africa (“GIABA“).  Attendance restricted to governmental authorities / countries part of GIABA.

New York County Lawyers’ Association, 14 Vesey Street, N.Y. N.Y. 10036, October 13, 2015, 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM.

This course “Whistleblowers, Secret Swiss Bank Accounts & Recovering Hidden Assets” will cover: detecting hidden assets including secret Swiss bank accounts; the IRS & SEC whistleblower programs; and other asset recovery issues.  Fred Abrams will be the program’s chair and Charles Bott QC, Head of Carmelite Chambers will be traveling to New York to participate in it.  Jack Blum, Esq., (featured on CBS’ 60 Minutes on February 8, 2015), will speak during the course about the largest leak in Swiss banking history and whistleblowing.  Jordan Thomas, Esq. who worked on some of the SEC’s biggest cases before becoming a partner at Labaton Sucharow LLP, will also speak at the course.  Attendee registration is available here through the New York County Lawyers’ Association or by calling the Association at (212) 267-6646.

Carmelite Chambers, 9 Carmelite Street, London EC4YODR, International Fraud & Asset Recovery ConferenceJune 23, 2014, 11:40 AM to 1:00 PM. 

Fred Abrams and distinguished lawyers Jack Blum and Jordan A. Thomas, will present “The Ins & Outs Of Recovering Assets Via Whistleblowers & Other Tipsters”.  This program first analyzes how vast sums of money can be hidden in cases as diverse as tax and securities fraud and divorce.

It then describes ways whistleblowers or other tipsters may help sniff out these monies and discusses: the problems whistleblowers face in the real world, the advantages and disadvantages of the different whistleblower programs, and the difficulty lawyers face in dealing with whistleblowers either as clients or as tipsters.

The program also focuses on the ethical concerns gatekeepers like attorneys, accountants, officers and directors have, in reporting illegal behavior in both the civil and criminal contexts. Registration is available through Carmelite Chambers.

New York County Lawyers’ Association, 14 Vesey Street, N.Y. N.Y. 10036, April 18, 2013, 6:00PM-9:00PM.

Swiss Banks, Smuggling & Other Asset Recovery Issues

New York City Bar Association, 42 West 44th Street New York, NY 10036, September 27, 2012, 6:00PM– 9:00 PM.

Recovering Assets Via Whistleblowers & Other Tipsters

New York County Lawyers’ Association, 14 Vesey Street, N.Y. N.Y., June 21, 2011, 6:00-9:00 PM.

Following The Money Trails From Marital Assets To Nazi-Looted Art

The Suffolk County Bar Association, 560 Wheeler Road, Hauppauge, N.Y., May 24, 2011, 6:00-9:00 PM.

Following The Money Trails From Marital Assets To Nazi-Looted Art

New York County Lawyers’ Association, 14 Vesey Street, N.Y. N.Y., May 25, 2010, 6:00-9:00 PM.

Ethically Accessing Financial Intelligence From Warsaw To Wilmington, In Criminal & Civil Cases“.  At this program, Fred Abrams will share his sanitized financial fraud case files and some others. He will especially focus on suspected asset concealment schemes with cross-border elements, which can sometimes be facilitated by everyone ranging from divorcing spouses to politically exposed persons and Ponzi-schemers.

The program will be presented with an eye towards giving attendees an understanding of how assets may be recovered when they have been laundered or otherwise hidden across the globe by their beneficial owners. To be discussed, are the pending financial fraud investigations of Ex-Turks & Caicos premier Michael Misick, Minneapolis money manager Trevor Cook and investigations by prosecutors in Poland.  Other covered topics include:

  • Conducting An Ethical & Legally Sufficient Asset Search
  • Bank Customer Identification at Swiss and other banks
  • Eliciting Evidence From Foreign Bank Witnesses
  • Forced Collection Proceedings In Multiple Jurisdictions
  • Financial Fraud Trends In 2010

8th Annual OffshoreAlert Financial Due Diligence Conference, which will take place at The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach in Florida:

  • America’s Home-Bred Offshore Financial Centers – Delaware, Nevada & Wyoming“, May 3, 2010 at 1:30 PM-2:30 PM.
  • Investigation & Intelligence: How to Gather Financial Intelligence and Evidence from OFCs“, May 4, 2010 at 11:00 PM-12:15.

The Suffolk County Bar Association, 560 Wheeler Road, Hauppauge, N.Y., May 6, 2009, 12:00-3:00 PM.

Show Me The Money: Hidden Assets, Madoff Securities and Other Famous Frauds“, Zhenli Ye Gon hid over $207 million cash in various compartments, suitcases, closets and false walls in his Mexico City home. Walter Anderson concealed $365 million in income by using bearer share stock certificates and shell companies. Former UBS banker Stanley Birkenfeld hid assets by smuggling diamonds in a tube of toothpaste while an airline passenger at Swiss-U.S. border crossings. Now governmental authorities and others are following the money trail of Mr. Bernard Madoff’s $50 billion Ponzi scheme hoping to interdict any illicit assets he may have concealed.

This program discusses some of the red flags of asset concealment, especially offshore. Through its coursebook and PowerPoint presentation, it explains how criminal proceeds or probate, marital, bankruptcy estate and other assets may be hidden “under the radar” through multiple jurisdictions, foreign bank accounts and agents or nominees. It also describes how some may be able to use discovery / forced collection proceedings to recover such assets, which have been concealed during a financial fraud.

Among other things, “Show Me the Money: Hidden Assets, Madoff Securities and Other Famous Frauds” discusses the following issues relevant to the matrimonial, bankruptcy, commercial or other litigator who is trying to find assets hidden in multiple jurisdictions:

  • Recognizing The “Red Flags” Of Asset Concealment
  • Creditor’s Rights / Legal Remedies: Forced Collection Proceedings Even In A Major Money Laundering Country Such As Switzerland
  • Discovery Through Letters Rogatory / Legal Assistance Requests
  • Bank Secrecy Laws
  • Domestic Privacy Law Issues

New York County Lawyers’ Association, 14 Vesey Street, N.Y. N.Y., March 30, 2009, 6:00-9:00 PM.

Show Me The Money: Hidden Assets, Madoff Securities and Other Famous Frauds“, as is described by the attached press release.

Brooklyn Bar Association, 123 Remsen Street, Brooklyn, New York 11201, February 3, 2009, 6:00-9:00 PM.

“Finding Hidden Assets During Divorce & Child Support Cases”, includes a discussion of the  following issues:

  • Asset Concealment Methods / The Red Flags
  • Asset Search Tips For Divorce & Child Support Cases
  • A Low-Cost Asset Search
  • A Divorce & Trade Based Money Laundering
  • Computer Forensics & An Asset Search
  • Suing When Marital Assets Are Hidden In Divorce / Fraudulent Conveyances
  • Divorce, Rico & An Asset Search
  • Using Letters Rogatory During An Asset Search
  • An Asset Search & Federal Privacy Laws

Queens County Bar Association, 90-35 148 Street, Jamaica, New York 11435, November 13, 2008, 6:00-9:00 PM.

Finding Hidden Assets During Divorce & Child Support Cases” discusses various asset concealment methods relevant to the matrimonial / family lawyer.

New York County Lawyers’ Association, 14 Vesey Street, N.Y. N.Y., June 19, 2008, 6:00-9:00 PM.

Finding Hidden Assets During Divorce & Child Support Cases” provides the matrimonial / family lawyer with the countermeasures which can be effective against even those most determined to hide assets. Through its PowerPoint program and coursebook, it explains how offshore bank accounts, shell companies, multiple jurisdictions and other methods may be used to hide millions during equitable distribution and / or child support proceedings. Among others, the following issues are covered:

  • Asset Concealment Methods / The Red Flags
  • Case Studies: Money Laundering, Bearer Shares, Nominees & Other Financial Fraud Methods
  • Motions & Pleadings
  • Asset Search Strategies

The Association of the Bar of the City of New York, 42 West 44th Street New York, NY 10036, April  24, 2008 @ 6:00-8:30 PM.

Finding Hidden Assets: What Every Divorce, Bankruptcy & Commercial Litigator Needs To Know“–  Through case studies of divorce, bankruptcy and debt collection proceedings, this program examines how assets are sometimes hidden in the U.S. and in offshore tax havens.  Fully discussed are the use of pretrial discovery, pleadings and other courtroom strategies, against even those most determined to hide millions in assets.

American Academy Of Matrimonial Lawyers, Massachusetts’ State ChapterWestin Hotel, 70 Third Avenue, Waltham Massachusetts, February 13, 2008 @7:30 PM.

Money Laundering, Marital Assets & Divorce“–  This presentation analyzes how marital assets may be hidden domestically and abroad during a divorce. Through handouts and the case study of a divorcing spouse who laundered money in Switzerland, the following are discussed:

  • Money Laundering
  • Domestic Shell Companies
  • Nominees
  • Offshore Bank Accounts
  • High-Risk Geographical Locations, Both Domestic & Abroad
  • Asset Search Indicia

Letters Rogatory / Requests For Legal Assistance pursuant to Massachusetts General Law Chapter 223A  §10; Fed. R. Civ. P. 28 (b) & 4 (f) (2) (B).

The Suffolk County Bar Association, 560 Wheeler Road, Hauppauge, N.Y., January 29, 2008, 12:00-2:30 PM.

Finding Hidden Assets Both Domestic & Abroad“–  Learn what countermeasures are often effective against those most determined to hide assets in cases of divorce, debt collection & bankruptcy.  Among many others, the topics discussed are:

  • Asset Search Indicia
  • Asset  Protection, A Case Study
  • Detecting Hidden Assets & Laundering
  • Badges Of Fraud / Fraudulent Conveyances
  • Letters Rogatory / Requests For Legal Assistance
  • Tips For Working With Private Investigators
  • Legal Strategies / Suing Non-Parties Hiding Assets
  • Criminal Issues

New York County Lawyers’ Association, 14 Vesey Street, N.Y. N.Y., November 5, 2007, 6:00-9:00 PM.

Discovery Of Offshore Assets In Your Client’s Court Case“–How to proceed in court when assets are hidden offshore in a divorce / child support case, bankruptcy matter, white-collar crime, etc. Areas covered include: detecting money laundering circuits and hidden assets; making pre-trial motions; U.S. criminal tax and foreign laws; and reporting tax fraud.

Nassau County Bar Association, 15th & West Streets, Mineola, N.Y., Nov. 1, 2007, 12:00-2:00 PM.

Hiding Assets: An Insider’s View“–The case study of a scheme in the U.S. to hide assets in a Cayman bank which ended in a homicide.  The “know your customer”/customer identification rules of banks in the Cayman Islands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States are all examined.  “Hiding Assets” also considers how the practices of offshore banks and financial institutions can effect U.S. anti-money laundering efforts pursuant to the U.S. Patriot Act and / or the Bank Secrecy Act.