Asset Tracing

Asset Tracing for Law Firms

FCIB delivers court-ready asset tracing investigations for law firms, insolvency practitioners, regulators, and corporate legal teams worldwide. Our investigators locate hidden traditional and digital assets, document the movement of funds across jurisdictions, and prepare evidence packages that withstand scrutiny in litigation, arbitration, and regulatory proceedings.

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What our asset tracing service covers

Every asset tracing engagement begins with a discovery phase. FCIB analysts review the underlying dispute, the suspected mode of dissipation, and the jurisdictions involved. We then build an evidence-first investigation plan that combines open-source intelligence (OSINT), corporate registry research, financial intelligence (FININT), and on-the-ground human intelligence (HUMINT) where access to public records is limited.

We trace bank accounts, real estate holdings, corporate shareholdings, luxury goods, vehicles, and digital assets across centralised and decentralised platforms. Our findings are mapped chronologically so counsel can see exactly when and how value was moved — a critical foundation for freezing orders, disclosure applications, and recovery negotiations.

Who we work with

FCIB supports international law firms pursuing commercial fraud claims, insolvency practitioners appointed to recover dissipated estates, corporate general counsel investigating internal fraud, regulators conducting cross-border enforcement actions, and private clients who have been defrauded by sophisticated bad actors. Every engagement is conducted under strict confidentiality with privilege-aware reporting.

Our investigators are former law enforcement, intelligence, and financial regulatory professionals. That background means we understand what evidence holds up — and what doesn't — and we structure every report so it can be relied on in court without further translation.

Asset recovery investigation: how an FCIB engagement works

After a confidential scoping call, we issue a fixed-scope engagement letter that defines deliverables, jurisdictions, and timelines. Investigators then run parallel workstreams: corporate-structure mapping to identify nominee entities; banking trail reconstruction using subpoena-ready evidence; digital asset analytics for funds moved through exchanges or self-custody wallets; and field verification where physical inspection of a property or interview of a witness is required.

All findings are catalogued in our evidence management system with chain-of-custody documentation. We deliver an interim status report mid-engagement so counsel can update clients and seek interim relief where appropriate, followed by a final court-ready dossier including affidavits where requested.

Hidden asset tracing and judgment enforcement asset tracing across jurisdictions

FCIB operates across 6 continents and has working relationships with vetted local intelligence and legal partners in over 70 jurisdictions, including offshore financial centres frequently used to shield dissipated assets. Our hidden asset tracing locates value held in traditional banking, escrow and trust structures, real estate, corporate shareholdings, art and luxury goods, and digital assets across all major platforms.

For post-judgment matters, our judgment enforcement asset tracing identifies attachable assets in the debtor's jurisdiction and offshore, giving counsel the evidentiary foundation for garnishment, charging orders, and recognition proceedings abroad.

Why law firms choose FCIB for asset tracing

Frequently asked questions

How long does an asset tracing investigation take?

A typical FCIB asset tracing engagement runs four to eight weeks from instruction to final report. Urgent matters — such as those tied to a pending freezing order application — can be expedited, with an interim report often available within 7–10 days.

Can FCIB give evidence in court?

Yes. Our investigators routinely provide witness statements and affidavits, and several of our senior staff have appeared as expert witnesses in commercial fraud and insolvency proceedings.

Do you trace digital assets as well as traditional banking?

Yes. FCIB combines traditional financial investigation with on-chain and off-chain digital asset analytics. We trace value held across major centralised platforms and self-custody wallets, and we document conversion pathways used to obscure provenance.

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