Asset Tracing & Recovery (Investigations Agencies)
Litigation Support Guide 2024 : Global-wide
Band 1
About
Provided by J.S. Held
J.S. Held is a specialist asset tracing firm, recognised internationally as a leader in high stakes and multi-jurisdictional recovery initiatives. The firm is engaged by law firms, corporates, financial institutions, litigation funders and individuals to gather evidence and to recover monies owed across the globe.
J.S. Held's work primarily supports the enforcement of arbitration claims and legal awards. The firm is also retained pre-litigation to evaluate the asset position of respondents and to inform the client’s legal and recovery strategy. Ultimately, J.S. Held provides the actionable intelligence required to determine whether to pursue a debtor and, subsequently, to convert an arbitral award or judgement debt into cash through legal process or negotiated settlement.
J.S. Held takes a strategic approach to asset recovery, targeting both high value assets that meet the judgement amount as well as those that may not meet the monetary value of the award but create disruption or loss of face for the debtor. Successfully identified assets range from real estate and cash to cargoes, aircraft, vessels, intellectual property, retention monies, financial instruments, crypto-currency and more.
J.S. Held’s findings have been used in support of LCIA, ICSID, SCC, ICC and various commercial court claims globally. This has included underlying evidence, affidavits and witness testimony.
Chambers Review
The J.S. Held team routinely advises clients seeking worldwide enforcement of high-value litigation and arbitration awards against individuals, corporations and sovereigns.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"J.S. Held's research, entrepreneurship and responsiveness make them stand out. Among other asset tracers, their work was by far the most comprehensive and specific."
"They're like James Bond: intelligence work is what they do, clients love them, and in the end they find the gold. These guys are top notch, without a doubt."
"J.S. Held's research, entrepreneurship and responsiveness make them stand out. Among other asset tracers, their work was by far the most comprehensive and specific."
"They're like James Bond: intelligence work is what they do, clients love them, and in the end they find the gold. These guys are top notch, without a doubt."
Notable Practitioners
Ashley Messick is a partner and leads the dispute consulting team. She is the founder and head of the sovereign debt advisers practice, which provides support for sovereign award holders and investors in judgment debts.
"Ashley Messick is extremely creative and subtle about looking for assets. She's extremely thoughtful about developing strategies that fit with enforcement."
"Ashley Messick has an amazing set of contacts, she's results-orientated, personable, and excellent."
"Ashley Messick is exceptionally resourceful, able to co-ordinate teams from across the globe, super responsive and a great pleasure to work with."
Peter Pender Cudlip is an experienced asset tracing practitioner. He is engaged in complex cross-border mandates with a focus on sovereign asset tracing.
"Pete is a very through individual: he is technical, collaborative and expert."
Ranked Individuals at
J.S. Held
Global-wide
Clients
Provided by J.S. Held
Large Russian financial institution on its entire bad debt
Middle Eastern sovereign wealth fund
Mining company
Private equity investor who was defrauded
Industries
Provided by J.S. Held
Corporates
Financial Institutions
Individuals
Law Firms
Litigation Funders