Richard Trainer

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Richard is a Partner in our Fraud and Dispute Resolution team.

Clients benefit from Richard's wide-ranging experience in complex, high value commercial disputes frequently with an international dimension.

Richard specialises in obtaining and defending asset freezing, search, and disclosure orders to protect client interests. He advises on and co-ordinates cross border asset recovery strategy with strong relationships with professionals in other major financial centres, including specialist foreign counsel as part of our International Fraud Group.

Richard's background includes significant and high profile corporate investigations and regulatory (FCA/SFO) cases. He has experience of various forms of alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration.

Richard is qualified in England & Wales, Australia and New Zealand. He is a solicitor-advocate with rights of audience before all civil courts.

Richard is also a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). He is a Board member of the UK Chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, and led their training for prospective CFEs taking their professional examinations. The CFE qualification is recognised as the gold standard in anti-fraud training, including by the City of London Police, the FBI and the SEC.

Key Experience

Richard has been involved in advising and acting for the following clients in disputes:

US investors in securing high-profile $60 million worldwide asset-freezing / disclosure injunctions before the courts of the Cayman Islands. The orders are in aid of major Florida fraud proceedings against Eike Batista, the former 7th richest person in the world, and Chairman of oil explorer, the OGX Group, before its collapse in 2013.
Trustee companies in New Zealand defending asset-freezing / disclosure orders in multi-billion pound, high-profile litigation in the English High Court by Russian creditors of Sergei Pugachev.
A former CEO of a global financial institution in regulatory investigations.
Private equity firm, Terra Firma, in multi-billion pound fraud litigation against Citibank arising out of its acquisition of EMI Music in 2007.
A high net worth individual in securing discharge of injunctions obtained without notice in a US$1 billion Commercial Court fraud claim brought by Bahraini and Saudi corporates, with indemnity costs awarded to the client: Dar Al Arkan & Anor v (1) Al Refai, (2) Kroll & Ors (Comm) [2012] EWHC 3539.
Bank of Ireland in securing victory in a multi-million pound forged cheque scam perpetrated by fraudsters based in Germany, Switzerland and Africa, including recovery of stolen funds: Bank of Ireland v Pexxnet Ltd and Ors [2010] EWHC 1872 (Comm).
Bank of Ireland in securing victory in major fraud and breach of fiduciary duty claims against a former senior executive and borrower, involving asset freezing and search orders: Bank of Ireland v Jaffery and Anor [2012] EWHC 1377.
The US Trustee of Bernie Madoff’s estate in a major claim against his London operating company, Madoff Securities International Limited, and its former directors.
FTSE250 recruitment companies (including Hays International & Hydrogen Plc) in obtaining injunctions to protect from theft of commercial secrets.
DHL International in defending a mistaken payment case against the liquidators of an Italian corporate: DHL GBS (UK) Ltd v Fallimento Finmatica SPA [2009] EWHC 291 (Comm).
American Express in complex debt recovery claims.
Partners of a prominent London commercial real estate agency in defending a freezing injunction and fraud claim by JD Wetherspoon Plc.
A director of a major London architectural practice in a multi-million pound unfair prejudice petition.
Oil and gas clients in relation to Middle Eastern operations / regulatory investigations.
A prominent UK celebrity in defending bankruptcy proceedings.