Emile van der Does de Willebois

Jean-Pierre Brun

Pascale Helene Dubois

Jeanne Hauch

Sarah Jais

Yannis Mekki

Anastasia Sotiropoulou

Katherine Rose Sylvester

Mahesh Uttamchandani

Over the last decade, the topics of corruption and recovery of its proceeds have steadily risen in the international policy agenda, with the entry into force of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) in 2005, the Arab Spring in 2011, and most recently a string of scandals in the financial sector. As states decide how best to respond to corruption and recover assets, the course of action most often discussed is criminal investigation and prosecution rather than private lawsuits. But individuals, organizations, and governments harmed by corruption are also entitled to recover lost assets and/or receive compensation for the damage suffered. To accomplish these goals of recovery and compensation, private or 'civil' actions are often a necessary and useful complement to criminal proceedings. This study explores how states can act as private litigants to bring lawsuits to recover assets lost to corruption.

Civil Lawsuits to Recover Stolen Assets

Public Wrongs, Private Actions

Robert Harrison

Ji Won Park

Emily Halter

J.C. Sharman

This report examines the use of these entities in nearly all cases of corruption. It builds upon case law, interviews with investigators, corporate registries and financial institutions and a 'mystery shopping' exercise to provide evidence of this criminal practice.

How the Corrupt Use Legal Structures to Hide Stolen Assets and What to Do About It

The Puppet Masters

Emile van der Does de Willebois

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