The core of asset tracing is obtaining key information that can benefit our clients who want to recover the assets. Key information can be obtained in a variety of ways, anything from directly assessing public registers, by way of judicial or administrative assistance including but not limited to examining land registry, company register, company records, register of non-profit organizations, court records, tax records, vehicle registration register, criminal records, register of bank accounts, immigration records, border crossing and customs records, to name but a few. Information can also be obtained through private networks, as well as through formal cooperation between our investigators and the relevant authorities.

In cases where publicly accessible information can quickly exhaust its limits, private investigation (often including physical surveillance) is invaluable as it helps to achieve more precise hits; in particular where assets are hidden often using a network of third parties and foreign jurisdictions.

Across Europe, the EU is now requiring its member states to set up or designate national asset recovery offices as national points of contact. These national offices are not only obliged to assist in cases of asset tracing and recovery, but also to exchange information about best practices. With these offices, the EU aims to support other global networks of asset tracing and asset recovery experts.