Top Global Commercial Fraud Lawyers and Investment Professionals Plan Launch of Asset Recovery Fund

Wed Nov 4, 2009 9:00am EST
 
[-] Text [+]
The $150 Million Echemus Fund Will Underwrite Investigations, Seizures and
Recoveries of World-Wide Assets for Fraud Victims
BALTIMORE & BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS--(Business Wire)--
A team of top global commercial fraud lawyers and investment professionals is
launching a $150 million investment fund, named Echemus, to underwrite the
investigation, seizure and recovery of world-wide assets for victims of fraud. 

The team is led by Martin Kenney, a renowned commercial fraud lawyer and asset
recovery specialist currently engaged in unwinding billions of dollars connected
to the Bernard Madoff investment scheme. 

Called a "top international asset chaser" by The Financial Times, Kenney will
serve as managing director of the fund and will oversee all of its
investigation, collection and litigation activities. 

Kenney has personally underwritten multi-jurisdictional asset recovery claims
since 1993, but said the growth and complexity of global fraud has outpaced the
means of individual investors. The International Monetary Fund estimates that
purportedly fraudulent, "black transactions" account for 5 to 10 percent of the
world`s gross domestic product each year, and data from the International
Chamber of Commerce shows more than $1 billion in high-value commercial fraud is
reported every month worldwide. 

"Many victims have nowhere to turn to recover assets, and corporations or
governments often lack the incentive or the political will to prosecute
perpetrators, who might be former high-ranking officials from their own
organizations," said Kenney. 

"To unravel the world`s largest and most complicated frauds, and to recover the
assets for victims requires an array of forensic accountants, investigators and
specialized law firms," he said. "Echemus will provide fraud victims the
financial and human resources they need to mount such an operation, in exchange
for a portion of the assets recovered." 

Echemus aims to finance a portfolio of approximately 25 high-value commercial
fraud, asset recovery and third-party liability claims. Echemus will finance and
help manage the asset recovery process for claimants in exchange for an average
of 30 percent of what they recover. 

"As an investment, the market for financing asset-recovery claims is vast and
substantially untapped," said Echemus co-founder and private equity veteran, Jim
Little. "We already have over $5 billion in high-value claims on our desks
requiring funding. On average, asset recovery claims typically cost $5 million
to pursue, so the multiples here are very attractive." 

Prior to launching Echemus, Kenney has led the prosecution of more than $600
million in asset recovery claims in more than 50 countries. Among his pursuits
have been an $80 million Ponzi scheme in the Caribbean, a $240 million
telemarketing fraud in Canada and a $135 million predatory insurance claim in
Africa. He is currently working for a European bank to recover more than $10
billion invested in the Bernie Madoff scam through two Virgin Islands feeder
funds. 

A recent feature in the magazine Wired UK called Kenney and his associates "The
world`s sharpest fraud busters." Offshore Alert of Miami said Kenney is "one of
the world's leading authorities on the legal aspects of freezing and seizing
assets in multiple jurisdictions." The Canadian Lawyer Magazine said he "just
may be - considering his Robin Hood reputation and his bulldog legal tactics -
one of the most determined and trusted lawyers around." The Fund`s recovery
efforts will be supported by the International Chamber of Commerce`s FraudNet, a
select network of 50 asset recovery lawyers in 43 jurisdictions from around the
world.

For Echemus
Business:
Lynx Capital, LLC
Kirk Huddles, 410-245-4944
info@echemusfund.com
or
Media:
Bill Atkinson, 443-794-5657
batkinson@gmail.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009

 

Featured Broker sponsored link

Editor's Choice

A selection of our best photos from the past 24 hours.  Slideshow 

Most Popular on Reuters

  • Articles
  • Video