Online Fraud — Funds Recovered Abroad Through International Legal Action

A major financial company based in Dubai retained our firm for an international arbitration dispute in which it had been defrauded through a complex online scheme. We coordinated the legal strategy across multiple jurisdictions and obtained a successful outcome through international arbitration.

The case

Our client, a financial services company headquartered in Dubai (UAE), was the victim of a sophisticated online fraud affecting its cross-border operations. The fraud involved the manipulation of digital communications and the fraudulent diversion of funds intended for legitimate counterparties. The client required specialist counsel to navigate the intersection of Italian criminal law, UAE commercial law, and international arbitration.

Multi-jurisdictional strategy

We developed a coordinated strategy combining a criminal complaint filed in Italy with a formal notification to the UAE authorities and participation in international arbitration proceedings. The criminal complaint served to establish the fraudulent nature of the transactions as a matter of judicial record, strengthening the client's position in the arbitration. Simultaneously, we coordinated with local counsel in the UAE to address the regulatory dimension of the dispute.

When fraud crosses borders, the defence must cross borders too. Our firm has experience managing parallel proceedings across multiple jurisdictions — which is increasingly the only effective response to sophisticated international online fraud.

Outcome

The international arbitration was decided in favour of our client. Funds were recovered and the company's operations were protected. The Italian criminal proceedings provided crucial evidentiary support throughout.