CRYPTO AND DIGITAL ASSET
FRAUD & RECOVERY
25–26 April 2024
• Millennium Gloucester Hotel, London
Join us in London at the Premier Gathering for the Worldwide Community!
C5-Online.com/Fraud-Crypto
Associate Sponsors
Media Partners
JOIN US IN LONDON FOR PRIME ACCESS TO THE TRAILBLAZERS! CRYPTO NATIVES AND LEADING PRACTITIONERS.
Welcome to the 2nd Annual Crypto and Digital Asset Fraud & Recovery Conference! Stay ahead in this dynamic field by joining us in London to delve into the nuances of cryptocurrency, blockchain, and digital assets. Hear about best practices for Tracing and recovery of digital assets. This is your best opportunity to engage, network, and benchmark with global experts in crypto and digital asset fraud & recovery.
2024 CONFERENCE FEATURES
Unsurpassed Networking: Meet the true trailblazers and influencers! The program is uniquely designed to maximize networking through small and larger group opportunities.
Invaluable, “Out of the Box” Discussions: Unique, digital asset-specific case studies, interviews and strategy sessions enabling you to stay updated on regulatory issues and case law keeping your peers busy.
Unique Content: No repetitive or monotonous panels that you have heard before. Benefit from reengineered, cutting-edge discussions that are especially relevant and timely!
CRYPTO AND DIGITAL ASSET FRAUD & RECOVERY
GOVERNMENT SPEAKERS
James Curt Bohling Acting Principal Deputy Chief, Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Criminal Division
U.S. Department of Justice (USA)
Professor Sarah Green Commissioner for Commercial and Common Law Law Commission
Tara Annison Head of Product Twinstake
CRYPTO NATIVES
Chrissy Hill General Counsel Parity Technologies
SPEAKER FACULTY
Joanna Jenkins Regional Head of Compliance – Europe and UK
DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER FACULTY
Bushra Ahmed Partner
KBH (United Arab Emirates)
Tim Aron Barrister
Minerva Chambers
Cara Cameron Partner Woods (Canada)
Dara Barkhordar Principal
Kobre & Kim
Kyla Curley Partner
StoneTurn Sophie Eyre Partner
Bird & Bird
Michael Fealy KC Barrister
One Essex Court
Warren Gluck Partner
Holland & Knight LLP (USA)
Saima Hanif KC
Barrister 3 Veralum Buildings
Benjamin Bathgate Partner, Chair, Commercial Litigation WeirFoulds LLP
Ashley Fairbrother Partner
Edmonds, Marshall, McMahon
Charlotte Hill Partner
Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP
CRYPTO AND DIGITAL ASSET
David Johnson Senior Associate
PCB Byrne LLP
Jason Knowles
Lead Cryptocurrency Investigator North Wales Police
Aidan Larkin Co-Founder & CEO
Asset Reality
Sarah Murray Partner
Stevens & Bolton LLP
Christopher Levers Partner
Ogier (Cayman Islands)
Edward Macnamara Partner
PwC United Kingdom
Brendan McGurk KC
Barrister
Monckton Chambers
Jeffery Onions KC
Barrister
One Essex Court
Alex Potts KC
Barrister
4 Pump Court
William Redgrave
Partner
Baker & Partners
Sam Roberts Partner
Cooke, Young & Keidan LLP
Justina Stewart
Barrister
Outer Temple Chambers
Mark Taylor Head of Financial Crime
CEX.io
Dina White
General Counsel
Zodia Markets
Christopher Whitehouse Senior Associate
RPC
Dan Wyatt Partner
Reynolds, Porter Chamberlain LLP
Nik Yeo
Barrister
Fountain Court Chambers
CONFERENCE DAY ONE
Thursday, 25 April 2024
8:15 Registration and Networking
8:55 C5 Welcome
9:00 Co-Chairs’ Opening Remarks
9:15 Detecting and Recovering Crypto and Digital Assets: Avoiding Common Misconceptions that Can Derail Your Case
In the ever-changing landscape of digital asset fraud, many fraud and asset recovery practitioners face mounting challenges in the areas of cryptocurrency, NFTs, blockchain, smart contracts and other digital assets. The uncertainty in these areas can quicky derail your case if they are not well understood; and can create a variety of issues and challenges.
Join us in this highly interactive session as we:
1) Define and unpack the complexities of detecting fraud and tracing assets across the chain, such as
• The Metaverse
• Decentralised Autonomous Organisations (DAOs)
• Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)
• Smart Contracts
• Decentralised Finance Bridges (DeFis)
2) Answer the common questions that many practitioners face when recovering digital assets, such as:
• Are there tools available to prevent Pig Butchering Scams?
• Are crypto assets treated as traditional assets for the purpose of asset recovery?
• Do mixers/tumblers stop asset recovery in its tracks?
10:00 Update on the FTX Saga
The FTX scandal made it clear that corporate mismanagement in crypto businesses continues to loom as an existential threat in the Fraud and Asset recovery landscape. Join us for this session to learn about what really happened at FTX, labeled as unprecedented situations resulting from a “complete failure of corporate controls and a complete absence of trustworthy financial information”.
• We will discuss many aspects of the scandal and answer questions such as:
• Was it a fraud or just a collection of inexperienced and irresponsible twenty-somethings very out of their depth?
10:30 Extended Networking Break
• How was this able to happen?
• What can this community do to prevent such failures in the future?
• What are the challenges in recovering assets?
• What are the prospects of FTX’s creditors receiving compensation?
Nik Yeo Barrister Fountain Court Chambers
Edward Macnamara Partner PwC United Kingdom
11:00 Update from the Crypto Experts
Join us in this informative session as our panel of crypto experts offer detailed responses to many of the questions you want to know the answers to, such as:
• What does the future of crypto look like?
• What lessons have crypto natives taken from the last 12 months?
• How are they helping rebuild trust in the ecosystem?
• What challenges do they think the professional services sector should be focused on?
• What are their thoughts on international recognition of court orders in a decentralized and borderless ecosystem?
Aidan Larkin Co-Founder & CEO Asset Reality
Joanna Jenkins Regional Head of Compliance – Europe and UK Binance
Chrissy Hill General Counsel Parity Technologies
CRYPTO AND DIGITAL ASSET
FRAUD & RECOVERY
12:00 Crypto and Digital Assets as Securities?: An Examination of Whether or Not Digital Assets Should be Subject to Regulation
The rapid expansion of digital assets has seen abundant debate about whether they should be classified as currencies or securities - which would subject them to regulations. Crypto Exchanges and other digital token providers have been adamant that most digital assets operating on blockchain do not fit the definition of securities, while some regulatory agencies have determined that some specific assets are securities that are subject to registration and disclosure.
In this session our panel will discuss the factors to be examined and questions to be answered when determining if digital and crypto transactions qualify as “investment contracts” that are subject to regulation, such as:
• Are Crypto Exchanges “common enterprises”?
• Is there an investment of “money”?
• Do investors have a reasonable expectation of profit?
12:45 Networking Lunch
• Are any such profits derived from the “efforts of others”?
• Do developers and Exchanges have the burden or proving they are NOT securities?
Tim Aron
Barrister
Minerva Chambers
Brendan McGurk KC
Barrister
Monckton Chambers
Warren Gluck Partner
Holland & Knight LLP (USA)
14:00 Crypto Exchange Liability and Duties of Care: What is “Fair and Reasonable” and When Can a Crypto Exchange Be Found Negligent for Failing to Prevent Fraud
Crypto fraud poses a huge challenge for the Exchanges and their customers, and Exchange employees are usually in a position to spot and block — or report — suspected fraud. In addition, there is the particular problem of the civil liability imposed on them for failing to spot fraud negligently.
Compounding the challenges with determining intent and liability is the fact that there is no all-inclusive body of law that really defines the legal nature of digital asset transactions — and the liabilities that go along with any such rights.
Join us in this session as our panel of experts discuss the liabilities, barriers to recovery, and steps that can be taken to compensate the victims of crypto frauds, such as:
• Practical difficulties for Exchanges when the duty arises for individuals
• The civil law approach to Exchange liability
• The need to balance “fair and reasonable” measures to reduce fraud risk while striving to maintain an effective system
• The “reasonably competent” standard of care
• Scenarios in which an Exchange can be liable for fraud; and the barriers to recovery
Saima Hanif KC
Barrister
3 Veralum Buildings
Jeffery Onions KC
Barrister
One Essex Court
Christopher Levers Partner Ogier (Cayman Islands)
Justina Stewart Barrister Outer Temple Chambers
CRYPTO AND DIGITAL ASSET FRAUD & RECOVERY
15:00 AI Manipulation and Deep Fakes: How Fraudsters are Utilizing Deepfake Technology to Perpetrate Frauds on Individuals and Financial Institutions
Deepfake technology has created another level of fraud that is popping up in Crypto and Know Your Customer (KYC) scams. Deepfake artificial intelligence tools use machine learning to create convincing audio, images or videos featuring a person’s likeness — which is increasingly being used for scams and hoaxes on individuals and financial institutions.
For many fraud and asset recovery practitioners, the areas of AI and deep fake technology are not well understood and create a variety of issues and challenges. Be sure to join us in this session as we define and unpack the complexities of these technologies; examine the latest developments; and answer the most crucial questions for counsel, consultants, and regulatory agencies to prevent these high-tech scams; such as:
• Is AI and deep fake fraud trending towards becoming the newest existential threat for fraud and asset recovery practitioners?
• What steps can be taken for risk management and incident prevention?
• What can the digital asset and blockchain communities do — if anything — to prevent such scams in the future?
15:45 Networking Break
• What are some of the tools that can be used to counter simulated voices and voice recognition frauds?
• How can facial recognition technology play a role in reducing fraud and crime?
• What are the parameters and goals of the EU AI Act; the world’s first comprehensive AI Law?
Racheal Muldoon
Barrister
Maitland Chambers
Christopher Whitehouse
Senior Associate
RPC
16:15 Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs): Overcoming the Challenges to Managing Clients and Preventing
DAOs are known to operate as a community with automated efficiency, transparency and no central authority — based completely on trust and transparency — which in theory minimizes the risk of stolen funds. However, they are also very vulnerable to hackers that have the ability to exploit vulnerabilities and the lack of security when managing crypto and other digital funds.
In this session we will discuss the risks, practical difficulties, legal battles and governance structures associated with DAOs — and best practices for overcoming these challenges when representing DAOs, such as:
• Difficulties in managing clients that can number in the hundreds
• The lack of a well-developed and efficient infrastructure to manage reporting, treasury management, governance, payroll, and communication
17:00 Networking Drinks Reception
• Managing the various types of assets often associated with DAOs
• Navigating smart contracts and security issues that can lead to fragmenting and splits of DAOs
Fraud in a Purely Decentralized “Entity”
Benjamin Bathgate Partner
WeirFoulds LLP
Alex Potts KC
Barrister
4 Pump Court
10:15 The Fringes of Digital Asset Fraud: An Examination of Digital Assets Held in the Metaverse and Outside of Centralised Exchanges
In this session our Crypto experts will take an in-depth look at the problematic nature of recovery in digital asset fraud with assets that are not held in traditional Exchanges. We will examine what is on the horizon in these growing areas of fraud, such as:
• Financial metacrimes
• Gender-based scams
• Wash trading
• Money laundering
11:00 Extended Networking Break
• Augmented reality threats
• Digital radicalization
Tara Annison Head of Product Twinstake
Dina White General Counsel Zodia Markets
11:30 Crypto Disputes and the Standard Suite of Relief for Victims: What it Takes to Recover for Your Client
There is still a lot of uncertainty regarding the underlying substantive crypto claims relating to fraud, where there arguably remain more questions than answers. However, when it comes to crypto frauds, most transactions will be publicly viewable through the blockchain, and this may actually be of great help to in the context of digital asset-tracing and enforcement. As a result, investigators and litigators will be better prepared to follow transfers of crypto from wallet to wallet; and ultimately into the central exchanges.
It is then that litigators can break out the familiar toolkit of disclosure and freezing orders to secure the misappropriated funds and uncover who may be behind the wrongdoing. Join this session to take a deeper dive into crypto disputes and consider recovery issues such as:
• The types of substantive claims relating to crypto fraud, the potential pitfalls and strategic considerations
• How to combat fraudsters that are using blockchain to conceal their activity and evade detection
• How crypto fraudsters commonly seek to off-board fraudulently obtained crypto or fiat
• Understanding some of the unique and advanced types of crypto fraud; including: scam ICOs, pump and dump schemes, exit scams, phishing and advanced ponzi shemes
• The best strategies for serving freezing orders and injunctions against unknown individuals and organizations
Sam Roberts Partner Cooke, Young & Keidan LLP
Kyla Curley Partner StoneTurn
CRYPTO AND DIGITAL ASSET FRAUD & RECOVERY
12:00 The Fight Back Begins: Private and Public Sector Law Enforcement Team Up to Take the Fight to the Fraudsters and Recover Assets for Victims
We are all too familiar with countless examples of fraud victims losing all their funds and retirement savings through crypto and digital asset scams. In most instances, it is extremely challenging for practitioners, investigators and law enforcement to track and recover these assets; but the chances for recovery increase dramatically when these crime fighters come together. Be sure to join us in this session as we hear about a success story — with a step-by-step cooperative approach to recovery.
Ashley Fairbrother Partner
Edmonds, Marshall, McMahon
Jason Knowles
Lead Cryptocurrency Investigator North Wales Police
13:30 Networking Lunch
Mark Taylor Head of Financial Crime CEX.io
14:15 A View from the Regulators
Regulatory support can be essential for recovering lost or stolen crypto assets as some exchanges and other companies fail to: implement the core components of an effective AML program; implement comprehensive know-your-customer (KYC) protocols; and, often fail to systematically monitor transactions. When faced with the challenge of recovering stolen or lost crypto assets, regulatory support can be crucial.
Join us in this session as our regulators discuss some of their most well-known and successful prosecutions, by detailing how their resources have helped bring to justice individuals and companies who engaged in fraud, pig butchering scams, and laundered criminal proceeds through cryptocurrency.
James Curt Bohling
Acting Principal Deputy Chief, Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Criminal Division U.S. Department of Justice (USA)
Professor Sarah Green
Commissioner for Commercial and Common Law Law Commission of England and Wales
15:30 Property or Not: Digital Assets as Protectable Assets?
Cryptocurrency and digital assets continue to raise the question of how to legally classify them. Are they property, security, actual currency, or some other form of tangible asset? There is no universal consensus on this issue and depending on the jurisdiction and the agreement between the parties, specific classification of these forms of assets might impact the ability to get freezing injunctions or other forms of interim relief.
Several jurisdictions have recently held that various forms of digital assets are a form of legal property, while others are still grappling with the issue of property rights. Join us in this session as our experts share several different perspectives and recent case law decisions in this growing area by discussing:
• “Person Unknown” injunctions and asset freezing orders
• Legitimate claims to exclusivity
• Assessing and verifying ownership and methods for accurately tracing NFT transactions
• Exclusive possession or control
• Accompanying rights that owners can assert in court and recognition as collateral
• Exclusion of ownership claims
• Possessory interests and intellectual property protections for the underlying asset
Sophie Eyre Partner
Bird & Bird
Bushra Ahmed Partner
KBH (United Arab Emirates)
Michael Fealy KC
Barrister
One Essex Court
16:30 End of Conference | Thank you!
BECOME A SPONSOR
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Lanny Morris Senior Business Development Manager
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CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION CREDITS
American Conference Institute is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State Boards of Accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org
Course objective: Key updates and best practices for fraud litigation, forensic investigations and cross-border challenges related to asset tracing and recovery
Field of Study: Business Law
Prerequisite: None.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
Level of knowledge: Basic Advanced Preparation: None
y Law Firm Partners, Solicitors and Barristers specialising in crypto and digital asset fraud, asset tracing and recovery, and dispute resolution
y Forensic and Litigation Consultants
y Legal and Compliance Executives from multinational banks and Crypto & Digital Asset Exchanges
y Investigators and Asset Recovery Specialists
y Technology solutions providers
TEACHING METHOD: Group Live
DELIVERY METHOD: Group Live
Participants will earn up to 6 CPE credits for the two-day conference.
Refunds and Cancellations: Requests for refunds must be received in writing by 12 April 2024. For more information regarding refund, complaint, and/or program cancellation policies please contact our offices at 1-888-224-2480.
ABOUT US
C5 celebrates 40 years of excellence! We are thrilled to have provided exceptional conference experiences globally with our outstanding team, speakers, sponsors, partners, and attendees. To mark this milestone, we're launching a new logo which represents our commitment to innovation, growth, and excellence, represented by the five Cs of C5: Current, Connected, Customer-Centric, Conscientious, and Committed.
Looking back on 40 years, we are grateful for our achievements—hosting global conferences, uniting industry leaders, and supporting business growth. However, we are not done yet! We are committed to pushing boundaries and creating impactful experiences and we're excited for the next 40 years of success.
Register and pay to lock in your early rate and be eligible for a full refund until 12 April 2024.
If you are unable to attend for any reason, you will have the following options:
y A full credit note for you, or a colleague to attend another event.
y A full refund.
All cancellations and changes must be submitted to Registration@C5-Online.com by 12 April 2024.
25–26 April 2024 • Millennium Gloucester Hotel, London
REGISTER NOW CRYPTO AND DIGITAL ASSET FRAUD & RECOVERY
Join us in London at the Premier Gathering for the Worldwide Community!