William Christopher

William is a partner in Kingsley Napley’s Dispute Resolution team, based in London.  He deals mainly with civil fraud litigation and asset recovery. 

William has specialised in commercial litigation with a particular focus on civil fraud actions since he qualified. He has extensive and wide-ranging litigation experience, having acted in cases involving contractual disputes, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of trust, and insolvency-related litigation.  He is listed in the global directory “Who’s Who of Asset Recovery”, and is ranked in Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500. 

William has acted in many international fraud cases throughout his career, involving the recovery of assets concealed in offshore jurisdictions. He is highly experienced in using freezing injunctions, search orders and disclosure orders in international fraud investigations.  He acts as a supervising solicitor in the execution of search orders.

William's main areas of expertise are civil fraud (often involving multiple jurisdictions), internal fraud investigations, general commercial litigation, (including shareholder disputes) and contentious and fraud related insolvency litigation.

WHAT CLIENTS AND DIRECTORIES HAVE SAID

"...a "very sensible and experienced" practitioner with "a very cerebral approach.” He has a busy fraud and asset-tracing practice which includes advice on matters with an international element..."

Chambers UK, 2016

"regarded as an 'established, polished figure' in the field"

Chambers UK, 2014

"William Christopher is praised for his ‘creative and tenacious' approach"

Legal 500, 2014

 

Recent work and notable cases

Civil Fraud

• William was the partner in the leading case of 4Eng Ltd v Harper and Simpson, acting for the successful Claimant in suing the defendants for the loss of opportunity arising out of fraudulent misrepresentations made in the sale of a company.
• Acting for an art dealer alleged to have converted art in his possession to his own use to raise large sums of money, as well as allegations of failures to account for the proceeds of sale of various pieces of artwork.  Multiple freezing injunctions were obtained against the client.
• Acting for a Channel Islands corporate trustee in a case involving allegations of dishonesty, conspiracy, fraudulent misrepresentation and dishonest assistance in breaches of fiduciary duty.
• Acting for a family company in seeking to recover assets lost in investment frauds.

Shareholder disputes

• Acting for a Jordanian businessman in dispute with two Saudi Princes, in a case which involved allegations of fraud, money laundering, smuggling and threats to kill.
• Acting for the Trustees of a Will Trust in a shareholder dispute in relation to shares left by the deceased in a company he formed.

Commercial litigation

• Acting for a company defending claims that a supplier had a concluded option agreement to purchase a substantial number of shares, through an earn-in agreement.
• Acting for a foreign company in setting aside a default judgment on the grounds that the proceedings had not been properly served, and challenging jurisdiction.
• Acting for a resort defending claims made against it in relation to the tragic death of a honeymooning couple.
• Acting for investors in a property company in relation to the return of their investment and promised returns.

 

Professional Societies and Memberships

• Commercial Fraud Lawyers Association
• The Fraud Advisory Panel
• The Fraud Lawyers Association
• Founding member of Victims of Crime Association of Lawyers (VOCAL)

 

Publications and articles

William writes extensively for publications such as the New Law Journal and regularly contributes to the Global Investigation Review.

• Quoted in The Caterer on Cyber Security. Published 24 July 2017.