In a landmark case last month, a businessman linked to notorious criminals surrendered £10 million in property, land, cash and other assets at the conclusion of an unexplained wealth order (UWO). This was the first successful...more
On 8 April 2020 the NCA suffered its first setback in using Unexplained Wealth Orders (‘UWOs’). The Respondents in NCA v Baker successfully applied to discharge UWOs relating to three properties in London, all held by...more
On 8 April 2020, the High Court discharged three Unexplained Wealth Orders (“UWOs”) relating to multi-million pound London homes allegedly purchased with the proceeds of crime. In its judgment, the High Court criticised the...more
Recent judgments help to clarify purpose and threshold of unexplained wealth orders. The National Crime Agency (NCA) has had a mixed start to 2020, with appeals heard on unexplained wealth orders (UWOs) testing the new...more
On 8 April 2020, the High Court dismissed three unexplained wealth orders ("UWOs") and related interim freezing orders made under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (National Crime Agency v Baker & Ors [2020] EWHC 822 (Admin)). ...more
The UK saw its first use of an Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO) in February 2018 when the NCA successfully imposed orders on two UK properties, one in the exclusive Knightsbridge area of London and the second, a golf course in...more
The UK National Crime Agency (“NCA”) has successfully resisted a challenge to the issue of its first Unexplained Wealth Orders (“UWOs”). The victory comes shortly after the agency announced its intention to expand the use of...more