Fraud and Asset Recovery

Discovering that your business has been the victim of fraud is devastating. Whether it’s employee theft, supplier fraud, or more sophisticated schemes involving misappropriation of funds, you need immediate action to trace assets, recover losses, and prevent further damage.

At Gear & Co Lawyers, we specialise in fraud recovery and civil fraud litigation for Brisbane businesses. Our strategic approach combines urgent asset protection with thorough investigation and aggressive recovery action to maximise your chances of getting your money back.

What We Do – Fraud Recovery & Asset Tracing Services

Fraud recovery requires immediate action, specialised legal knowledge, and often, creative solutions. Time is critical – the longer you wait, the more likely stolen assets will be moved, hidden, or dissipated. Our fraud recovery lawyers in Brisbane act swiftly to protect your interests and pursue every available avenue for recovery.

Civil Recovery Actions

Once we’ve secured assets, we pursue every legal avenue to get your money back:

Breach of Fiduciary Duty Claims – When employees, directors, or business partners abuse their trusted positions, we pursue claims for breach of duty and constructive trusts (where fraudsters hold stolen assets that rightfully belong to your business).
Misappropriation & Conversion Claims – Direct legal action for the wrongful taking of company funds, inventory, or other assets, seeking both recovery and additional damages.
Conspiracy & Knowing Assistance Claims – Where fraud involves multiple people, we pursue everyone involved – including those who helped or turned a blind eye to the scheme.
Civil Fraud Claims – We bring comprehensive fraud claims based on deliberate lies and deception, seeking full compensation for your losses.

Asset Recovery & Tracing

When fraudsters strike, they immediately start moving or hiding stolen assets. We act fast to cut off their escape routes using powerful legal tools:

Freezing Orders – Urgent court orders that freeze bank accounts and prevent asset transfers before money can be moved or hidden. We can obtain these without warning the fraudsters.
Search Orders (Anton Piller) – Court-approved searches that let us secure premises and seize critical documents or electronic evidence before it can be destroyed.
Asset Tracing – Working with forensic specialists, we follow the money trail through complex transactions, shell companies, and even overseas transfers to find where your assets have gone.

Specialised Fraud Matters

Different types of fraud require different approaches. We handle the full spectrum of business fraud:

Employment Fraud – Payroll manipulation, expense fraud, kickback schemes, and theft of confidential information by current or former employees.
Supplier & Vendor Fraud – Invoice fraud, phantom vendors, overcharging schemes, and other deceptive practices by suppliers or contractors.
Cyber Fraud & Business Email Compromise – Recovering losses from email hacking, fraudulent payment redirections, and other technology-enabled fraud schemes.
Investment Fraud Recovery – Pursuing recovery from fraudulent investment schemes, Ponzi operations, or fake business opportunities that have caused substantial losses.

Our clients include SMEs, company directors, and professionals across construction, finance, property, and manufacturing sectors who have suffered significant fraud losses.

man typing on laptop fraud recovery lawyer

How the Process Works – Your Fraud Recovery Journey

Fraud recovery is time-sensitive and requires immediate strategic action. Our process is designed to move quickly while building the strongest possible case for recovery.

Emergency Response – When you first discover fraud, we provide immediate advice on preserving evidence, notifying relevant parties, and taking urgent steps to prevent further losses. This includes practical guidance on employment law issues if the fraud involves current staff.

Asset Preservation – We move quickly to obtain freezing orders, search orders, or other emergency court relief to lock down assets before they disappear. In fraud cases, speed often determines whether you recover anything at all.

Investigation & Evidence Building – We coordinate with forensic specialists and investigators to follow the money trail, analyse financial records, and build a complete picture of what happened. This includes identifying everyone involved and mapping out potential recovery targets.

Comprehensive Recovery Strategy – Based on our investigation findings, we develop a multi-pronged approach that may include civil litigation, supporting criminal complaints, insurance claims, and negotiations with third parties who received stolen assets.

Aggressive Litigation – We pursue civil claims with determination while managing the complex legal requirements of fraud cases, including detailed evidence disclosure, expert testimony, and urgent court applications.

Strategic Settlement – Where it makes sense, we negotiate settlements to achieve faster recovery while keeping the pressure on through continued litigation threats and potential criminal exposure.

Immediate Response Capability – Fraud recovery requires urgent action. We can move quickly to obtain emergency court orders and begin asset tracing before trails go cold or assets are dissipated.

Litigation Experience – Our lawyers have extensive experience in complex commercial litigation and understand the procedural and evidentiary requirements of fraud cases in Queensland courts.

Strategic Approach – We consider all available remedies including civil litigation, criminal referrals, insurance claims, and regulatory complaints to maximise your chances of recovery.

Network of Specialists – We work closely with forensic accountants, private investigators, and IT specialists who can quickly trace assets and gather evidence in complex fraud cases.

Commercial Understanding – We understand that fraud recovery is about more than legal remedies – it’s about protecting your business, deterring future fraud, and minimising operational disruption.

Queensland Expertise – Our deep knowledge of Queensland courts and procedures gives you a tactical advantage in pursuing urgent applications and managing complex fraud litigation.

Why Choose Gear & Co for Fraud Recovery

FAQs: Fraud Recovery Lawyer

Time is absolutely critical in fraud recovery. Assets can be moved or hidden within hours of discovery, so you should seek legal advice immediately. The sooner we can obtain freezing orders or other protective measures, the better your chances of recovery.
You don’t need complete evidence to begin – we can help gather evidence through the legal process. However, preserve all available documents, emails, financial records, and witness statements. Do not confront suspected fraudsters before seeking legal advice as this may prompt them to hide assets.
Asset tracing often reveals hidden assets or transfers to family members or related entities. We also pursue third parties who may have received stolen funds, insurance claims, and consider whether corporate structures can be pierced to access additional assets.
Criminal and civil proceedings serve different purposes and can run in parallel. Criminal prosecution may help pressure defendants to cooperate with civil recovery, but it doesn’t guarantee compensation. We often recommend both approaches for maximum pressure and recovery options.
Legal costs depend on case complexity, but we provide transparent estimates and discuss funding options including after-the-event insurance and litigation funding. Many fraud cases settle relatively quickly once defendants realise we’re serious about pursuing all available remedies.