Biography
Benjamin is a Senior Associate at Signature’s Gibraltar office, specialising in commercial litigation, financial regulation and white collar crime.
Before joining Signature, Benjamin practised at the independent Bar in England.
He has over a decade’s worth of experience acting as instructed counsel in complex, high value, cross-border investigations and litigation. During his time at the Bar, Benjamin represented and advised a range of clients including private individuals, corporate bodies, and public agencies.
The predominant focus of Benjamin’s practice at the Bar was large scale international financial crime, asset tracing and recovery proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. He is also experienced in providing advice on financial regulation and sanctions.
At Signature, Benjamin has used his wealth of experience to advise private clients on commercial disputes, insolvency proceedings, and trust related matters. He has also advised corporate entities on contractual disputes involving construction projects, financial investments, and shareholdings.
He has recently worked on cases involving the use of cyber technologies and within the gaming sector. Benjamin regularly deals with cases involving technical digital evidence and has experience analysing and advising on matters associated with market trading.
Benjamin has undertaken substantial advisory roles working with lawyers in various fields of expertise, and across multiple jurisdictions. This includes working as part of a trans-Atlantic team representing a London-based trader alleged to have manipulated global trading markets, and with legal advisors and enforcement bodies acting on behalf of a worldwide e-commerce company seeking to investigate, report and disrupt sophisticated, international digital frauds against its systems and consumers.
While working in the UK, Benjamin was frequently instructed by UK regulators and investigatory authorities to work on disclosure and evidential reviews. In particular, he acted for a UK law enforcement body to carry out an independent review of various court-issued search warrants and production orders, and for a regulator involved in the authorisation and licensing of crypto asset firms.
Benjamin is a member of the Criminal Bar Association, the Fraud Lawyers Association, and The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple.
Benjamin was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2011.
He is currently in the process of seeking admission to the Bar in Gibraltar.
Experience
Commercial Litigation
- Advising the Directors of a UK based financial investment company in the context of a criminal investigation alongside the administrators obtaining of a worldwide freezing injunction.
- Advising a private individual in respect of a high value shareholder dispute.
- Advising a global operator in the online gaming and sports betting industry in a dispute with a shareholder.
- Advising an online gaming company in relation to a multi-million pound contractual dispute.
- Advising on the enforcement of an historic money judgment for the purpose of proceedings before the District Court in New York.
Investigations and White Collar Crime
- Advising a London based foreign exchange trader acquitted of charges brought by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) of manipulating the worldwide market. A subsequent claim by the Office of the US Comptroller of the Currency was also discontinued.
- Advising a former fund manager accused of historic allegations of fraud and regulatory offences in one of the first ever extradition requests to the UK from Monaco.
- Supporting the investigation of a London based insurance broker in relation to a joint DoJ and Serious Fraud Office (SFO) investigation into allegations of bribery involving state owned companies in Central America under the UK’s Bribery Act 2010.
- Advising a Global 100 e-Commerce Company on various international investigations and law enforcement actions designed to combat worldwide cybercrime activities being instigated against its systems and customers.
- Advising on intellectual property crime and trademark infringements perpetrated against renowned luxury Fashion Houses.
- Advising on UK sanctions and export control breaches committed by an international chemical and technology distributor.
Financial Regulation
- Advising the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) on applications for registration of crypto asset firms under the UK’s Money Laundering Regulations 2017.