Our Story

Building Trust, Recovering Hope Since 2012

The Vanguard Apex Legacy

A decade of excellence in international financial fraud recovery

Founded in 2012 by a consortium of former prosecutors, forensic accountants, and technology experts, Vanguard Apex Legal emerged from a singular vision: to level the playing field for victims of sophisticated financial fraud in an increasingly digital world.

2012

Foundation

Established in London's Temple district by five former Crown prosecutors who witnessed the rise of online financial fraud.

2014

First Major Victory

Successfully recovered £12M from an international forex fraud ring, setting precedent for cross-border asset recovery.

2016

Blockchain Division

Launched dedicated cryptocurrency fraud unit, becoming first UK firm with in-house blockchain forensics lab.

2018

Global Expansion

Opened offices in New York, Hong Kong, and Dubai. Established partnerships with law enforcement in 40+ countries.

2020

Pandemic Response

Created emergency response team for COVID-19 related scams. Recovered £180M for victims of pandemic fraud schemes.

2023

AI Integration

Pioneered use of artificial intelligence in fraud pattern detection. Achieved 92% success rate in fund recovery.

2024

£950M Milestone

Surpassed £950M in total recovered funds. Recognized as Europe's leading financial fraud recovery firm.

Our Mission & Values

Protection

We stand as guardians for fraud victims, using every legal tool to protect and recover their assets.

Justice

We pursue fraudsters relentlessly, ensuring they face consequences for their crimes.

Global Reach

Our international network enables us to track and recover assets across 67 countries.

Compassion

We understand the emotional toll of fraud and provide support throughout the recovery process.

Emily is a dedicated paralegal and team assistant specialising in litigation. With a first-class LLB in Law and plans to begin the SQE LLM soon, Emily has quickly made her mark since joining VAL in October 2022. Originally from Llanelli, Wales, where she worked as a legal secretary, she relocated to London to further her career in civil litigation. Emily now supports a wide range of litigation matters, from commercial and property disputes to international arbitration and family law, working closely with seasoned litigators and assisting with complex cases for our South African clients.

Our Specialized Services

Comprehensive fraud recovery solutions powered by cutting-edge technology

Cryptocurrency Fraud Recovery

Advanced blockchain analysis to trace Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other digital assets through complex networks of wallets and exchanges.

Forex & Trading Scams

Expert litigation against fraudulent brokers, binary options platforms, and CFD scams with regulatory enforcement support.

Telegram & Social Media Fraud

Specialized unit tracking investment scams through Telegram groups, WhatsApp, and social media platforms.

Investment Platform Fraud

Recovery from Ponzi schemes, pyramid schemes, and fraudulent investment platforms through international litigation.

Asset Tracing & Recovery

Forensic accounting and international asset tracing to locate hidden funds across multiple jurisdictions.

Regulatory Actions

Coordination with FCA, SEC, CFTC, and global regulators to freeze accounts and initiate enforcement actions.

Our Elite Legal Team

World-renowned experts in financial fraud recovery

Frank Middleton

Solicitor | Commercial Dispute Resolution

In September 2025, Julian qualified as a Solicitor and became part of the Litigation department. Prior to relocating to London to complete the PGDL and LPC at BPP Law School, he studied at the University of Cape Town, where he achieved First Class Honours in Philosophy and earned a Distinction in Studies in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics.

Emily

Paralegal/Team Assistant | Civil Litigation

Emily is a committed paralegal and team assistant with a focus on litigation. Holding a first-class LLB in Law and preparing to start the SQE LLM soon, she has quickly distinguished herself since joining VAL in October 2022.

Tomas Ballaster

Senior Partner | Property

Rufus Ballaster serves as Senior Partner and focuses on secured lending for both lenders and borrowers within the Carter Vanguard Apex Legal commercial property team. His team provides comprehensive support to lenders, ensuring strong and effective security for their loans.

Eduardo García Juárez

Consultant | Financial Compliance & Asset Recovery

Eduardo García Juárez is a Mexican legal consultant specialising in financial compliance and asset recovery, with over twelve years of experience in cross-border fund tracing, regulatory disputes, and financial misconduct analysis. Known for his structured and pragmatic approach, he has assisted clients throughout North America, Europe, and Latin America in the recovery of assets affected by regulatory holds, documentation conflicts, or institutional mismanagement. His clarity, discipline, and commitment to client protection make him a valuable member of our international financial compliance team.

João Bastos

Consultant | Asset Recovery

João Bastos is a lawyer specialized in asset and funds recovery, with over ten years of experience in financial tracing, international disputes, and claim procedures for withheld capital. Known for his technical and strategic approach, he has supported clients across Europe and Latin America in the effective recovery of their assets, working closely with regulatory bodies and international legal teams. His precision and dedication make him a key asset within our financial recovery department.

John Lingard

Partner | Company/Commercial

Andrew is a member of our corporate and commercial team. His practice focuses on the acquisition and sale of primarily owner-managed small and medium-sized enterprises, along with providing related guidance on contractual matters and banking documentation.

Client Success Stories

Real recoveries, real relief

"Vanguard Apex recovered £380,000 I lost to a cryptocurrency scam on Telegram. Their blockchain experts traced my funds through multiple wallets. Forever grateful."

James Taylor

Tech Entrepreneur, London

"After losing my pension to a forex fraud, I thought it was gone forever. Vanguard Apex recovered 85% within 8 months. True professionals."

Sarah Mitchell

Retired Teacher, Manchester

"They recovered £1.2M our company lost to an elaborate investment scam. Their international reach and persistence were extraordinary."

Robert Clarke

CEO, Financial Services

Start Your Recovery Today

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Get in Touch

London Head Office

Vanguard Apex Legal Chambers
85 Fleet Street, Temple
London EC4Y 1AE
United Kingdom

24/7 Emergency Hotline

+44 7520 608163

Email Us

inf@gccourt.com

Office Hours

Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM GMT
Emergency Support: 24/7/365

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Global Leaders in Financial Fraud Recovery