Carolina Leung Spoke on Asset Recovery and Criminal Enforcement at IBA Conference in Rio de Janeiro

January 30, 2026

We were pleased to have Kobre & Kim’s Carolina Leung speak on a panel titled “Asset recovery when criminal authorities are involved” at IBA’s When Litigation Meets Crime Conference, which took place on January 28, 2026, in Rio de Janeiro.

The panel examined the complex challenges that arise when insolvency practitioners, creditors, and investors pursue recoveries in parallel with criminal authorities. Drawing on her experience advising trustees and stakeholders in cross-border insolvency and enforcement matters, Ms. Leung addressed how civil recovery efforts intersect with government investigations and forfeiture proceedings, and how strategic coordination with authorities can materially affect outcomes.

Discussion topics included navigating recoveries when indictments are pending, managing the risks associated with transacting estate assets under government scrutiny, and the limits of the automatic stay where criminal authorities are involved. The panel also explored scenarios in which trustees or receivers may be better positioned than the government to pursue certain assets or claims, and how practitioners can work constructively with prosecutors to maximize recoveries. Ms. Leung shared insights from matters in which she has represented insolvency trustees in negotiations with the U.S. Department of Justice, leveraging forfeiture tools to enhance asset recovery.

Carolina was joined by Aurelie Conrad Hari (Switzerland), Henrique Forssell (Brazil), and Felix Ng (Hong Kong). The session was moderated by Kate McMahon (Edmonds Marshall McMahon, London) and Benoît Mauron (Lalive, Geneva).