A law firm that borrowed at least £8.9 million from Axiom Legal Financing Fund was taken over and closed down today by Britain's Solicitors Regulation Authority, which stated that "there is reason to suspect dishonesty".
The Grand Court of the Cayman Islands has granted the Receivers of Axiom Legal Financing Fund the same powers as liquidators and, separately, asked the High Court of Justice in England and Wales - where much of the Fund's activity occurred - to recognize the receivership.
The auditor of a British law firm that owes Axiom Legal Financing Fund approximately £50 million has resigned, citing problems obtaining sufficient information to perform its task. OffshoreAlert has uncovered evidence calling into question the auditor's independence.
New evidence uncovered by OffshoreAlert indicates that the recently-suspended Axiom Legal Financing Fund is hopelessly insolvent as a result of self-dealing and fraud by insiders. The Cayman Islands-domiciled Fund, which has raised more than £117 million, appears to be a Ponzi scheme.
As investors continue to pour millions of pounds each month into Cayman Islands-domiciled Axiom Legal Financing Fund, OffshoreAlert has uncovered more red flags, including conflicting financial statements, £7.9 million loaned to a debt-ridden law firm owned by Axiom's principal, and insurance provided by an unregulated, unaudited firm that is currently defending a fraud lawsuit brought by one of its clients.
The head of a Cayman Islands fund group that claims to manage $160 million, promotes its investments as "low risk" and boasts of "consistent" 12% net annual returns for investors is being prosecuted for alleged professional misconduct in the United Kingdom. British attorney Tim Schools faces 11 allegations, including that he "failed to act with integrity" and "failed to act in the best interests of his clients".