Nick Ractliff
Partner

Teaming a creative approach, innovative strategies and ground-breaking solutions, Nick continues to test the legal boundaries - working on some of the largest cases commenced and conducted in the English High Court.

Nick works across a broad range of high-value, multi-jurisdictional disputes involving civil fraud, asset recovery, enforcement, banking litigation, arbitration, insolvency and shareholder claims. He has particular expertise in obtaining freezing, search, and disclosure orders.

Nick is consistently singled out for his work in international fraud and banking litigation, including high-profile cases for CIS banks. His hands-on approach and measured demeanour are welcomed by clients, who turn to Nick as a trusted manager of large-scale litigation.

The Directories Say

• Nick is recommended for his work in civil fraud, asset recovery, commercial litigation and banking litigation, and is described as 'dedicated and thorough' and commended for his 'hands-on approach'.

Who's Who Legal / Lexology

• Nick is recognised as a Thought Leader for Asset Recovery, recommended for Investigations, singled out for his work in international fraud and banking litigation, and described as a strategic thinker who successfully resolves challenging cases.

Legal 500

• Nick is identified as a key lawyer for Civil Fraud, Commercial Litigation and Banking Litigation. He is recognised for his “expertise in commercial and civil fraud cases involving freezing, search and disclosure orders. 

• In the 2025 edition he is described as an “exceptional practitioner” and as the person “exactly who you want on your team when the going gets tough. Calmness personified. Clear-headed and makes the right judgement calls”. He is also commended for having a bright mind with “excellent client-facing skills” and “the ability to navigate complex dispute resolution processes”. 
  
  
• Previous editions have described him as “highly rated”, “incisive and very strong minded” and “a highly effective manager of long-running litigation”. 

Notable Experience

• For Jennington International Inc. in a US$500 million claim alleging deceit, conspiracy and breach of fiduciary duty against the former directors and shareholders of a gold mining company.
• For the primary defendant in a US$1 billion claim connected to the ownership and investment in a Middle Eastern Bank.
• For VTB Bank in acclaim to enforce Russian Judgments for approximately £20 million against a personal guarantor who owned three Italian properties through an English LLP and a Liechtenstein Foundation.
• For Bank of Moscow in obtaining a worldwide freezing order in support of, and enforcing, Russian judgments worth £200 million against an exiled oligarch.
• For the Russian state-owned liquidator in commencing claims worth US$1.3 billion and obtaining a search and worldwide freezing order against Georgy Bedzhamov for frauds committed in connection with Vneshprombank.
• For KMG International NV in the enforcement of a US$200 million arbitration award.
• For Italian Pension Fund and Co-Liquidators of Luxembourg Investment Fund in a multi-million-pound claim against a German investment bank in connection with the sale and purchase of a complex structured investment.
• For a BVI registered company and its beneficial owner in a LCIA Arbitration claim in connection with a claim in excess of US$100 million for the repayment of Loan Notes in respect of the re-purchase of shares in a collapsed bank; 
• For a large food supplier to the retail market in successfully obtaining interim injunctive relief against a team of former employees and a competing business to protect the value of proprietary information associated with a portfolio of newly designed range of products; and 
• For ABFA Commodities Trading Limited in Commercial Court proceedings involving the defence of a claim for losses Petraco Oil Company suffered as a result of a worldwide freezing order and proprietary injunction and a counterclaim for conspiracy to defraud. 

Background

Having joined in 2009, Nick became a partner of PCB Litigation in 2016 and previously practiced at Lawrence Graham and Speechly Bircham. He graduated from Exeter University with a degree in economics before converting to law. Nick is a member of the Commercial Fraud Lawyers Association and London Solicitor Litigation Association.

Contact Nick