Top Legal Partner at Carter-Ruck Faces Disciplinary Action Over OneCoin Scandal

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The UK’s Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has initiated disciplinary proceedings against Claire Gill, a senior partner at prominent London law firm Carter-Ruck, in connection with her legal actions targeting Jen McAdam, a whistleblower and victim of the fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme OneCoin. The development marks a significant step in the ongoing fallout from one of the most infamous financial frauds of the last decade.

Claire Gill is accused of using her position to attempt to suppress McAdam’s public criticism of OneCoin, a multi-billion-dollar scam that falsely claimed to be a legitimate cryptocurrency operation. The SRA, which oversees professional standards across the legal profession in England and Wales, is investigating whether Gill’s conduct breached legal ethics by aiding efforts to intimidate and silence a victim advocating for transparency and justice.

The OneCoin scandal has spanned continents and defrauded investors out of an estimated £3.5 billion globally. Jen McAdam, a Scottish victim of the fraud, has been an outspoken critic of OneCoin since 2016. She became a leading figure in exposing the operation’s deceptive practices, alongside other international campaigners, including American whistleblower Tim Tayshun and Norwegian blockchain expert Bjorn Bjercke.

In 2017, McAdam and her fellow activists took part in a webinar during which they openly questioned OneCoin’s claims, particularly its supposed blockchain infrastructure. Their intervention caused concern within OneCoin’s leadership, including its founder, Ruja Ignatova, who has since disappeared and remains on the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)’s most wanted list.

Following the exposure, Ignatova reportedly instructed her associate, Frank Schneider, to engage Claire Gill through Carter-Ruck. Gill then issued a formal legal letter to McAdam, demanding she remove online content, including social media posts and a video, retract her statements referring to OneCoin as a scam, and refrain from discussing Ignatova or OneCoin publicly.

Notably, no similar letters were issued to McAdam’s male co-campaigners, raising questions about whether the legal response was selectively targeted. The situation has drawn concern over the use of legal pressure to stifle criticism and has ignited debate about the role of elite legal firms in defending those accused of large-scale financial misconduct.

The SRA’s decision to move forward with a disciplinary hearing signals a rare accountability measure in the upper ranks of the legal profession. If Gill is found to have acted unethically, consequences could range from reputational damage to formal sanctions that may impact her legal career.

Recent media coverage, including reports by tax lawyer and journalist Dan Neidle, has brought renewed attention to the original letter issued by Carter-Ruck. Neidle’s publication of the letter, now in the public domain, has helped shed light on how legal tactics were deployed to try to suppress whistleblowing efforts.

McAdam, who published a book in 2023 titled Devil’s Coin, has continued to speak out against both the fraud and the attempts to silence her. She has featured in multiple documentaries and podcasts detailing the OneCoin deception and its broader impact on victims worldwide.

The implications of this case extend beyond the OneCoin scandal. It raises wider concerns about how legal firms may be utilised by powerful individuals to shield themselves from accountability, rather than uphold the principles of justice. The ongoing scrutiny of Carter-Ruck’s involvement underscores the need for transparency and professional responsibility within the legal sector.

As the SRA hearing approaches, this case is being closely watched by legal professionals, financial regulators, and victim advocacy groups. The outcome could serve as a benchmark for how the legal industry responds to allegations of professional misconduct linked to major fraud cases.

Ruja Ignatova remains at large, with international efforts continuing to locate her. Meanwhile, the investigation into Claire Gill’s conduct may represent a turning point in holding not only perpetrators, but also enablers, to account.