Claire Gill disciplinary tribunal proceedings have been initiated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) over allegations that the prominent Carter-Ruck partner made inappropriate threats of litigation on behalf of a now-exposed fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme.
The SRA confirmed that Gill is being prosecuted over correspondence dated 26 April 2017, which allegedly included an “improper threat of litigation.” The case will be heard before the independent Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, which has the power to impose an unlimited fine or even strike a solicitor off the roll. The SRA emphasized that the allegations remain unproven pending a full hearing.
Case Tied to Work for OneCoin and Missing Cryptoqueen Ruja Ignatova
Although the SRA did not identify the client or nature of the threat, it is widely understood that the case relates to Gill’s work for OneCoin, a multibillion-dollar cryptocurrency scam founded by Bulgarian national Ruja Ignatova, who has been missing since 2018 and remains on the FBI’s most-wanted list.
In 2023, the Bureau of Investigative Journalism linked Carter-Ruck and Gill to threatening letters sent to Jen McAdam, a known victim of OneCoin. The letters accused her of posting defamatory material and videos online, warning of reputational damage to OneCoin and its founder.
The letter dated 26 April 2017, obtained by Tax Policy Associates founder Dan Neidle, was at the center of his formal complaint to the SRA. In the letter, Gill wrote that McAdam’s actions “go way beyond what may be considered to be legitimate debate.”
Carter-Ruck Defends Partner, Condemns SRA Decision
Carter-Ruck issued a statement saying, “We are disappointed by the SRA’s decision to bring these proceedings against our colleague, who we will be fully supporting in her defence of this matter.”
The firm itself is not under investigation or facing charges in connection with the case.
Jen McAdam, who was targeted by OneCoin and later became a whistleblower, posted on social media that she could not comment at this time.
SLAPP Claims and Rising Scrutiny on Legal Threats
The case against Claire Gill comes amid growing concern about SLAPP (strategic litigation against public participation) tactics, where powerful individuals or companies use legal threats to silence critics and suppress public interest journalism.
The controversy surrounding Gill adds to the broader public discourse about the role of law firms in enabling reputation laundering and stifling criticism on behalf of disreputable clients.
OneCoin: A Fraud That Shook the Crypto World
OneCoin, launched in 2014, was later exposed as one of the world’s largest crypto frauds. Its founder, Ruja Ignatova, was charged with fraud and money laundering in the U.S. in 2018, but disappeared shortly thereafter.
In 2024, Bulgarian press reports alleged that Ignatova may have been murdered by the Bulgarian mafia, who reportedly saw her as a liability. Her fate remains unknown, and the FBI continues to offer a reward for information leading to her arrest.
