Offshore havens are becoming more constructive in their approach to UK litigators, according to the City lawyer leading attempts to recover money from disgraced former Westminster Council leader Dame Shirley Porter.

Dame Shirley owes Westminster Council 37 million in surcharges following the 'homes for votes' gerrymandering scandal in the 1980s.

John Fordham, head of litigation at Stephenson Harwood - which has obtained freezing orders in Guernsey over assets thought to be worth millions - said: 'I think that jurisdictions referred to as "offshore" that have been tax havens have [become more constructive] because money laundering developments mean they are much more alert to being used by business people to shelter their money improperly.

That has assisted us.'

He said there was a greater willingness among offshore authorities - Stephenson Harwood has made applications in Guernsey and the British Virgin Islands in relation to the Porter case - to respond to enquiries and applications.

Stephenson Harwood will attempt to establish that the funds are held under sham trusts, or that they were created through transactions intended to defraud creditors.

Jeremy Fleming