UK warns law firms not to act as “mercenaries” for Russian wealthy and oligarchs
In the UK, the regulator has warned law firms that they cannot act as “mercenaries” to silence critics of the wealthy.
According to The Guardian, this happened against the backdrop of allegations of unfair litigation involving Russian oligarchs after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), which regulates solicitors in England and Wales, has announced that it is investigating 40 cases of alleged strategic lawsuits against public participation (Slapps).
– “There are serious concerns that lawyers are making unsubstantiated claims on behalf of oligarchs to stifle public discourse about corruption or money laundering,” the report says.
The SRA noted that lawyers are required to report potential Slapps to the regulator. The inspection of 25 firms revealed three cases where lawyers failed to report potentially illegal litigation.
One alleged Slapps case being investigated by the SRA is the actions of a London law firm on behalf of Wagner PMC owner Yevgeny Prigozhin. His terrorist organization has been accused of human rights abuses and the killing of civilians in Mali and the Central African Republic. He also plays an increasingly important role in Putin’s war against Ukraine.
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This is a case of Discreet Law, a firm founded by British lawyer Roger Gerson, namely Prigozhin’s lawsuit against Elliot Higgins, a journalist and founder of the journalistic organization Bellingcat, which reported on his ties to Wagner’s PMC.
The case was dismissed by the High Court in London, and Higgins’ lawyers later complained to the SRA that it was a Slapps lawsuit. According to the Financial Times, Discreet Law stopped representing Prigozhin in March 2022.
Discreet Law also acted in a defamation case against Anar Makhmudov and Nargiz Makhmudova, children of former Azerbaijani Security Minister Eldar Makhmudov. They sought to sue a Spanish journalist and five Spanish media outlets for defamation over “allegations about the origin of the family wealth.” A London judge said that the court had no jurisdiction to hear the suit.
Gerson has also worked with Mikhail Fridman and Petr Aven to challenge EU sanctions imposed on them over Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has prompted increased scrutiny of the services offered by UK-based legal advisors. British MPs and transparency campaigners have raised concerns about the abuse of golden visa schemes, which typically allow wealthy investors to apply for citizenship in exchange for investment.
A solicitor is a category of lawyer in the United Kingdom who prepares court papers for cases handled by barristers, who are higher-ranking lawyers. Solicitors also work as legal advisers to various organizations and are authorized to conduct court cases in lower courts.
