Certain London solicitors and, to a lesser extent, commercial barristers, are coming in for a lot of criticism at the moment for having acted for oligarchs who are Vladimir Putin’s know supporters and associates. For the most part, the criticisms are not that the lawyers did anything unlawful or unprofessional but simply that they were conduits that enabled these oligarchs to shelter their funds in London, protect their reputations and fight their cases in our courts. I have seen it argued that everybody is entitled to legal representation and that includes Putin’s cronies. It would be unarguable that if anyone of these individuals found themselves facing criminal charges, they should have legal assistance and the lawyers who provide that assistance should not face criticism.
However, that is not the position here. Every intelligent person with an interest in current affairs knows that certain individuals made billions on the breakdown of Soviet Russia as Yeltsin and then Putin gave away state assets at knockdown prices to their associates or to those who promised undying loyalty. This was venality and corruption of the highest order and the proceeds of those crimes passed through the client accounts of London firms to buy football clubs, mansions and luxury yachts. There were no problems with money laundering legislation because, as everybody knows, that has been a ridiculous tick box affair.
Thereafter, it was not so much any high principle of access to justice that prompted firms to act for oligarchs but very large dollar signs.
Finally, I am fed up with people crowing about how popular the London courts and arbitration tribunals are with foreign litigants. It is true that, in the former case, they will get impartial justice and, in the latter, discretion but the use of our system by what can only be described as crooks and the friends of tyrants soils our hands and, equally as bad, means that UK businesses have to wait for years for their cases to be heard or get shunted off to a county court, which might as well eb the Bermuda Triangle.