Vladimir Potanin Natalia Potanina divorce could be the most expensive in history
Russia’s richest man, Vladimir Potanin, lost a legal struggle with his ex -wife and paved the way for mining assets to make a claim for billions of dollars in one of the world’s largest divorces.
Vladimir Potanin’s ex -wife is looking for half of his shares in Norilsk Norilsk Nickel PJSC.Credit: Bloomberg
Natalia Potanina gained permission to file a lawsuit in London up to $ 9 billion ($ 13.8 billion) at some point. In a decision on Thursday, the judges in the appeal court said that there was a “real and meaningful connection with the UK and that he could now make a complete claim in an British court.
Potanina, since he opened his case almost seven years ago, the case has shook back and forth, and a sub -court said that Potanina’s British courts tried “divorce tourism ı to take advantage of the“ more generous approach ”. The couple lived in Russia during their marriage before Potanina bought a house in Westminster in 2014.
Considering the length of Potanina’s billionaire wealthy and 31 -year marriage, the Lower Court judges said that he had received the Pal PalTry Award ındaki in previous Russian divorce procedures. According to the Bloomberg billionaire index, Potanin has collected approximately $ 31.7 billion ($ 48.7 billion) from MMC Nickel PJSC, one of the world’s largest palladium manufacturer and largest refined nickel manufacturers.
Frances Hughes, a lawyer representing Potanina, said after the decision, he said, “The case can now be solved and can be concluded without delay,” he said. Potanin’s lawyers refrained from commenting.
Potanin was approved by the United States and Britain after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and remained. However, most of its reserves are now organized within the country after some companies, including the main holding Interros for their assets, to Russia. This means that Potanina is potentially confronted with steep obstacles to demand important assets from an international court decision.
Russian President Vladimir Putin left, and Vladimir Potanin congratulates each other after a Hockey match in Moscow in 2018.Credit: AP
Nevertheless, the decision will provide a new life to one of the highest profile claims for decades and will also give some courage to other spouses in overseas divorce cases. The divorce courts of London have been a popular place for high valuable legal struggles, and judges are typically prepared to order a more equal share of a couple’s existence.
Jake Mitchell, a lawyer at Freeths, said, “As family lawyers, we often call London as ‘the capital of the world’ the world of divorce – and it shows the reason for this decision.” “The courts will not allow unfair overseas settlements to remain indisputable in places where there is a real connection to England. This is not about opening the flood doors, but about ensuring that spouses have a fair result.”
