Baker McKenzie has successfully defended the interests of Prandicle Limited, a company owned by former Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister and former Naftogaz CEO Oleh Dubyna, in the English Commercial Court, against proprietary and unjust enrichment claims.
According to Baker McKenzie, "following an eight week trial in October and November 2019, all claims against Prandicle were dismissed by Mr. Justice Picken on 14 July 2020. Prandicle’s costs of the litigation are to be paid on an indemnity basis by Mr. Sergiy Taruta and his corporate vehicles, reflecting the unsatisfactory and dishonest manner in which they pursued the claims against Prandicle."
The case, worth several billion dollars and involving claims brought under both Ukrainian and English law, arose out of the separation of the joint business interests of three Ukrainian businessmen.
The Baker McKenzie team was led by London-based Partner Hugh Lyons, supported by Senior Associates Ben Ko and Anjuli Patel and Associate Emma Brown. The team also included Kiev-based Partner Ihor Siusel and Associate Olesya Omelyanovich. The counsel team was led by Stephen Smith QC of Erskine Chambers, supported by Peter Ratcliffe of 3 Verulam Buildings.
