The Labour Party has levied criticism against Conservative shadow attorney general Lord Wolfson for his legal representation of sanctioned Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.
Justice Minister Jake Richards deemed it “indefensible” for Lord Wolfson to maintain his position on the Tory frontbench while simultaneously representing Mr. Abramovich, citing potential conflicts of interest.
In response, the Conservative Party dismissed the remarks as “pure politics” and a “baseless smear,” asserting that “barristers act for clients, not causes.”
Lord Wolfson is part of the legal team representing the former owner of Chelsea Football Club in his ongoing legal dispute with the Jersey government.
Mr. Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK government in March 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The oligarch, who amassed his wealth in the oil and gas sector, is alleged to have close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, allegations he denies.
Over £5.3 billion in assets linked to Mr. Abramovich have been frozen by courts in Jersey since the imposition of sanctions.
In April 2022, the Jersey government initiated an investigation to ascertain the origin of the funds, leading to a protracted legal battle.
The Justice Minister contends that the case is impeding the transfer of funds from Mr. Abramovich’s sale of Chelsea FC, which the government intends to allocate to victims of the war in Ukraine.
In 2022, Mr. Abramovich stated that the £2.5 billion he received from the sale should be used for “all victims of the war,” indicating that Russians could also be beneficiaries.
In a letter to Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, Minister Richards stated, “Mr. Abramovich’s position is that the transfer of funds cannot be completed until the conclusion of the court case in Jersey, in which Lord Wolfson is representing him.”
“As Shadow Attorney General, Lord Wolfson plays a vital role in shaping Conservative Party policy.”
“As a paid representative of Mr. Abramovich, he has a financial stake in the question of whether and when Mr. Abramovich’s assets are transferred to benefit the people of Ukraine.”
In his letter, the minister raised several questions, including whether Lord Wolfson played a role in formulating the party’s stance on transferring funds from the Chelsea FC sale and whether he disclosed any potential conflict of interest or recused himself from the process.
Richards stated that the “cab rank rule,” which stipulates that a barrister must accept any case within their area of expertise regardless of the client, “should always be respected, but it cannot remove conflicts of interest or eliminate the responsibility of politicians to avoid such conflicts.”
He added, “Lord Wolfson’s ability to advise you on this matter is clearly compromised by the fact that he is being paid to act on behalf of Mr. Abramovich.”
“If he wishes to continue representing clients whose interests directly affect the policies of the government and HM opposition, that is his prerogative – but he cannot do so while serving in your shadow cabinet.”
In response, a Conservative Party spokesperson stated, “Lord Wolfson is instructed in ongoing legal proceedings in Jersey. He is not instructed on the Chelsea FC matter.”
“Jake Richards’ comments are purely political and demonstrate that Labour still does not understand how the Bar functions. Barristers act for clients, not causes.”
The spokesperson accused Labour of “rank hypocrisy,” pointing out that Attorney General Lord Hermer, the government’s chief legal advisor, previously represented former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams before assuming his ministerial role.
They added, “The Conservative Party has been at the forefront of supporting Ukraine, and we remain committed to their cause. Any suggestion to the contrary is simply Labour sinking to new lows.”
The release of funds from the sale of Chelsea FC, which are currently frozen in a British bank account, has been delayed due to a disagreement over how they should be utilized.
Mr. Abramovich cannot access the funds due to UK sanctions, but the proceeds from the Chelsea sale still legally belong to him.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urged the oligarch to “pay up now” or face legal action.
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