Labour Criticises Conservative Shadow Attorney General Lord Wolfson Over Representation of Sanctioned Russian Billionaire Abramovich
Labour has criticised Conservative shadow attorney general Lord Wolfson for representing Roman Abramovich, a Russian billionaire who was sanctioned after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in March 2022.
Justice Minister Jack Richards stated that it is indefensible for Wolfson to remain on the frontbench while representing Abramovich, warning that it risks a conflict of interest. Richards also highlighted that the ongoing court case in Jersey, where Wolfson is involved in a legal battle over the frozen funds from the Chelsea football club sale, has delayed the transfer of sale proceeds. The government wants these funds to be used for victims of the war in Ukraine.
The Jersey courts have frozen more than £5.3 billion of Abramovich's assets after the Jersey government began investigating the source of his funds in April 2022, leading to a long-running legal dispute. While the sale proceeds of Chelsea remain frozen in a British bank and legally belong to Abramovich under sanctions, Labour leader Keir Starmer recently urged Abramovich to pay the funds or face court action.
Richards acknowledged that the cab rank rule—requiring barristers to take cases—is applicable but argued it cannot remove conflicts of interest. He contended that Wolfson's paid representation compromises his ability to advise on this matter. However, a Conservative spokesperson defended Wolfson, stating he is involved in ongoing Jersey court proceedings rather than the Chelsea sale issue, and dismissed Labour's accusations as hypocritical.
Lord Wolfson has served as shadow attorney general since November 2024.
