Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

English Commercial Court rejects jurisdiction challenge; enforcement of Russian judgment may proceed despite Russian bankruptcy under modified universalism, preventing ring‑fencing of English immovables

Published on: 29 May 2025

Published by a Law360 reporter

Legal News

Article summary

Judge Mark Pelling held that Dimitrios Somovidis cannot ‘ring‑fence’ elements of his worldwide assets by contending that Beograd Innovation Ltd is barred from suing him in England due to Russian bankruptcy proceedings begun by a predecessor of the claimant. The judgment records an ongoing dispute between the parties over two ‘significant properties’ in England, including, notably, Somovidis’ longstanding family residence. In a 27 May 2025 statement, Steptoe International (UK) LLP, acting for Beograd Innovation, welcomed the refusal of Somovidis’ bid to contest the English Court’s jurisdiction to hear the case and expressed satisfaction with the outcome. Steptoe noted that the decision affirms key legal principles on the enforcement of foreign judgments in England, notably in circumstances where defendants have moved here and possess assets within this jurisdiction. The Court, it said, rightly acknowledged that their client should not be deprived of recourse to the English courts to enforce its Russian judgment, particularly in light of legal limitations that would stop the Russian bankruptcy receiver from pursuing immovable assets in particular, Steptoe added...

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