Russian Oligarch’s Ex-Wife Who Won £450m Divorce Settlement Sues Her Lawyer for £2m

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Russian Oligarch’s Ex-Wife Who Won £450m Divorce Settlement Sues Her Lawyer for £2m

Tatiana Soroka, the ex-wife of Russian oligarch Farkhad Akhmedov, is launching a high-stakes legal battle against her former lawyers, which includes renowned divorce solicitor, Baroness Fiona Shackleton, at Payne Hicks Beach (PHB). Soroka, who was awarded a staggering £453 million in her divorce settlement, now claims that professional negligence on the behalf of PHB’s lawyers, who represented her in her divorce, has prevented her from securing a higher settlement, referring in particular to her billionaire ex-husband’s prized asset—the £200 million superyacht named Luna.

In 2016, Soroka secured one of the largest divorce payouts in British legal history after splitting from Akhmedov, a former Russian politician and oil magnate. However, despite the enormous win, Soroka has since made claims that PHB failed to act on a crucial opportunity to impound Luna, which was docked in Miami for several months in 2017. The yacht, originally built for Roman Abramovich, the former owner of Cheslea Premier League football club, features two helipads, a swimming pool, and even a mini-submarine, making it a highly valuable asset in the divorce proceedings.

Soroka argues that she explicitly instructed her legal team to explore options for seizing Luna, a move that could have significantly increased her financial pay out in the divorce, but that they entirely ignored her request. However, PHB have been adamant in asserting that Soroka never expressed in interest in pursuing the yacht, or gave them clear instructions to do so at any point. PHB also argues that if they had sought advice on how to pursue the yacht without Soroka’s explicit instructions, they would have breached confidentiality and legal ethics.

Despite these denials, Soroka maintains that PHB’s failure to act on seizing the yacht amounted to professional negligence, costing her millions. As a result, she is now suing the firm for damages, and the cost of her legal fees to execute this is estimated to come to nothing short of £2 million total. The upcoming trial, set for autumn 2026, promises to be a legal spectacle, news of which has already spread like wildfire within the legal world.

Now embroiled in the legal debacle, Baroness Shackleton, who is known for her high-profile clientele including King Charles and Sir Paul McCartney, may well see her formidable reputation as a divorce lawyer challenged if the case goes in Soroka’s favour. Should this happen, the result could also ‘open the floodgates’ for other wealthy divorcees to sue their lawyers over missed opportunities in financial settlements.

The case raises broader questions about the legal system’s role in ensuring that divorce settlements are fully enforced. If Soroka had successfully seized Luna, her financial position today may well have been significantly different. This legal battle will not only determine whether or not PHB failed in its duties to Soroka as a client, but it may also shape the future of how high-net-worth divorces are handled in court.

At Grayfords, our expert family law solicitors are experienced in high-net worth divorces, with a particular speciality in international financial and child arrangements. If you would like to find out more about how we can help with your divorce, don’t hesitate to call us on 020 7100 6100 and book your free consultation today.

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