The decision in Fiona Trust v Privalov [2016] EWHC 2163 (Comm) (noted in this blog here) has been upheld in the Court of Appeal: see SCF Tankers Ltd & Ors v Privalov [2017] EWCA Civ 1877. Readers will remember that Russian shipping conglomerate SCF (aka Sovcomflot, previously Fiona) sued another Russian businessman for serious money, alleging that he had bribed its officers to enter into all sorts of disadvantageous agreements, and in support of the action got a freezing order for something over half-a-billion dollars. Having recovered a measly $16 million, it was then hit by Males J with an order on its undertaking in damages amounting to something close to $50 million — a costly victory indeed. Little of substance to report about the CA decision: it essentially approved the findings below on causation and mitigation. Males J’s judgment, and our blog post, remain the go-to place for detailed discussion of the principles to be applied.
Getting a freezing order can damage your wallet — official
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Professor Andrew Tettenborn
Professor Andrew Tettenborn joined Swansea Law School and the Institute of International Shipping and Trade Law in 2010 having previously taught at the universities of Exeter (Bracton Professor of Law 1996-2010), Nottingham and Cambridge. Professor Tettenborn is a well-known scholar both in common law and continental jurisdictions. He has held visiting positions at Melbourne University, the University of Connecticut and at Case Law School, Cheveland, Ohio. He is author and co-author of books on torts, damages and maritime law, and of numerous articles and chapters on aspects of common law, commercial law and restitution. View all posts by Professor Andrew Tettenborn