In a recent article by Jonathan Ames, Legal Editor for The Times, the impact of sanctions on Russian litigants in the London commercial court is examined. The report indicates a significant drop in Russian cases and a decrease in the percentage of Russian litigants instructing lawyers.
Hugo Plowman, Chair of the Dispute Resolution department Mishcon de Reya, commented on the situation, noting the substantial effect of the sanctions regime on legal work involving wealthy Russians. He said: "If there’s a choice for some Russian litigants, they may now be deciding to go elsewhere or opting for confidential arbitration, their participation in which is much harder to track."
The article also discusses the challenges faced by City law firms, including issues with professional indemnity insurance and difficulties in receiving payments due to banking restrictions. Despite these hurdles, London continues to be an international legal hub, with a record number of nationalities represented in the English commercial courts last year.
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