Invalid marriages and non-qualifying ceremonies: Tousi – Law & Religion UK

Posted October 3rd, 2023 in foreign jurisdictions, landlord & tenant, marriage, news, Ukraine by sally

‘In Tousi v Gaydukova [2023] EWHC 404 (Fam), Mr Tousi was an Iranian national and Ms Gaydukova a Ukrainian: both had UK citizenship. They were married at the Iranian Embassy in Kyiv in 1997 but the marriage was not “registered” with the Ukrainian state authorities. According to Ms Gaydukova, they were well aware of the need to register and on three occasions she attempted to do so, but Mr Tousi refused to cooperate. Mr Tousi argued that “he chose not to register the marriage because he saw it as a celebratory social event in which he was uninterested”.’

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Law & Religion UK, 2nd October 2023

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

UK to declare Wagner group a terrorist organisation – The Guardian

Posted September 6th, 2023 in government departments, news, proscribed organisations, Russia, terrorism, Ukraine, war by sally

‘The Wagner mercenary group will be declared a terrorist organisation, the Home Office has announced.’

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The Guardian, 5th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Emphasis on sanctions compliance legal advice record-keeping under new licence – OUT-LAW.com

‘The UK government has granted a general licence to enable UK lawyers to provide legal advice to non-UK individuals and businesses in relation to their compliance with international sanctions on Russia, without breaching UK sanctions regulations themselves.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 22nd August 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Abramovich ally begins high court challenge against UK sanctions – The Guardian

‘Eugene Shvidler, a longtime ally of the billionaire Roman Abramovich, has accused the UK government of “oppressive treatment” as he launched a legal challenge against sanctions imposed upon him after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.’

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The Guardian, 20th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ban on providing legal advisory services to Russians comes into force – Legal Futures

Posted June 30th, 2023 in barristers, legal profession, legal services, news, Russia, sanctions, Ukraine, war by tracey

‘A ban on UK lawyers providing “legal advisory services” to Russians comes into force today as the government ratchets up sanctions following the Ukraine invasion yet further.’

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Legal Futures, 30th June 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

BSB survey of sanctions compliance at the Commercial Bar finds good levels of compliance but room for improvement in some areas – Bar Standards Board

Posted June 30th, 2023 in barristers, news, Russia, sanctions, Ukraine, war by tracey

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today published a thematic review of sanctions compliance focused on 31 chambers that are members of the Commercial Bar Association. The BSB generally found that barristers were aware of the risks of unwittingly engaging with a designated person without a licence and that they were taking a cautious approach to compliance. We also found examples of good practice which we would encourage all barristers and their chambers or entity staff to consider regardless of their area of practice.’

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Bar Standards Board, 28th June 2023

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Russian racing driver in High Court bid to get sanctions lifted – The Independent

Posted May 4th, 2023 in news, Russia, sanctions, sport, Ukraine by tracey

‘Russian racing driver Nikita Mazepin has begun a High Court fight with British government ministers after being made subject to sanctions in the wake of Russia‘s invasion of Ukraine.’

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The Independent, 3rd May 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

UK to clamp down on sanctions loopholes used by Wagner group head – The Guardian

Posted March 31st, 2023 in costs, defamation, media, news, Russia, sanctions, Ukraine, war by sally

‘UK ministers have tightened up sanctions rules to avoid a repeat of a recent controversy in which lawyers acting for the head of the Wagner group obtained an exemption from curbs to sue a British journalist.’

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The Guardian, 30th March 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

New Judgment: The Law Debenture Trust Corporation plc v Ukraine (acting upon the instructions of the Cabinet Ministers of Ukraine) [2023] UKSC 11 – UKSC Blog

Posted March 16th, 2023 in banking, contracts, duress, international law, loans, news, Russia, Supreme Court, Ukraine by sally

‘This appeal arises out of a contractual dispute between Ukraine and the Law Debenture Trust Corporation plc (“the Trustee””), acting on behalf of the Russian Federation (“Russia”).’

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UKSC Blog, 15th March 2023

Source: ukscblog.com

Striking a balance on student migration to the UK – EIN Blog

Posted February 14th, 2023 in education, Hong Kong, news, statistics, Ukraine, universities, visas by sally

‘Net migration into the UK was 504,000 between June 2021 and June 2022, far higher than the previous record of 330,00. While the single biggest factor behind the rise in net migration was the new visas open to Ukrainians and BN(O) passport-holders from Hong Kong, it is the increase in the numbers coming to the UK on student visas that is the potential target of a government crackdown. Alan Manning argues that further research in this area is urgently needed.’

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EIN Blog, 14th February 2023

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Court can enter judgment in favour of sanctioned Russian party – Legal Futures

Posted February 1st, 2023 in banking, dispute resolution, fraud, news, Russia, sanctions, Ukraine, war by sally

‘The UK sanctions regime does not block the courts from entering judgments in favour of a party on the sanctions list, the High Court has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 1st February 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Ukraine war ‘opening eyes’ to need to reform England’s libel laws, says lawyer – The Guardian

Posted February 1st, 2023 in barristers, defamation, freedom of expression, media, news, Russia, Ukraine, war by sally

‘Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has helped “open eyes” to the idea of reforming England’s increasingly draconian libel and privacy laws, according to one of the country’s leading media advocates.’

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The Guardian, 31st January 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

London to host major international meeting on war crimes – Ministry of Justice

‘Justice ministers from around the world will convene in London in March to support the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigating alleged war crimes in Ukraine.’

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Ministry of Justice, 7th January 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

UK law firms banned from handling transactional work for Russians – Legal Futures

‘UK law firms will be unable to provide “transactional legal advisory services” to Russians after the government ratcheted up the sanctions regime yet further.’

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Legal Futures, 3rd October 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Row over UK child visas as Ukrainian violinist’s three-month wait continues – The Guardian

Posted July 11th, 2022 in asylum, children, government departments, immigration, news, refugees, Russia, Ukraine, visas, war by tracey

‘A talented 17-year-old violinist living on the frontline in south-east Ukraine has been left waiting three months for a British visa, revealing serious flaws in government promises to help unaccompanied children.’

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The Guardian, 10th July 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

London Metal Exchange sued for $456m over cancelled nickel trades – BBC News

Posted June 6th, 2022 in banking, compensation, financial regulation, news, Russia, Ukraine, war by tracey

The London Metal Exchange (LME) has been sued for $456m (£365m) by fund manager Elliott Associates following the suspension and cancellation of nickel trades earlier this year. The claim was filed in the English High Court against the trading platform and its subsidiary LME Clear.’

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BBC News, 6th June 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Wimbledon ban on Russian players raises equality law questions – OUT-LAW.com

‘The recent move to ban Russian and Belarussian players from participating in this year’s Wimbledon Championships brings into focus the role of the Equality Act 2010 (“the Act”) in sport.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 27th May 2022

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

International law should be applied to cyberspace, Attorney General to say – The Independnet

‘International law should be applied to cyberspace to make it clear when a nation state has acted unlawfully and what action can be legally taken in response to a cyberattack, the Attorney General will say.’

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The Independent, 19th May 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

UK lawyers still able to work for Russian clients despite new services sanctions – The Guardian

Posted May 5th, 2022 in export controls, legal services, news, Russia, sanctions, Ukraine, war crimes by sally

‘The UK has said it will ban the export of services including accountancy, consultancy and PR advice to Russia in the latest attempt to isolate the country’s economy after the invasion of Ukraine – but lawyers will still be able to service Russian clients.’

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The Guardian, 4th May 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK’s visa schemes ‘creating and heightening’ trafficking and exploitation risks – The Independent

‘The UK’s visa schemes for Ukrainian refugees are “lacking in clarity, resourcing and accountability” and are heightening the risk of trafficking and exploitation, according to a report.’

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The Independent, 29th April 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk