Publication date: 29.04.2025
I am a qualified English solicitor and Ukrainian advocate with nearly 20 years of legal experience, including over 10 years of practice in the United Kingdom. I specialize in international business law, cross-border transactions, complex commercial dispute resolution, and project management. I have deep expertise in corporate, commercial law, and international taxation. I advise HNW clients, international companies, and startups. Education: MBA (Cambridge), LLM in International Taxation (Sweden), legal education (Ukraine).
Initial Information: A client — a large international company with an extensive corporate structure — approached me regarding the protection of significant assets located both in the United Kingdom and abroad (in EU and Asian countries). The total value of the assets under threat exceeded £20 million.
The situation was complicated by the fact that the assets were registered to several legal entities across different jurisdictions, with operational management conducted through trust and holding mechanisms.
Problem: The client detected signs of an attempted hostile takeover of assets, manifested through interference in corporate documentation, initiation of dubious legal proceedings across multiple countries, account freezes, and attempts to change company directors.
There was a real risk of losing control over the companies and halting operational activities. Additionally, there was a danger of individual assets being seized under fictitious lawsuits filed in third countries, potentially leading to multimillion-pound losses.
Solution:
Given the complexity of the situation, I initiated the creation of a legal task force comprising experts from five jurisdictions: the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Singapore, and the UAE.
Together with the engaged advisors, we conducted a full audit of the corporate structure, contracts, financial flows, and ownership chains. Weak points that could be exploited by potential adversaries were identified.
I personally handled the preparation of preventive measures in British courts, including filing applications for injunctions preventing changes in management and re-registration of ownership rights.
Additionally, the following actions were taken:
- freezing of assets in case of a threat of forced alienation;
- updating of corporate documents and charters to minimize external influence risks;
- informing banking institutions about the ongoing dispute to ensure account access was limited to authorized individuals;
- interaction with local registries and anti-corruption authorities to challenge unlawful actions of adversaries.
Client Achievements:
The client received a comprehensive legal asset protection scheme that not only prevented the loss of assets but also strengthened the internal corporate governance structure.
Full control over all accounts was restored, corporate management legitimacy was secured, and any attempts to alter the composition of participants or directors were blocked.
Additionally, court protection mechanisms were established, enabling rapid response to any future attacks across the five jurisdictions involved.
Result:
All attempts at unlawful interference were completely neutralized.
Court decisions and legal actions in key jurisdictions confirmed the legitimacy of the client’s position.
No assets were lost. Moreover, the client managed to restructure part of the corporate setup promptly, enhancing its protection and operational flexibility for the future.
This case serves as an example of how timely legal response and international coordination can save tens of millions worth of assets, even in complex situations involving attacks from multiple directions.
Thanks to a swift legal strategy and international coordination, it was possible not only to prevent the takeover of assets worth over £20 million but also to strengthen the client’s corporate structure. Timely actions ensured full control over the assets, business stability, and effective protection against future risks across various jurisdictions.
