Natalia Potanina’s legal battle against Vladimir Potanin, a sanctioned businessman worth an estimated £15.7bn, had already come before the court, in an appeal on procedural grounds in 2019. Ruling last week in Potanina v Potanin No 2 [2025] EWCA Civ 1136, the court looked at the threshold test for leave to bring a claim. It granted Mrs Potanina’s application to bring a claim for financial remedies in this jurisdiction following a divorce and settlement decided after a long marriage in Russia.
Sital Fontenelle, partner and head of family law at Kingsley Napley, said: ‘The Court of Appeal had little difficulty in concluding that Mrs Potanina has solid grounds to bring her application on the basis of her connections to this country and the “limited” view of her husband's assets that was taken in Russia.
‘The court even went so far as to note that it could be argued the size of her award in Russia meant her reasonable needs could not be met. It also observed she had only received a fraction of what she might have received in this country.’
Jake Mitchell, senior associate at Freeths, said: ‘When Natalia Potanina received her (comparatively) modest settlement from the Russian courts, it is no surprise that she sought a do-over in the UK.
‘The courts won’t let unfair overseas settlements go unchallenged where there’s a genuine link to England.’
Peter Burgess, partner at Burgess Mee, said: ‘Mrs Potanina’s $6bn [£4.5bn] claim has been thrown a lifeline, by the Court of Appeal allowing the claim to proceed.
‘Aspiring “divorce tourists” may appreciate the opportunity to demonstrate connection to this country at the substantive hearing, rather than at an earlier stage.’
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