Senior Conservative Lord David Wolfson is facing intense pressure and demands to resign from the Opposition frontbench after it was revealed he is providing legal counsel to sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.
Shadow Cabinet Member in Legal Firestorm
The controversy erupted when the Ukraine Solidarity Campaign (USC) publicly raised the alarm. The group expressed "fury" upon learning that the Tory Shadow Attorney General is a member of Abramovich's legal team. This revelation comes just days after the UK Government, led by Sir Keir Starmer, issued a direct ultimatum to the billionaire.
Abramovich has been told he must hand over more than £2.5 billion – the proceeds from the 2022 sale of Chelsea Football Club – for the benefit of the Ukrainian people, or face legal action. The funds are currently frozen in a UK bank account amid a dispute over their use.
A Tangled Web of Legal Battles and Political Questions
Lord Wolfson is instructed in a separate, ongoing legal case in Jersey, where authorities are investigating the source of over £5.3 billion in assets linked to Abramovich. It is understood that Abramovich's position is that the transfer of assets to Ukraine cannot proceed until the Jersey proceedings conclude.
In a scathing letter to Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, Labour's Justice Minister Jake Richards argued that Lord Wolfson's "ability to advise... is clearly compromised" because he is being paid by Abramovich. Richards stated that while the 'cab rank rule' for barristers is important, it "cannot remove conflicts of interest" for a serving politician.
The USC posed sharp questions about the Conservative Party's direction, asking if this indicated a return to "business as usual" with Russia or an alignment with Reform UK's stance. The campaign group called for emergency legislation to stop sanctioned individuals from delaying accountability through the courts.
Conservatives Hit Back at "Pure Politics"
The Conservative Party has robustly defended Lord Wolfson and dismissed Labour's criticisms. A party spokesman clarified that Lord Wolfson is not instructed on the Chelsea FC matter, only on the Jersey case, and branded Labour's attack as "pure politics".
The spokesman accused Labour of hypocrisy, pointing out that the government's own Attorney General has acted for controversial clients in the past. "The Conservative Party led the way on supporting Ukraine and we remain committed to their cause. To suggest anything else is just Labour sinking to new depths," the statement concluded.
The row highlights the difficult intersection of legal professional obligations and political roles, set against the backdrop of ongoing efforts to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine's defence and recovery.
