The Conservative Party is facing intense scrutiny and accusations of a clear conflict of interest after it was revealed that one of its senior frontbenchers is acting as a lawyer for sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.
Shadow Cabinet Lawyer in Oligarch's Corner
Lord David Wolfson KC, who serves as the shadow attorney general in Kemi Badenoch's top team, has been instructed in Abramovich's legal battle with the Jersey government. The authorities there are investigating the source of more than £5.3 billion in assets linked to the former Chelsea FC owner, which are held on the island.
The revelation prompted Labour's justice minister, Jake Richards, to write a formal letter to Tory leader Badenoch on Monday. He raised serious concerns about the propriety of a senior opposition legal adviser representing a figure sanctioned by the UK government while simultaneously helping to shape party policy on Russia and Ukraine.
A 'Pathetic' Defence and Demands for Action
In his letter, Mr Richards stated that while he agreed with Lord Wolfson's past assertion that a lawyer should not be judged by their clients, this situation was fundamentally different. The core issue is the potential conflict between his shadow cabinet advisory role and his professional representation of Abramovich.
Richards was scathing in his criticism of the Conservative response, branding it pathetic. He argued that Kemi Badenoch's desperate defence of the arrangement demonstrated weak leadership and judgement. He has called for Lord Wolfson to step down from his shadow cabinet position if he continues to represent the oligarch.
Separately, the UK government is itself pursuing Abramovich for more than £2.5 billion from the 2022 sale of Chelsea Football Club. These funds, intended to aid victims of the war in Ukraine, remain frozen in a UK bank account. A standoff exists because Abramovich's legal team argues the transfer cannot proceed until the Jersey proceedings are concluded. The oligarch has also argued the money should help all war victims, potentially including Russians.
Political Firefight and Broader Concerns
The Conservatives have hit back, dismissing Labour's attack as pure politics. A party spokesperson defended Lord Wolfson, stating: He is not instructed on the Chelsea FC matter. Jake Richards' comments... show Labour still does not understand how the Bar works. Barristers act for clients, not causes.
The controversy has also drawn concern from the Ukraine Solidarity Campaign (USC). The group voiced alarm and called for emergency legislation to stop sanctioned individuals from exploiting the UK legal system to delay accountability. They insisted that the rights of Ukrainian victims must come before the privileges of oligarchs.
Roman Abramovich was forced to sell Chelsea in 2022 after the UK government sanctioned him over his alleged links to Vladimir Putin following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
