The shadow attorney general, David Wolfson KC, has formally stepped back from providing legal advice to Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch on matters concerning Ukraine and Russia. This recusal follows revelations that the senior barrister and Conservative peer is part of the legal team representing sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.
Conflict of Interest Over Abramovich Representation
David Wolfson is currently engaged in a court case attempting to recover billions in frozen assets owned by Roman Abramovich in the Channel Islands. Abramovich, the former owner of Chelsea Football Club, was sanctioned by the UK government following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
During Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer directly challenged Kemi Badenoch on the arrangement. He questioned how someone advising a figure "trying to escape sanctions" could simultaneously shape the Conservative party's policy on supporting Ukraine.
A spokesperson for Badenoch confirmed the recusal, stating it was "standard practice." They emphasised that Wolfson does not sit in the shadow cabinet and clarified that the Jersey case is a separate legal jurisdiction. Consequently, it has no bearing on the release of £2.5 billion from Abramovich's sale of Chelsea, which the UK government intends to use for Ukrainian reconstruction.
Implications for Military Deployment Advice
The spokesperson confirmed that Wolfson's recusal explicitly prevents him from advising on the potential future deployment of UK troops to Ukraine, should a ceasefire with Russia be established. However, they noted this was not an immediate concern, as no detailed plans for such a deployment currently exist.
The Conservative leader's team moved to downplay any practical impact, highlighting that other shadow ministers with legal backgrounds could provide counsel. They pointed to former corporate solicitor Robert Jenrick, fraud-specialist barrister Victoria Atkins, and shadow solicitor general Helen Grant, a former solicitor.
Labour's Criticism and Tory Counter-Attack
Labour has maintained that Wolfson's work for Abramovich while serving as a shadow minister creates an unacceptable conflict of interest. This criticism comes despite the Conservatives having frequently criticised the current Labour government's attorney general, Richard Hermer KC, for his past legal work.
Hermer has previously represented clients such as former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams and Shamima Begum. In defence of Wolfson, Badenoch's spokesperson drew a distinction between representing a "case" and a "cause." They argued that Wolfson is simply acting as a lawyer on a specific case, whereas they accused Hermer of having campaigned for the wider causes behind his cases. When pressed for examples of these causes, the spokesperson said they did not have any "to hand."
The row underscores the ongoing political battles over the professional backgrounds of legal figures in both major parties, with each side accusing the other of hypocrisy while defending their own appointments.
