The Ministry of Revenue and Duties of Ukraine Has Begun Legal Process in the USA and Switzerland to Protect the Interests of the Ukraine State in Relation to Over US$200m

LONDON, Nov. 4, 2013 /CNW/ - The Ministry of Revenue and Duties of Ukraine has begun legal process in the United States of America and in Switzerland to protect the interests of the Ukraine State in relation to over US$200 million, which is believed to have been misappropriated by persons including the two former Ukrainian Prime Ministers, Yulia Tymoshenko and Pavlo Lazarenko. The unlawful actions of the individuals involved in the alleged misappropriation have already been in the past the subject of criminal investigations or proceedings in the USA, Switzerland and Ukraine.

The Ministry has instructed international law firm Lawrence Graham to act as lead counsel in co-ordinating the anticipated claims in a number of jurisdictions worldwide and to take all steps necessary to best protect the Ukraine State's interest. The Lawrence Graham London team is being led by Senior Partner and Head of Fraud and Asset Recovery, Andrew Witts. The London team also includes Senior Associate Alex Jay together with Vuyelwa Chigaru and Oksana Howard.

Andrew Witts confirms: "We are pleased to have been instructed in this important case and we believe that our network of fraud and asset recovery lawyers around the world enables us to bring the right expertise together for an assignment of this nature."

Lawrence Graham is well known for running large complex international asset recovery cases and most recently was successful in a landmark case advising the Federal Republic of Brazil and the Municipality of Sao Paulo in proceedings against two British Virgin Island companies closely connected to the former Mayor of the City of Sao Paulo, Paulo Maluf. The Maluf case continues to be an important case in Brazil, marking the authorities' increased stance in dealing with political corruption. Separately, Lawrence Graham is also part of the legal team advising Grant Thornton, the Liquidators of Stanford International Bank in Antigua, in relation to the collapsed Ponzi scheme run by the disgraced Allen Stanford.

SOURCE: Lawrence Graham

Andrew Witts, Senior Partner, Lawrence Graham - [phone] / [email protected] ; Chris Bond, Senior Communications Manager, Lawrence Graham - [phone] / [phone] / [email protected]