Former ex-spouse of the sanctioned previous Russian prime minister successfully appeals for divorce decision

Vladimir Potanin's Multi-Billion-Pound Divorce Case Approved for Pursuit in England

In a significant development, the Court of Appeal in England has approved the appeal of Natalia Nikolaevna Potanina, allowing her to pursue her multi-billion-pound divorce case against Vladimir Potanin, the former Prime Minister of Russia.

Potanina, who became a resident of England in January 2016, took her case to the English court, which is widely recognised as the "divorce capital" of the world. The divorce case was initially filed in the High Court in early 2019 under the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984.

The case has been a subject of interest, given Potanin's significant government positions, including his role as the first deputy Prime Minister of Russia from 1996 to 1997, and his status as one of the richest men in Russia, having founded the major management company Interros.

In 2014, Potanina and Potanin divorced in Russia after around thirty years of marriage. The case in England, however, was heard before the court in July, with the Court of Appeal approving Potanina's appeal and granting her leave to pursue her claim in England today.

The decision comes after a series of legal proceedings. In 2019, Potanina's application was granted without notice to Potanin, who later applied to set aside the grant of leave. In November of that year, Mr Justice Cohen set aside the initial grant of leave and dismissed Potanina's renewed application for leave. However, in 2021, Potanina appealed to the Court of Appeal, and her appeal was allowed, reinstating the original grant of leave.

In 2024, Vladimir Potanin successfully appealed to the Supreme Court, which remitted the wife's appeal back to the Court of Appeal for reconsideration. The lawyer advising Natalia Nikolaevna Potanina in the current divorce affair is not publicly disclosed, and the law firm is not specified.

Sarah Jane Lenihan, partner at Dawson Cornwell, noted that few expected this outcome, while Hayley Trim, Partner at Irwin Mitchell, stated that this is a landmark decision that reinforces the role of the English courts in international divorce proceedings. Frances Hughes, partner at Hughes Fowler Carruthers, representing Potanin, stated that the decision of the Court of Appeal is a second vindication of their client's 2019 application.

Lenihan added that the question now is whether it will open the door for others who have divorced overseas to seek a second bite at the cherry in England. It remains to be seen how this high-profile case will unfold in the coming months. Potanin is currently sanctioned by Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Former ex-spouse of the sanctioned previous Russian prime minister successfully appeals for divorce decision