Latest news with #Kobre&Kim
Reuters
3 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
UK threatens to sue Abramovich to release frozen money from Chelsea sale
LONDON, June 3 (Reuters) - The British government has said it is fully prepared to take Russian businessman Roman Abramovich to court to help release frozen funds from his sale of Chelsea soccer club that were intended to help victims of Russia's war in Ukraine. Britain sanctioned Abramovich in a crackdown on Russian oligarchs after Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, triggering a rushed 2.5 billion pound ($3.4 billion) sale of the club on condition that the money would be used to create a humanitarian charity. The money has been frozen in a British bank account because of a disagreement between Abramovich and the government over how the money should be spent, according to people with knowledge of the matter. They said Britain wants the funds spent only in Ukraine in line with a wider European push for Moscow to foot the bill for the deaths and destruction caused by its full-scale invasion but Abramovich wants the money to go to all victims of the war. British finance minister Rachel Reeves and foreign minister David Lammy said in a joint statement the government was ready to take Abramovich to court. "We are deeply frustrated that it has not been possible to reach agreement on this with Mr Abramovich so far," they said. "While the door for negotiations will remain open, we are fully prepared to pursue this through the courts if required, to ensure people suffering in Ukraine can benefit from these proceeds as soon as possible." New York-based law firm Kobre & Kim, which represents Abramovich, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reuters reported in March that Britain was considering legal action over the issue. George Foulkes, a member of parliament's upper house who has campaigned for ways to release the money, said the government may look at ways to use other frozen Russian assets to help victims if a legal route cannot be found to resolve the disagreement. "It is symbolic, and I think if we can do this it would set a precedent, and we could look at all the other money tied up in property, banks and overseas territories," he told Reuters. Chelsea was sold to a consortium led by U.S. investor Todd Boehly and private equity firm Clearlake Capital in May 2022. The sale hinged on Abramovich not benefiting from it. ($1 = 0.7398 pounds)
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Former terrorism prosecutor tapped for high-ranking slot at Manhattan US Attorney's office
NEW YORK — A former terrorism prosecutor has been picked for the No. 2 post at the Manhattan U.S. attorney's office, according to two people familiar with the matter. There, he will occupy a role that is expected to be especially influential because the head of the office has no prosecutorial experience. Sean Buckley's nine years at the office include a role as co-chief of the terrorism and international narcotics unit and winning the conviction of a Saudi who was a high-ranking lieutenant to Osama bin Laden. Now he'll become the office's deputy U.S. attorney, these people said. A spokesperson for the office declined to comment. Buckley, a partner at law firm Kobre & Kim, didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. In his new job, Buckley will work for Jay Clayton, the interim U.S. attorney, who has years of legal and regulatory experience, but none in criminal law. Clayton's gap is unusual for any U.S. attorney, but particularly for one leading arguably the most important federal prosecutorial office in the country — one that oversees Wall Street and regularly prosecutes some of the biggest securities, terrorism and public corruption cases. Buckley will return to an office that is still struggling to stabilize in the wake of the Justice Department's decision to drop one of the office's most prominent prosecutions: the criminal case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. After Justice Department officials ordered the office to dismiss the corruption case against the Democratic mayor, the acting U.S. attorney, Danielle Sassoon, refused to do so, calling the department's rationale improper. Sassoon resigned rather than follow the order, as did several other prosecutors in New York and Washington. Fallout from that episode has continued in recent weeks. Last month, three other Adams prosecutors resigned after accusing the Justice Department of trying to force them to admit wrongdoing in connection with their resistance to dropping the charges. But public corruption prosecutions like the Adams case may not be a priority for the office moving forward, because Justice Department officials have highlighted other areas of focus, including the prosecution of transnational corporations, immigration enforcement and terrorism cases. Those are areas that Buckley — and the recently appointed criminal chief of the office, Amanda Houle — may be well suited to prioritize, since both are alumni of the office's terrorism unit. Carrie Cohen, a former prosecutor in the office, said Buckley's reputation and experience would be particularly helpful to the office in the wake of the Adams conflict. Buckley, she said, 'was well respected in the office and well respected as a defense counsel.'
Politico
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Former terrorism prosecutor tapped for high-ranking slot at Manhattan US Attorney's office
NEW YORK — A former terrorism prosecutor has been picked for the No. 2 post at the Manhattan U.S. attorney's office, according to two people familiar with the matter. There, he will occupy a role that is expected to be especially influential because the head of the office has no prosecutorial experience. Sean Buckley's nine years at the office include a role as co-chief of the terrorism and international narcotics unit and winning the conviction of a Saudi who was a high-ranking lieutenant to Osama bin Laden. Now he'll become the office's deputy U.S. attorney, these people said. A spokesperson for the office declined to comment. Buckley, a partner at law firm Kobre & Kim, didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. In his new job, Buckley will work for Jay Clayton, the interim U.S. attorney, who has years of legal and regulatory experience, but none in criminal law. Clayton's gap is unusual for any U.S. attorney, but particularly for one leading arguably the most important federal prosecutorial office in the country — one that oversees Wall Street and regularly prosecutes some of the biggest securities, terrorism and public corruption cases. Buckley will return to an office that is still struggling to stabilize in the wake of the Justice Department's decision to drop one of the office's most prominent prosecutions: the criminal case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. After Justice Department officials ordered the office to dismiss the corruption case against the Democratic mayor, the acting U.S. attorney, Danielle Sassoon, refused to do so, calling the department's rationale improper. Sassoon resigned rather than follow the order, as did several other prosecutors in New York and Washington. Fallout from that episode has continued in recent weeks. Last month, three other Adams prosecutors resigned after accusing the Justice Department of trying to force them to admit wrongdoing in connection with their resistance to dropping the charges. But public corruption prosecutions like the Adams case may not be a priority for the office moving forward, because Justice Department officials have highlighted other areas of focus, including the prosecution of transnational corporations, immigration enforcement and terrorism cases. Those are areas that Buckley — and the recently appointed criminal chief of the office, Amanda Houle — may be well suited to prioritize, since both are alumni of the office's terrorism unit. Carrie Cohen, a former prosecutor in the office, said Buckley's reputation and experience would be particularly helpful to the office in the wake of the Adams conflict. Buckley, she said, 'was well respected in the office and well respected as a defense counsel.'
