The Wife of Oligarch Potanin Won a Court Case in London: Now She Claims $6 Billion.

The Court Victory of the Wife of the Russian Oligarch

According to The Sun: The ex-wife of the Russian oligarch won a six-year battle to have her divorce case heard in English courts.

Natalia Potanina received an important ruling from the Court of Appeal on Thursday, allowing her to sue her ex-husband, billionaire Vladimir Potanin, whose wealth is estimated at around £15.7 billion.

Alamy Alamy Getty

Potanin is considered the second richest man in Russia and a close friend of Vladimir Putin due to their shared love of hockey.

He is the CEO of Norilsk Nickel, the world's largest producer of palladium and a major player in the nickel market.

However, in 2022, he was sanctioned by the UK and the US following Putin's brutal invasion of Ukraine.

A Long Road to Divorce

The couple married in Russia in 1983, where they lived throughout their marriage and raised three children. Their divorce became contentious, as Potanin claims the marriage ended in 2007.

In contrast, Potanina is confident that they merely separated in 2013, with a Russian court officially finalizing the divorce a year later.

Vladimir previously stated that their marriage ended when over tea he informed her of his intention to marry a younger colleague.

“At first I thought it was a poorly worded joke, but then I was told that I 'did not need money' when it came to financial settlement,”

she added.

The pair met at university in the 1970s when Russia was still under communism. Potanina claims her husband built his wealth only after their marriage and that she supported him throughout his career.

Despite his £15 billion, Potanina received only £30.9 million in Russian courts – less than one percent of the family fortune. Her lawyers argue that the claimant actually received around £63 million, but she insists that this amount does not cover even a part of their assets.

A New Hearing in London

After many years of legal disputes, Potanina has obtained the right to sue in London for financial relief, which could become the world's largest divorce.

She is claiming half of her ex-husband's shares in Norilsk Nickel and half of the dividends from those shares since 2014.

Additionally, she aims to obtain half the value of the luxurious Moscow estate known as “Autumn House,” on which the couple spent about £111 million. Overall, she likely hopes to secure around £5 billion.

At the center of previous disputes was the family house in Nemchinovo, 17 miles west of Moscow, where they lived with their children – daughter Anastasia and sons Ivan and Vasily.

Also in contention were two super yachts, including “Anastasia,” named after their daughter, and “Nirvana.”

Potanina's legal team stated that she earned her share of the wealth through many years of marriage and was the “primary caregiver” for their children.

“The previous rejection of her case was incompatible and illogical,”

said her lawyer Charles Howard.

Potanin's lawyers argue that the couple had no connections to jurisdiction during the marriage and that Potanina is only recently and marginally associated with England.

The London Supreme Court initially dismissed her claim in 2019, warning that such a move could lead to “unlimited” divorce tourism. This decision was overturned in 2021 by the Court of Appeal, but Potanin won a narrow victory 3-2 in the Supreme Court last year.

Now, judges Lord Justice Moylan, Lady Justice Falk, and Lord Justice Cobb have again sided with Potanina, believing she has “substantial grounds” to continue her claim in England.

Vladimir Potanin and Natalia Potanina on their wedding day in 1983 Getty

The court noted that there was evidence that she “has significantly severed her ties to Russia” and that her connection to the country has become “increasingly tenuous.”

“The disparity between her award regarding marital assets and her husband's share was substantial,”

the judges added.

“The difference between what she received in Russia and what she would have received if the case were heard in this jurisdiction was also significant.”

In 2016, it was reported that Potanina lived “in exile” in central London near Westminster Abbey. She expressed fears about returning to Russia, as her passport could be confiscated.

She also accused her husband of offering her only medical insurance, a driver, and maintenance for their youngest child instead of a fair settlement.

This landmark decision raises concerns that London may become the “divorce capital of the world.”

Lawyer Jennifer Headon pointed out that the Supreme Court has already warned that such a move could open the door to “unlimited” divorce tourism.

Sitali Fontenelle noted that the ruling bolsters the UK's status as the “divorce capital of the world” and leaves the “doors open” for future claims.

Potanina's lawyer, Frances Hughes, called the decision “a second acknowledgement” of her client's case, noting that Potanina was pleased and hopeful that the matter could be “resolved quite quickly.”

AFP Getty This news reveals the current legal and social aspects of Natalia Potanina's divorce process, which may significantly impact divorce practices worldwide. It shows how international courts can resolve property rights issues in such complex cases, especially in the context of sanctions and political circumstances. Proper financial settlements in family matters, particularly in situations involving oligarchs, leave open questions about women's rights in marriage and after divorce.