London law firm BCL Solicitors sent letters to Foreign Office on behalf of Russian oligarch

London law firm BCL Solicitors has been named as one of the law firms that sent letters to the Foreign Office, on behalf of Russian oligarchs, seeking to challenge the government’s sanctions regime. 

In a written response to Labour MP Margaret Hodge, Conservative minister James Cleverly said BCL Solicitors had sent letters to the Foreign Office, on behalf of sanctioned Russo-Uzbeki mining billionaire Alisher Usmanov, seeking to challenge the UK government’s sanctions. .

Cleverly also said the government had received letters from lawyers working on behalf of Russia’s state-controlled Sberbank.

The comments come after UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said letters had been sent to the Foreign Office threatening legal action over the government’s sanctions regime. 

Born in Uzbekistan in 1953, Alisher Usmanov built his fortunes following the collapse of the Soviet Union, through his majority stake in Russian mining and steel producer Metalloinvest in the 1990s. 

Prior to becoming a billionaire, Usamanov served six years in prison, on an eight year term for “theft of socialist property”. After leaving prison in 1986, Usamov made money selling cigarettes and manufacturing plastic bags, before 

Today, Usamov holds stakes in social media platforms Facebook and Twitter, and owns Russian newspaper Kommersant. Usmanov also managed Gazprom’s investment arm between 2000 and 2014.  

The comments come after German authorities seized Usmanov’s $600m (£455m) yacht, after the oligarch was hit by US and EU sanctions. 

On its website, London headquartered law firm BCL Solicitors says it offers “discreet, effective and expert advice to a diverse portfolio of clients including corporations, public bodies, public figures, senior executives and high net worth individuals.”

BCL has been approached for comment.