Yuliya Kupchenko

As a member of the firm's cross-departmental CIS Group, I often work on matters emanating from the CIS region.

I act for clients in high-value, complex commercial and energy disputes, usually with a cross-border element. I have also advised clients in matters concerning civil fraud, breach of fiduciary duties claims, shareholder disputes and contractual disputes, as well as, proceedings brought by the Pension Regulator. My experience includes applying for and responding to injunctions, including Worldwide Freezing Orders and contempt of court proceedings.

My arbitration practice comprises of both international commercial and investment treaty disputes. I have been involved in high profile, ultra-high worth arbitral proceedings under arbitral institutions and rules, including LCIA, ICSID, SCC and UNCITRAL arbitrations.

Recent litigation cases include:

• Successfully representing an ultra-high-net worth client in a Commercial Court claim alleging conspiracy to divert oil monies valued at over USD 350 million (PJSC Tatneft v. Bogolyubov and ors). The dispute involved complicated issues of Russian law, with multiple interlocutory hearings challenging the Court’s jurisdiction, discharge of the worldwide freezing order and security for costs, which culminated in a twelve-week trial being the longest fully remove Commercial Court trial of 2020;  
• Part of a cross-jurisdictional team acting for claimants, the principal heirs of a prominent CIS businessman, in BVI proceedings against the deceased's former business partners and the corporate trustee of an alleged discretionary trust worth over USD 250 million;
• Acting for a former shareholder of a prominent CIS bank in a high profile USD 1.9 billion civil fraud claim pursued by the bank in the Business List of the Business and Property Court. After lengthy interlocutory proceedings concerning, a jurisdiction challenge and a worldwide freezing order, the trial is due to be one of the largest of 2022.

Recent arbitration cases include:

• Acting for Cypriot minority shareholders of a major Ukrainian oil and gas company in an LCIA arbitration claim against a majority shareholder for breaches of a shareholders agreement;
• Representing claimant investors in four interlinked Bilateral Investment Treaty claims under UNCITRAL Rules, with The Hague as the seat, in relation to expropriation of real estate property with a combined claim value of over USD 60 million, involving novel law in investment treaty arbitration; 
• Acting for a Dutch claimant in an investment treaty arbitration against the Ukrainian State, under ICSID Rules in relation to allegations of various breaches in the aviation sector;
• Representing Cypriot claimants in an USD 6.1 billion arbitration claim against the Ukrainian State, under the SCC Rules, pursuant to breaches of the Energy Charter Treaty in relation to investments made into the largest Ukrainian oil and gas company.

I was featured in The Lawyer's Festival of Talent 2021 for my work on PJSC Tatneft v Bogolyubov & Others.

I am a native Russian and Ukrainian speaker.