Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 13 NOVEMBER 2026

When Frozen Assets Meet Freezing Orders: Can Sanctioned Parties Obtain Injunctions?

Mishcon de Reya LLP
Mishcon de Reya LLP
Contributor
Mishcon de Reya LLP

Mishcon de Reya LLP

Founded by Lord Mishcon in 1937, in a one-room office in Brixton, Mishcon de Reya now employs over...

View firm profile
Explore more from Mishcon de Reya LLP

Two recent High Court decisions involving VTB Bank, a Russian bank subject to UK sanctions, examine whether freezing orders and disclosure orders constitute "funds" or "economic resources" under UK sanctions law, and explore the practical challenges sanctioned entities face when attempting to provide fortification for cross-undertakings in damages.

United KingdomLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Shaistah Akhtar
Shaistah Akhtar
Frances Beddow
Frances Beddow
Loza Salam
Loza Salam

In brief

  • Two recent High Court decisions involving VTB Bank, a Russian bank subject to UK sanctions, illustrate how UK sanctions can impact the ability of a designated person to obtain a worldwide freezing order ("WFO").
  • Together, the cases confirm that sanctioned litigants can access injunctions as a remedy from the English courts but will not be given any more favourable treatment than a non-sanctioned party, and the practical impact of sanctions can determine whether an otherwise properly obtained injunction survives.

Background: the underlying dispute

VTB Bank obtained a WFO against two Kazakh defendants in aid of substantive proceedings in Russia, who later challenged the order on two fronts.

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

Meta's $18 Billion Settlement: Reckoning Or Managed Exit?

Meta has agreed to pay up to $18 billion over 10 years to settle claims by 52 US state and territory attorneys general in the largest state consumer-protection settlement in American history outside tobacco. The settlement imposes binding child-safety obligations including time limits and age assurance, but leaves the core algorithmic feed unchanged and raises questions about whether this represents genuine accountability or a commercially managed outcome.
United KingdomLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Mishcon de Reya LLP
Mishcon de Reya LLP
Article

Game Developer And Publisher Battle Over Step In Rights

A High Court ruling examines a contentious dispute between a video game developer and publisher over milestone-based funding and "step in" rights for the first-person shooter Six Days in Fallujah. With over $50 million in development costs at stake and allegations of conspiracy to acquire proprietary source code, the court declined to grant either party interim control of the game's development, leaving both sides without the "keys to the kingdom" pending a full trial.
United KingdomLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Lewis Silkin
Lewis Silkin
Article

AI In Court: CJC Issues Final Report On The Use Of AI In Preparing Court Documents

The Civil Justice Council has released its Final Report on AI use in court documents, proposing 15 recommendations that balance innovation with integrity in civil litigation. The report introduces differentiated disclosure requirements for witnesses versus experts, while maintaining existing professional duties for legal representatives in written advocacy.
United KingdomLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Gowling WLG
Gowling WLG
Video

One-Punch Manslaughter – When A Single Blow Kills (Video)

A split-second decision can change lives forever. In one-punch manslaughter cases, a single impulsive blow, perhaps thrown in anger, fear or misguided bravado, leads to a tragic death. These ‘death by a single punch’ incidents are more common in the UK than many realise. Dozens of families every year are left devastated, with one family grieving an unimaginable loss, and another family shocked and fearful as their loved one faces a homicide investigation for an outcome no one intended. It’s a tragic reality, one moment of anger, one fatal assault involving a single blow, and two lives (and families) ruined.
United KingdomLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Olliers Solicitors
Olliers Solicitors
Article

LNG Charterparty Hire Formula: Meaning Of JKM–TTF Pricing Spread

The Commercial Court ruled on a USD 29 million dispute over an LNG carrier charterparty's index-linked pricing formula, determining whether the "JKM-TTF spread" operated bidirectionally or only when JKM exceeded TTF. The decision examines how unprecedented market conditions—where European gas prices surged above Asian prices due to the Ukraine war—tested the contractual formula's application and whether rectification could remedy an alleged drafting oversight.
European UnionLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
CMS Wistrand
CMS Wistrand
Article

UK Right To Work Checks: What Changes On 1 October 2026

The UK's right-to-work regime is undergoing a fundamental transformation that will extend compliance obligations far beyond traditional employment relationships. From 1 October 2026, businesses engaging contractors, agency workers, platform-based workers, and complex supply chains will face new liability risks that travel up entire contracting chains. Understanding these changes and implementing the required contractual terms, substitution controls, and identity verification systems is now critical for orga
United KingdomEmployment and HR
Mishcon de Reya LLP
Mishcon de Reya LLP
Article

Manchester City: Independent Commission Publishes Decision On Premier League Charges

An independent Premier League Commission has found Manchester City in breach of financial rules spanning nine seasons, with findings that the club artificially inflated revenues and reduced costs by over £900 million. The decision marks what the Premier League describes as the most significant case in its history, though Manchester City strongly disputes the findings and intends to appeal, setting the stage for further proceedings that could reshape English football's regulatory landscape.
United KingdomCorporate/Commercial Law
Mishcon de Reya LLP
Mishcon de Reya LLP
Article

Meta's $18 Billion Settlement: Reckoning Or Managed Exit?

Meta has agreed to pay up to $18 billion over 10 years to settle claims by 52 US state and territory attorneys general in the largest state consumer-protection settlement in American history outside tobacco. The settlement imposes binding child-safety obligations including time limits and age assurance, but leaves the core algorithmic feed unchanged and raises questions about whether this represents genuine accountability or a commercially managed outcome.
United KingdomLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Mishcon de Reya LLP
Mishcon de Reya LLP
Article

The New Trade Union Right Of Access: What Employers Need To Do Now

From 30 October 2026, independent trade unions will gain statutory rights to access workplaces - both physically and digitally - regardless of existing union membership or recognition. With tight statutory deadlines for responding to access requests and penalties reaching £500,000 for repeated breaches, employers face a significant shift in how unions can establish themselves in previously non-unionised workplaces.
United KingdomEmployment and HR
Mishcon de Reya LLP
Mishcon de Reya LLP
Article

Samsung Ordered To Pay The Swatch Group US$11.6 Million In Damages For Trade Mark Infringement

The High Court has awarded the Swatch Group US$11.6 million in negotiation damages against Samsung for trade mark infringements involving watch face apps on the Galaxy App store. Rejecting both parties' extreme valuations of US$170 million and US$301, the court established important principles for assessing damages when brand owners don't license their marks and no comparable market royalties exist.
United KingdomIntellectual Property
Mishcon de Reya LLP
Mishcon de Reya LLP
Article

Renters' Rights Act 'Register Your Rental Property' Service To Launch In December 2026

The UK Government has announced the regional rollout of its new Private Rented Sector database, requiring landlords to register themselves and their properties starting December 2026. With annual fees of £65 per property and potential fines for non-compliance, this comprehensive registration system will fundamentally change how rental properties are tracked and regulated across England.
United KingdomReal Estate and Construction
Mishcon de Reya LLP
Mishcon de Reya LLP
Article

R (University Of Sussex) v Office For Students: Reshaping The OfS's Guidance On Freedom Of Speech And Academic Freedom

The High Court's landmark ruling in R (University of Sussex) v Office for Students has fundamentally reshaped how the OfS regulates freedom of speech in higher education, leading to revised guidance that requires holistic policy assessment and proper consideration of remedial actions. With the new free-speech complaints scheme now operational, institutions face heightened scrutiny of their policies and must ensure their frameworks protect lawful speech while meeting equality obligations.
United KingdomConsumer Protection
Mishcon de Reya LLP
Mishcon de Reya LLP
Article

Can Insurers Avoid Covering Defence Costs Under A D&O Policy Before Fraud Is Proved?

In a landmark ruling, the English Commercial Court has determined that insurers must continue advancing defence costs under D&O policies even when fraud allegations are pending, provided a non-avoidance clause is present. The decision addresses whether such clauses violate public policy and establishes that insurers cannot withhold coverage until fraud is either admitted or proven by final court decision.
United KingdomInsurance
Mishcon de Reya LLP
Mishcon de Reya LLP
Article

Protecting Reputation In The AI Era: How To Prepare, Monitor And Respond

AI has fundamentally altered how reputation is shaped, with AI-powered search engines now delivering authoritative-seeming summaries rather than traditional search results. From deepfakes and voice cloning to coordinated review bombing and bot-driven harassment campaigns, the threats are evolving rapidly—but so are the defensive tools available to those who understand how to deploy them strategically.
United KingdomMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Mishcon de Reya LLP
Mishcon de Reya LLP