Caley Wright acted for the successful claimants in the trial of Zhevago v Francombe Ventures Limited, a dispute as to the beneficial ownership of a number of English corporate entities, which acted as holding structures for operating companies in Ukraine.

Mr Richard Farnhill, sitting as a Deputy Judge of the Chancery Division, found that the Claimants were the beneficial owners of the three English corporate entities, that the Defendants’ evidence was to be rejected and moreover that the central plank of the primary Defendant’s Defence was deliberate fabrication.

The dispute raised numerous issues as to the proper approach to documentary evidence (and its absence), the weight of evidence to be given to witnesses who do not attend trial, and how allegations of forgery are to be made and pursued.

Caley Wright was instructed by Matthew Marshall and Amy Spencer of Enyo Law.

Read the full judgment here: Zhevago v Francombe Ventures Limited [2026] EWHC 1433 (Ch)