The White & Case offices in Washington, DC, US REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
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(Reuters) – Law firm White & Case will continue to defend Russia from a lawsuit seeking to enforce a $50 billion judgment against the country, after a Russian representative said he would oppose the firm’s efforts to exit the Washington, DC, federal court case.
White & Case is among several major US law firms that have sought to cut ties with Russian clients following the invasion of Ukraine. It said in March that it was intended to withdraw from representing Russia in the DC case, which was brought by shareholders of the defunct oil company Yukos.
But in a court filing early Thursday, White & Case partner Carolyn Lamm said that due to the “complex and fact-intensive nature of the current phase of proceedings,” the firm cannot yet leave the case without breaching its ethical duty not to harm its client.
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The firm does plan to withdraw “as soon as possible under the ethical rules,” Lamm said. A White & Case spokesperson had no immediate comment.
Andrey Kondakov, director general of the International Center for Legal Protection, an independent body created to defend Russia in complex litigation, said in a Thursday affidavit that he told White & Case that Russia will oppose any effort by the firm to leave the case because it “would have a material adverse effect” on the country’s interests.
Kondakov said the center has been looking for new attorneys to take over the case once