Emma Sutton

Emma Sutton represents clients in high-value and strategically significant disputes across a wide range of industries. Her practice has a particular focus on international commercial litigation, arbitration, and investigations arising from complex cross-border fraud, insolvency, construction, financial services, and general contract disputes. Emma is experienced in steering multinational clients through contentious matters involving parallel proceedings, multijurisdictional issues, and challenging enforcement environments.

She has a particular interest in the Nordic Region as well as Central Asia and holds rights of audience before the AIFC Court in Kazakhstan. She has also run a 4-week internship for the AIFC students for the past 5 years, dedicated to giving practical experience about tasks required of lawyers working at an international law firm.

Emma joined LK in 2014. Prior to joining LK, Emma worked in private equity. Emma is fluent in Danish.

Experience

SALINAS

LK act for Ricardo Salinas and Corporacion RBS SA de CV (“Claimants”) in their claim in the Commercial Court. This claim arose out of a stock loan agreement entered into with Astor Asset Management 3 Limited (“Astor 3”) pursuant to which a loan of US$104 million was advanced to the Claimants secured over shares in Grupo Elektra SAB de CV belonging to Mr Salinas. Those shares were deposited with two custodians, Weiser Global Capital Markets and Tavira Monaco SAM, and worth around $400 million at the time the claim was commenced.

In June 2024, the Claimants became aware that Astor 3 had directed the custodians to transfer a significant proportion of the shares to Cornelius Vanderbilt Capital Management Ltd and Astor Capital Fund Ltd, which the Claimants maintain was in breach of the agreements in place.

The Claimants obtained freezing orders and proprietary injunctions against the six Defendants in August 2024. The Claimants consider that they have been victims of a stock-lending fraud conducted by Mr Sklarov and his companies. They allege that Mr Sklarov gained control of Mr Salinas’s shares and wrongfully disposed of them contrary to the terms of the stock loan agreement.

Al Gosaibi Family & Group (AHAB) (Cayman)

LK acted for AHAB, a large group of companies run by the Al Gosaibi family, in their claims against Mr Al Sanea and his Saad Group concerning his role in an alleged fraud resulting in losses of at least US$9 billion.

AHAB contended that Mr Al Sanea used his position (as the head of a division of the company) to borrow hundreds of billions of dollars in the company’s name – using forged banking documents – and then misappropriated some of the proceeds. AHAB contended that at least US$6 billion was stolen by Mr Al Sanea.

LK worked with a global team of lawyers and forensic accountants to coordinate the investigation into the fraud and the tracing of misappropriated assets, including in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland and the Caymans Islands.

Tsareva & Others v Ananyev & Others

Acted for 34 claimants who invested in loan notes issued by Promsvyaz Bank (PSB), in turn controlled by the wealthy Ananyev Brothers and put into administration by the Russian Central Bank in 2017. Shortly thereafter, the Ananyevs took US$500m from PSB. We successfully obtained a freezing order against the Ananyevs which was satisfied by payments into court of US$15.5m and EUR11m. The Defendants brought a successful jurisdiction challenge. LK Law are currently involved in the subsequent costs proceedings.

GBT Japan Limited

LK acted for a Japanese company against Ross Group Plc, a London Stock Exchange listed company, in relation to a transfer of US$2m. The claim involved allegations of breach of trust, unjust enrichment and breach of contract.

BEHLEN

Representing a Canadian construction company in its claim against a state in the Caucasus, and a state-owned entity, for payment for construction of sports stadia. Lipman Karas has successfully pursued Lloyd’s underwriters and reinsurers for a pay-out under a contract frustration policy relating to this case (ICC Rules; London seat).

ACLBDD Holdings Ltd & Ors v STAECHELIN & Ors

Representing the Rudolph Staechelin Family Trust Fund in a dispute over the payment of commission following the US$210 million sale of the Gauguin painting Nafea faa ipoipo to the Qatari royal family ([2018] EWHC 44 (Ch)).