Vaiben Lipman

Vaiben has over ten years of experience representing clients in commercial and financial disputes in the UK, Australia, the Cayman Islands, the BVI, Guernsey and the US. Vaiben represents clients in disputes across a wide range of industries, with a particular emphasis on commercial litigation, arbitration and investigations arising from civil fraud, insolvency, non-performing loans, investment disputes, property disputes and professional negligence. Vaiben also has significant experience in Sports Law, representing athletes and coaching staff in anti-doping and misconduct matters.

Vaiben joined LK Law in London in 2017. He commenced private practice in Australia, before joining Lewis Baach (now LBKM Law) in Washington, D.C. in 2016. As well as being a qualified solicitor in England & Wales, Vaiben has been admitted in the Supreme Court of South Australia and the New York State Bar.

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.

Challis v SCB & Anor

LK acts for a victim of a substantial investment fraud. LK brought proceedings on behalf of the client seeking declarations that the funds invested remain held on trust for our client, for an order that the defendants vest their interests in those funds to our client and for a full account.

LK thereafter obtained judgment by consent following a full admission from the defendants and are now pursuing enforcement options including through the criminal authorities.

Fontaine

We are the Privy Council Agents in the appeal from the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in Claim No. AXAHCVA AP2020/0001: National Bank of Anguilla (Private Banking and Trust) Limited (in administration) & Anor v Chief Minister of Anguilla and Ors (Anguilla), representing the Appellants.

Knight v C Hoare & Co & Ors

LK acts for a private individual in relation to numerous claims against a private bank and two LPA receivers, arising out of the repossession and sale of a super-prime London residential property that the client had redeveloped for sale. The private bank counterclaimed for outstanding capital and interest in relation to a number of loan facilities granted for the marketing and intended sale of the property.

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.

Mr Fawaz Hamadah

LK act for a Kuwaiti national in relation to an investment he made with Dr Al-Humaidi, another Kuwaiti, through one of his companies. Having obtained a Consent Order for the return of the investment sum in the KBD, LK have been instructed to pursue Dr Al-Humaidi for the full sum owing.

Scully Royalty Ltd

LK Law acted for this listed NY company and several of its subsidiaries, which were defendants in the Cayman Islands to a claim brought by Raiffeisen Bank International of Austria. We have been involved in defending a freezing injunction, ongoing proceedings, a number of interlocutory matters, and anti-suit injunction and a jurisdiction challenge amongst other aspects.