Subscribe

  • How Can We Help You?

    Global Problem Solving from Covington: Deal with Complex Problems Anywhere in the World

    • Apr 08, 2021

Shivani Sanghi

Associate

London +44 20 7067 2342

  • About
  • Representative Matters
  • Credentials
  • About

    Shivani Sanghi is a dual-qualified associate and solicitor-advocate in England and Wales and an advocate in India. Drawing on her extensive experience in complex, high-value cross-border litigations and international arbitrations, Shivani has advised clients across multiple jurisdictions including the UK, Russia, India, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Luxembourg, Cyprus, and Bulgaria.

    Shivani has represented clients in a wide variety of sectors, including banking, telecoms, private equity, and software technology, and has represented clients in many high profile cases before the English courts, including the Court of Appeal and the UK Supreme Court.

    Shivani previously practiced as an Advocate in Delhi and has experience of the Indian courts including the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court.

    During her time in India, Shivani advised Indian corporates and Public Sector Companies (PSUs). Her work entailed cross-border disputes involving multi-party arbitrations and high stake contractual disputes involving anti-suit injunctions, challenges to foreign arbitral awards and other aspects of private international law.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Practices and Industries
  • Representative Matters
    • Successfully acting for defendants in VTB v Nutritek before the English High Court in a US$330 million claim by VTB for inducement into a loan facility by fraudulent misrepresentation, involving challenge to the English Court’s jurisdiction and discharge of a Worldwide Freezing Order.
    • Successfully acting for respondents in the landmark case of VTB v Nutritek before the Court of Appeal and the UK Supreme Court in dismissal of appeals by VTB to maintain the English Court’s jurisdiction, continue a WFO and lift the corporate veil to exercise jurisdiction over foreign respondents.
    • Acting for a high net-worth entrepreneur in a US$2 billion LCIA arbitration arising from a shareholder dispute over a valuable social network company in Russia.
    • Acting for a Bulgarian technology company in a US$330 million ICC arbitration arising under an Equity Swap Transaction governed by the ISDA 2002 Master Agreement relating to shares in a major Bulgarian telecom company.
    • Successfully acting for Sberbank in the English High Court in dismissal of an application by the Bank of Azerbaijan seeking a permanent moratorium against creditor action under a English law governed debt, resulting in a landmark ruling affirming the application of the ‘Gibbs Principle’ over the Cross Border Insolvency Regulations.

    • Acting for a high net-worth tech entrepreneur in a dispute involving ownership, corporate governance and intellectual property relating to the largest social network company in Russia VKontakte.com and messaging application Telegram, in proceedings in the BVI, New York and London. Subsequently representing the client in a world-wide settlement resulting in Mail.ru acquiring 100% equity in VKontake.com after buying United Capital Partner’s 48% share for US$1.5 billion.
    • Acting for the 43% shareholder in major Bulgarian telecom company Vivacom in the English High Court in a EUR 150 million dispute against VTB Bank to set aside an alleged fraudulent and undervalue sale of Vivacom by VTB involving two 5-day Preliminary Issues Trials of Luxembourg law and a Part 20 Claim with jurisdiction and authority challenges and related proceedings in Luxembourg/Bulgaria.
    • Acting for a former Russian senator in the English High Court in a 6-day hearing, seeking to discharge a US$1+ billion freezing order obtained by a Russian state agency.
    • Acting for the former owner of a Siberian agricultural business in the English High Court, resisting enforcement of over 20 Russian judgments alleged to have been obtained as part of a 'raid' against the business.
    • Acting for the former owner of a Russian granite mining business in proceedings in Nicosia, Cyprus against a Cypriot affiliate of a Russian Bank involving allegations of fraud, conspiracy and raiding.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Credentials
    Education
    • NALSAR University of Law, B.A./LL.B., 2009
    • University of Western Ontario, LL.B., 2007
    Bar Admissions
    • Advocate, India
    • Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales
    • Solicitor Advocate
    Languages
    • English
    • Hindi
    Pro Bono
    • Citizen Advice Bureau at the RCJ, London: Pro Bono Legal Advisor, March 2015 - present
    • Community Legal Clinic at University of Western Ontario: Volunteer Legal Advisor, January - April 2007
    Accolades
    • Recognized by Legal 500 UK 2019, as "senior associate to note" and "excellent future star" in the commercial litigation category in October 2018
    • Named in The Lawyer for involvement in the 'Russian Facebook/VK.com' dispute (26 September 2014) and the 'VTB v Nutritek' case (20 June 2012 and 16 July 2012) 
    Memberships and Affiliations
    • International Chambers of Commerce
    • London Court of International Arbitration 
    • Mumbai Centre for International Arbitration
    • International Bar Association 
    • Cepani40

    Areas of Expertise

News and Insights