London-headquartered law firm Charles Russell Speechlys has launched legal action against investment entities controlled by the Emirati business family Al-Sari. The lawsuit was filed on Friday in the London Circuit Commercial Court against Al Soor Investments LLC and Sari Investments LLC.
This action marks the latest development in an ongoing multi-jurisdictional dispute with the firm's former client. The initial dispute arose when Charles Russell Speechlys, instructed to represent Grand Valley General Trading, reportedly received conflicting instructions from two factions within the Al-Sari family regarding the release of legal documents.
In March 2023, a Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) court judge recognised the law firm's "unenviable position" and ordered it to withhold case files until UAE civil and criminal cases concerning Grand Valley's ownership were resolved. The judge also ruled that three defendants must pay the law firm's legal costs of AED 160,800 (£32,300) for bringing the claim.
The specific nature of the new claim in the London Circuit Commercial Court, a specialist court for mid-tier commercial disputes, is not yet clear. Al Soor Investments LLC was previously mentioned in the Dubai judgment as a source of confusion that led the law firm to seek court intervention.