Robert Jenrick and his wife Michal Berkner at a Conservative Party leadership campaign event.(Image: PA)

Tory leadership favourite Robert Jenrick's wife advised oligarchs sanctioned after Russia's invasion of Ukraine

Lawyer Michal Berkner, married to Robert Jenrick, advised a consortium of billionaires – three of whom were later sanctioned by the UK

by · The Mirror

The wife of Tory leadership frontrunner Robert Jenrick advised oligarchs sanctioned in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we can reveal.

Jenrick has hit out at "tyrant" Vladimir Putin and the Conservative MP has even taken in refugees from war-torn Ukraine. But we have discovered his lawyer spouse Michal Berkner advised a consortium of billionaires – three of whom were later designated by the UK after the Kremlin assault.

Michal Berkner listens as her husband speaks at a Tory Party leadership campaign.( Image: PA)

One of them even had their $90million yacht seized after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. The revelations will leave Jenrick, favourite to become the next Conservative leader, red-faced as the party starts its conference on Sunday. A document unearthed by the Mirror lists a host of individuals and firms Berkner has advised.

They include Alfa-Access-Renova, a consortium of four billionaires who have all been sanctioned by the UK or Ukraine. The consortium reportedly included Mikhail Fridman, Len Blavatnik, Viktor Vekselberg and German Khan. Fridman, Khan and Vekselberg were sanctioned by the UK in March 2022 after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Announcing the sanctions, then Foreign Secretary Liz Truss – Jenrick’s colleague – said: “We are going further and faster than ever in hitting those closest to Putin – from major oligarchs, to his Prime Minister, and the propagandists who peddle his lies and disinformation. We are holding them to account for their complicity in Russia’s crimes in Ukraine.”

Viktor Vekselberg, one of the billionaire's Jenrick's wife advised, had his $90million yacht seized.( Image: CATI CLADERA/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

The government detailed the background of the sanctioned individuals, explaining: “Mickhail Fridman, founder of Alfa Bank, the largest private bank in Russia. He also owns shares in LetterOne. His net worth is reported as an estimated £11.9 billion. German Khan, a business partner of Aven and Fridman in both Alfa Bank and LetterOne. His net worth is reported as an estimated £7.8 billion.

"Viktor Vekselberg, owner of the Renova Group. His net worth is reported at an estimated £6.8 billion.” In April 2022, Vekselberg’s $90million yacht was seized at the request of the US government. Meanwhile, in December last year, Ukraine sanctioned Blavatnik.

Ms Berkner advised “Alfa-Access-Renova (AAR) in the US$56 billion sale of TNK-BP to Russian state-owned oil company Rosneft”. The document, produced by her old employer Skadden, explains: “AAR’s 50 percent stake in TNK-BP was sold for US$28 billion. The deal, which was the largest M&A transaction in 2012, brings to an end a joint venture between AAR and BP. She also helped AAR secure several victories in its dispute over BP’s attempt to form a US$16 billion strategic alliance with Rosneft”. The sale took place in 2013, reportedly making the quartet billions.

A spokesman for the Jenrick Campaign said: "Michal is a lawyer. Robert has been personally sanctioned by the Kremlin for being amongst the most stridently anti-Putin MPs in Parliament." There is no suggestion of legal or regulatory wrongdoing by Ms Bernker. Ms Berkner, who now works at a different firm, was contacted for comment.