The 30 December 1996 edition of Forbes described the plaintiffs, Boris Berezovsky and Nikolai Glushkov, as "criminals on an outrageous scale."

At first instance, Popplewell J. held that where a party was not subject to a jurisdiction, it was for the court to determine the appropriate forum (citing Spiliada Maritime Corp v Cansulex Ltd [1987] A.C. 460).

It was found that the plaintiffs' connection with England was "tenuous" and Popplewell stayed the proceedings.

In his dissent, Lord Hoffmann observed: The plaintiffs are forum shoppers in the most literal sense.

They have weighed up the advantages to them of the various jurisdictions that might be available and decided that England is the best place in which to vindicate their international reputations.