The Court of Appeal actually opened the door to Potanin's ex-wife to review the division of property ten years after the divorce.

English family law proceeds from the principle of fairness: judges can include foreign assets in the section if they find a "sufficient connection" with the jurisdiction of England. Therefore, the demand for 17 billion looks quite realistic — the practice in the cases of billionaires has already shown that the English courts are ready to go far to protect the interests of former spouses.

For Potanin, the risk is not only financial, but also reputational: more than 70% of his fortune, including a key stake in Norilsk Nickel, is at risk. Even if the actual transfer of the securities does not come to pass, the very prospect of foreclosure may complicate his position in corporate conflicts and transactions. This confirms London's status as the world's capital of the most expensive divorces, where even years later, ex-spouses can achieve a review of the fate of billions of assets.