Farraline

06/02/2024

We are looking for new cases to support and endorse in 2018: whether cases of foreigners experiencing investor injustice inside China; or, indeed, outside (such...

28/05/2023

Alex Grebnev Statement on Defamatory Article on CoinDesk (Since Withdrawn)

On May 25th, 2023, the cryptocurrency online news outlet, CoinDesk, published a highly defamatory and inaccurate story about Alex Grebnev.

Once the extent of the inaccuracies, falsehoods and defamatory statements was brought to the attention of the editor, the article was taken down from the site on 26th May. A fulsome apology for the article was issued by CoinDesk the next day.

In its apology, CoinDesk wrote:

CoinDesk apologises to Alex Grebnev
On 25 May 2023 we published a story headed “Alameda-Backed ‘Samcoins’ CEO Alex Grebnev Sued by Coin Telegraph Owner Gregory Fishman”. Those individuals are engaged in a lawsuit (a claim and counterclaim) in the High Court in London relating to the meaning and effect of a 2020 US$750,000 option agreement. Our account of Mr Fishman’s claims in that lawsuit was incorrect, and we are happy to set the record straight and to confirm that the claims in the litigation do not allege the misconduct by Mr Grebnev stated in our story. We apologise unequivocally for our error. We have taken down the article and shall not re-publish it.

-----

Mr Grebnev believes that the original source for these maliciously wrong misstatements is an individual well-known to him, who has been responsible for an obsessive smear campaign which, in the past, has hoodwinked other media into publishing inaccurate and defamatory statements that they have then had to correct.

Those who further published the defamatory article are being urged to remove their posts and/or link to a new post stating that the article was withdrawn following CoinDesk’s acceptance that it was wholly inaccurate, and its fulsome apology.

Mr Grebnev reserves all his rights against those who published or republish the article. International law firm, Reed Smith, acts for Mr Grebnev in these matters.

Turning to the CoinDesk allegations:
It is true that Alex Grebnev and the Russian-Israeli crypto entrepreneur, Gregory Fishman, are currently in legal dispute, before the High Court in London. This dispute concerns the correct interpretation of the terms and meaning of a $750,000 share option deal dating from February 2020.

Mr Grebnev has filed a defence and counterclaim to Mr Fishman’s claims. The case is still at a procedural stage and any trial is not expected before mid-2024.

Contrary to the recklessly defamatory and untrue article in CoinDesk, the current High Court case DOES NOT involve any allegation or suggestion:

- that any funds have, in any way, been misappropriated or ideas stolen.
- that Sam Bankman Fried, or any businesses ever connected to him form a party to this dispute; nor that the claims in the current dispute between Mr Grebnev and Mr Fishman arise from any involvement by FTX, Alameda, or Mr Bankman Fried, or his businesses in any way.
There are no allegations of misconduct in the legal case against Mr Grebnev.

Alex Grebnev said: “For several months, I have been subject to malicious and defamatory allegations, which constitute a criminal smear campaign by someone seeking to hide their true identity. I have made complaints regarding this campaign to the police in the UK and Switzerland.

“As part of this malicious campaign against me, it appears a commercial financial dispute, concerning the correct interpretation of the terms and meaning of a share option agreement, has been completely misrepresented and untruthfully portrayed to a crypto journalist, who has subsequently written, and had published by CoinDesk, an article which is a travesty; suggests no real understanding of the case; and so is wildly inaccurate. The article - widely reported on social media - has now been removed and CoinDesk has issued an apology, which represents a first step in making reparations.”
ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Alex Grebnev has over twenty years’ experience in investment banking and financial services, including nearly a decade at Goldman Sachs and six years at Merrill Lynch (latterly as a Managing Director), after having graduated in mathematics from St John’s College, University of Cambridge.

He is the CEO of Moonshot Capital Ltd., a London-based mobile app developer and e-commerce firm, as well as being 100% owner of fintech firm, N2 Capital AG.

Separate business interests of Alex Grebnev include a portfolio of fin-tech interests including the decentralised payment system, N2; and Maps.me, an offline travel app that includes a fully featured web wallet along with routing and business listings.

28/05/2023

We represent Alex Grebnev and are pleased that CoinDesk has taken down, and apologised unequivocally for, an article they published.

Leader in cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, blockchain, DeFi, digital finance and Web 3.0 news with analysis, video and live price updates.

25/02/2018

Interesting piece from Apollo: The International Art Magazine on why arbitration may be the answer for disputes in the art world. Apollo is almost the in-house magazine of the world's art dealing fraternity. You can see why it wants secret arbitration not public litigation

As Apollo sums it up: "Privacy has long been of utmost importance in the art world. But in the context of the recent global move towards transparency in business and finance, the art market has increasingly been the subject of criticism for its perceived opacity"

Efforts of angry Russian collector, Dmitry Rybolovlev, to have justice from Swiss dealer Yves Bouvier, by trying to ensnare Sotheby's has put the auction house-dealer axis under perhaps overdue scrutiny

Critics might say the cozy relationship between top auction houses & between the world's most influential dealers has often worked unfairly against, especially newer or more eager, collectors. Are the world's 300 (?) richest art buyers - often Russian & Chinese - tired of scammed?

Arbitration, as for other commercial disputes, can be a better route over litigation. But that's not to say the lack of pricing transparency in the art world is to be defended. Not least as pricing gyrations for the world's most expensive painting suggest

NB: Farraline does not act for any party in this dispute

01/01/2018

If you know people or organisations with investor disputes in China, or who've been victims of Chinese commercial bribery in third countries, then the Center for International Investment in China ('CJIIC') would like to hear from you. It is looking for new cases to support, including pro bono!

CJIIC is a campaign group which aims to highlight the lack of access to impartial civil justice in China; for foreign investors involved in investor-state disputes, or disputes with politically-connected counter-parties (including local joint venture partners). It also campaigns against Chinese bribery in third countries.

We are looking for new cases to support and endorse in 2018: whether cases of foreigners experiencing investor injustice inside China; or, indeed, outside (such...

19/09/2017

"China’s version of “capitalism with Chinese characteristics” is actually capitalism in its purest form – every person out for themselves"

"Institutionalising ethics, anti-corruption, risk management and compliance in Chinese banks is difficult even in an international environment like Hong Kong. Hong Kong Chinese executives at Bank of China International’s Hong Kong office tell me that mainland Chinese management hierarchy is rigid... Lack of tolerance for constructive criticism and truthful inquiry inevitably sows the seeds for corruption"

A leader fights corruption with the legal system he has, not the one he wishes he has. The ongoing fight against the extent of financial corruption in both China and the US poses particular challenges that are unique to both systems....

31/05/2017

Journalists, as well as asset tracers, would find such a register to be a huge treasure trove of details to prop up salacious stories.

This may have major privacy implications for many families; and will be of particular significance for those whose members include political figures in third countries

The UK Government has announced plans to proceed with a consultation on a public register of foreign UK Property Owners. They key feature of this will

31/05/2017

We've been very interested in what our friends at CyberCounsel have been saying about these new EU regulations coming into force May 2018: the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). British business could be clobbered by huge fines, Brexit or no Brexit...

27/03/2017

Can it really be three years ago today that Farraline's founder, Richard Elsen, was profiled and on the cover of Russia's Corporate Lawyer magazine?

12/02/2017

We are delighted that Stephen Lock has joined Farraline. Stephen was first recognised by the media as one of the founding practitioners of litigation PR in the UK in 1999. He has a 25 year pedigree of managing stories at the nexus of politics, big business and activism.

Stephen has worked around the world in crisis management and dispute PR. Stephen brings a uniquely global perspective having lived, and led projects, in Russia and across the CIS region; Turkey; Indonesia and Brazil. He has a renowned ability to distill complex legal or regulatory issues into compelling, but sustainable messages, and also apply digital and social media to crisis and dispute management.

09/02/2017

Farraline was founded by Richard Elsen who has a uniquely impressive 20-year, successful track record of wins in crisis and dispute PR; political campaigns; and cross-border litigation. His successes include international elections; and INTERPOL Red Notice withdrawal campaigns.

Richard is well-known among the world's leading international litigators in Africa; Russia and the CIS countries; the Middle East & offshore tax-havens

07/02/2017

Farraline offers clients an international and experienced team in the politics; business and legal affairs of Africa; Asia; Eastern Europe & CIS countries; and South America. From cross-border civil litigation through to INTERPOL Red Notice maters; elections and public enquiries, the Farraline team collectively has an impressive track record.

Farraline PR serves corporates & individuals facing reputation challenges delivering communications programmes to preserve and enhance clients' reputations