Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich. Pressure is mounting on a senior Tory who is representing sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich in court. Shadow attorney general Lord Wolfson is part of the former Chelsea owner’s legal team in a dispute with the government of Jersey about more than £5.3 billion of his frozen assets. Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK government following Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Labour says the legal dispute is holding up attempts to transfer the money Abramovich made from the sale of Chelsea to the victims of the war. Justice minister Jake Richards told Times Radio that Lord Wolfson being part of Abramovich’s legal team while also sitting on the Conservative front bench “could not be a clearer conflict of interest”. He said: “It’s perfectly reasonable for him to represent Roman Abramovich or he can act as shadow attorney general. But he cannot do both.” Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has not commented publicly on the row since it broke. A government source told HuffPost UK: “It’s been nearly a week since it was revealed that shadow attorney general Lord Wolfson is representing a sanctioned Russian oligarch who’s in a legal battle against the British government. “This is an untenable conflict of interest, but Kemi Badenoch, Robert Jenrick and Wolfson have all remained silent, hoping this issue goes away. It won’t.” The source added: “Serious questions remain, including Wolfson’s role in Conservative Party Russia policy, and what Badenoch knew, when. Did she approve of Wolfson’s obviously inappropriate actions? “If Wolfson was forced to choose between his Kremlin-linked clients or a Conservative Party facing electoral oblivion, you have to wonder what he would decide.” Shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart accused Labour of “playing politics” when he became the first senior Tory to comment on the story on Tuesday night In a letter to Jake Richards, he said: “I am confident that at all times Lord Wolfson has acted in accordance with his professional obligations and with integrity.” Lord Wolfson is one of our country’s greatest barristers - he has the utmost integrity. It says all you need to know about this aimless Labour govt that they are attacking him when he is currently defending the British Army veterans that Labour abandoned pic.twitter.com/zpI5rM6Hr7 — Alex Burghart (@alexburghart) December 30, 2025 A Conservative Party spokesperson said: “Lord Wolfson is instructed in on-going legal proceedings in Jersey. He is not instructed on the Chelsea FC matter. “Jake Richards’ comments are pure politics, and they show Labour still does not understand how the Bar works. Barristers act for clients, not causes.” Related... Government Grants Licence For Chelsea Sale From Roman Abramovich To Todd Boehly What Does Roman Abramovich Being Sanctioned Mean For Chelsea FC? Chelsea Fans Criticised By Minister For Chanting Roman Abramovich’s Name