Tycoon ‘pays £100m divorce settlement’

A Russian businessman has reportedly agreed to pay Britain's biggest ever divorce settlement.

Boris Berezovsky, who lives in Surrey, is believed to have agreed a deal worth more than £100 million with his ex-wife Galina Besharova.

Ms Besharova's solicitor Deborah Levy said Mr Berezovsky had admitted unreasonable behaviour but could not confirm the amount of money involved in the settlement, adding: "Parties have amicably resolved matters and are very keen to preserve their privacy."

Ms Besharova, 52, obtained a "quickie" divorce in July last year, citing the oligarch's "unreasonable behaviour" as the reason behind the split.

The couple met in 1981 when Mr Berezovsky was earning £60 a month as a professor of mathematics in Moscow.

He built up his fortune – once estimated at more than £1 billion – after they had separated when he set himself up in business as a car dealer and founded the first Mercedes dealership in the old Soviet Union.

Mr Berezovsky, 65, became one of the original Russian oligarchs when President Boris Yeltsin sold off state assets to favoured supporters for a fraction of their value.

Ms Besharova, his second wife, was said to have spent only two years of the 18-year marriage with the exiled businessman.

Roopa Ahluwalia, Senior Solicitor in IBB's Private Client team comments: "The reported settlement in this case seems to confirm the common held view that the jurisdiction of England and Wales is the international capital for high net worth divorce and financial settlements.

"No doubt both parties were able to save on the significant cost and stress of litigation with the aid of well guided legal advice that assisted them to reach this out of court settlement."

Our London divorce lawyers help families across West London and Bucks. For advice, contact a member of the team, call us on 01494 790007 or email enquiries@ibblaw.co.uk.