Publication date: 23.06.2025
Roman Pidkovenko is a lawyer in Khmelnytskyi with 4 years of experience. He specializes in credit disputes, mobilization issues, family, and civil law. Provides legal consultations, represents clients in court, and prepares claims and complaints. Assists with divorce cases, mobilization deferrals, and debt collection.
Legal Case Against Sandford Capital: How Ukrainian Investors Achieved Justice in a Domestic Court
This legal case involved a group of Ukrainian investors who lost substantial funds due to fraudulent activities by an international company, Sandford Capital. The company promised returns through real estate investments, operating without any official licenses in Ukraine or abroad. After the company’s representatives disappeared, investors were left without legal protection. Ukrainian attorney Roman Pidkovenko led the litigation, which became a precedent-setting case in the Ukrainian legal system for protecting investors in international fraud scenarios.
The key challenge was to establish jurisdiction over a foreign company and prove fraudulent intent within the Ukrainian legal framework. As a result, the court ordered the freezing of Sandford Capital’s assets in Ukraine, acknowledged the company’s liability for misleading citizens, and approved partial compensation to the victims.
Key Legal Challenges
- Proving Ukrainian jurisdiction over a foreign company’s actions
- Lack of Sandford Capital’s financial records in Ukraine
- Coordinating claims from more than 10 separate investors
- Gathering evidence without access to international registries
- Protecting investors’ rights despite limited cross-border legal cooperation
Legal Steps Taken
- Preparation and filing of a collective lawsuit by the Ukrainian investors
- Review of investment agreements, payment records, and correspondence with Sandford Capital
- Establishing a clear evidentiary basis and classifying the actions as fraudulent
- Submitting the claim to a Ukrainian court and securing interim measures
- Representing the investors during court hearings and working with national authorities
- Obtaining a ruling that led to asset freezes and partial restitution for the plaintiffs
What Was Achieved
- Compiled over 100 pages of evidence and legal analysis
- Coordinated the legal interests of 12 investors from across Ukraine
- Legally documented Sandford Capital’s fraudulent behavior
- Secured court orders to freeze assets and bank accounts in Ukraine
- Recovered a portion of the invested funds through litigation
Advantages of Our Approach
- Engagement of an attorney experienced in transnational litigation
- Strategic use of Ukraine’s legal framework for investor protection
- Clear and consistent communication with clients and authorities
Collective investor representation
Successful freezing of fraudulent assets
Funds recovered through Ukrainian court proceedings
Question
Can Ukrainian courts hear cases against foreign companies?
Answer
Yes, if the foreign company operated within Ukraine or infringed on the rights of Ukrainian citizens. In this case, the court ruled that Ukraine had appropriate jurisdiction over the matter.
Question
How long did the Sandford Capital case last?
Answer
The entire litigation process lasted over two years, including pre-trial preparation, court proceedings, and enforcement of asset freezes and compensation orders.
The Sandford Capital case serves as a strong example of how the Ukrainian judicial system can protect its citizens in complex cross-border fraud situations. Thanks to attorney Roman Pidkovenko’s strategic legal efforts, the investors not only proved wrongdoing but also recovered part of their investments. This case highlights that even in transnational disputes, a successful outcome is possible with proper legal guidance and a clear litigation strategy.
