From multimillion-dollar fraud defendant to multimillion-dollar judgment creditor

In an extraordinary conclusion to an 11-year legal saga, Steven Kelbrick and Attock Oil International Limited emerged victorious in the High Court in London against claims worth $500 million brought by shipping magnate John Fredriksen. The journey began in 2015 when Fredriksen's entities alleged that Kelbrick had conspired in a fraud relating to West African oil trading. As a consequence, a worldwide freezing injunction was imposed against him, described as one of the "nuclear weapons" in English law, with the assertion that there was a genuine prospect of success for the claims made against him.

Following ten years of intense litigation, the tide turned when Mr Justice Henshaw issued a sweeping 400-page judgment in January 2025, dismissing all claims associated with the fraud allegations and discharging the injunction that had constrained Mr Kelbrick for a decade. Following this ruling, Kelbrick initiated further claims, arguing the injunction had severely damaged his business, curtailed earning potential, and negatively impacted both his personal and family life.

After a further four-week trial focused on these damages, a 358-page judgment was handed down by Mr Justice Henshaw on 29 October 2026, awarding Kelbrick significant damages. The ruling, along with the recoveries for two additional defendants, stands as one of the largest successful claims of this nature in recent history.

In a spectacular David vs Goliath scenario, the case highlights that “lawfare” can indeed be won through strategy, skill and tenacity, regardless of the opponent's vast resources. The legal team from King & Spalding, which represented Kelbrick and Attock Oil, included Tom Sprange KC, Sarah Walker, Charity Kirby, Liam Petch, Kate Williamson, and Lisa Wong, with Junior Counsel Freddie Popplewell and Edward Mourdant of Essex Court.