January 6, 2025
On December 23, 2024, Willkie secured the complete dismissal of defamation claims brought by Russian lobbyist Rinat Akhmetshin against Mr. William Browder. Mr. William Browder is the leading global advocate for the Magnitsky Act and author of the book "Red Notice." The ruling is a significant victory for fellow advocates for justice and the rule of law, like Mr. Browder, who face harassing litigation for criticizing abusive and authoritarian governments around the world.
The lawsuit filed by Akhmetshin in 2018 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia accused Mr. Browder of having defamed him by alleging connections between Mr. Akhmetshin and the Russian intelligence community. In 2019, the Court granted Willkie’s first motion to dismiss the complaint on personal jurisdiction grounds, which led to several rounds of appeals at the D.C. Circuit, including a certification to the D.C. Court of Appeals, which announced a new rule of D.C. personal jurisdiction law that revived Akhmetshin’s complaint. Once the case was finally back before the District Court, Willkie moved to dismiss the complaint again, and won—finally bringing an end to more than six years of litigation over a baseless defamation claim.
Willkie’s representation of Mr. Browder is led by partners Michael Gottlieb and Aaron Nathan. The Willkie team also includes associates Stephanie Miner and Noah Mussmon.
The lawsuit filed by Akhmetshin in 2018 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia accused Mr. Browder of having defamed him by alleging connections between Mr. Akhmetshin and the Russian intelligence community. In 2019, the Court granted Willkie’s first motion to dismiss the complaint on personal jurisdiction grounds, which led to several rounds of appeals at the D.C. Circuit, including a certification to the D.C. Court of Appeals, which announced a new rule of D.C. personal jurisdiction law that revived Akhmetshin’s complaint. Once the case was finally back before the District Court, Willkie moved to dismiss the complaint again, and won—finally bringing an end to more than six years of litigation over a baseless defamation claim.
Willkie’s representation of Mr. Browder is led by partners Michael Gottlieb and Aaron Nathan. The Willkie team also includes associates Stephanie Miner and Noah Mussmon.
