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London Judge Rebukes Salinas Pliego Team Over Black Cube Sting, Orders Full Trial

The judge called the undercover approach to an opposing lawyer an affront to justice that undermines equality of arms.

Overview

  • Justice Stephen Houseman ruled that secretly obtained material from a dinner with opposing counsel cannot be used to shortcut the case.
  • An agent from private intelligence firm Black Cube recorded a newly promoted lawyer during an alcohol‑fueled meeting, according to the reports cited.
  • Black Cube said its information‑gathering methods are legal and argued the dispute centers on the ethics of targeting an adversary’s legal representative.
  • The lawsuit alleges a multimillion‑dollar stock‑lending fraud tied to Vladimir Sklarov and a fabricated link to the Astor family, which left assets outside Salinas Pliego’s control.
  • The London ruling lands as Mexico’s Supreme Court recently rejected appeals over significant tax liabilities tied to Salinas Pliego’s businesses, intensifying his legal pressures.