Fund manager Bill Browder has blasted Magic Circle law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer for taking “blood money” by continuing to work for sanctioned Russian lender VTB Bank.

Freshfields applied for a licence to continue to represent VTB Bank in ongoing High Court litigation against Mozambique stemming from the so-called tuna bond scandal. VTB is suing Mozambique in the case, which involves loans to the Mozambique government through VTB and Credit Suisse. The case is set for trial next year.