MOSCOW, January 31 - RAPSI. Mark Hapgood QC will represent self-exiled tycoon Boris Berezovsky in his $3 billion claim against the family of his deceased business partner Badri Patarkatsishvili, The Lawyer reported.

A London court is set to hear in October the lawsuit to recover roughly three billion dollars from the family of his deceased partner Badri Patarkatsishvili. Berezovsky alleges that he transferred his assets to Patarkatsishvili out of fear for their safety.

The self-exiled tycoon insists that they agreed to equally share the profits from their joint business, but their agreement was only oral.

According to The Lawyer, Berezovsky believes that his partner dissipated part of the disputed funds to metal magnate Vasili Anisimov and the Salford investment company, the co-defendants in the case.

The Lawyer says Addleshaw Goddard partner Mark Hastings, who leads Berezovsky’s Chancery proceedings, lined up Hapgood for the trial.

Hapgood will replace Laurence Rabinowitz, counsel for Berezovsky in his legal battle against Roman Abramiovich for over $5.5 million. In his lawsuit, Berezovsky claims that Abramovich intimidated him into selling a number of assets for a price significantly less than their value.

Now the case hearings are over and the judgment is expected not earlier than in April.

Hapgood is believed to be a leading lawyer in business disputes. He represented Ernst & Young and has managed to secure a pre-trial settlement in a $4 billion negligence and breach of duty claim by Equitable Life.