Michael Iatsukha

Senior Partner of Sterling Law (Legal 500)

Co-founder “CaseCraft AI” — Generative AI-powered platform helping individuals file and defend small claims in the UK, saving time and money.

Co-founder “Aqlo” — Team of legal & accounting experts, ready to help your business take off.

Cases Michael worked on:

• Michael represented the Mints in the high-profile civil litigation PJSC National Bank Trust & Anor v Mints & Ors before the High Court of England and Wales, which was recognized as one of the most complex commercial disputes in the UK. The case involved intricate legal arguments, cross-border issues, and the implications of the UK sanctions regime.
• Michael Iatsukha successfully applied for a Norwich Pharmacal Order (NPO) to recover £630,000 misappropriated through a fraud scheme during a property transaction, compelling the bank to disclose crucial information about the fraudulent account. Despite challenges, including sanctions and blocked accounts, their legal intervention enabled the client to access vital evidence, aiding in the identification of the fraudster and the potential recovery of funds.
• Michael was involved in the case of Drelle v Servis-Terminal LLC [2025] EWCA Civ 62, where the Court of Appeal set aside the High Court judgment and dismissed the bankruptcy petition, ruling that an unrecognised foreign judgment cannot serve as the basis for a bankruptcy petition in England and Wales. The court emphasized that such a judgment has no direct effect unless recognised by the local court.
• Acting in a Commercial Court claim on a loan agreement arising out of the acquisition of several Kazakhstani agricultural companies, raising allegations of illegality under Kazakhstani law.
• Dealing with recovering the unpaid debt of £1m through commercial litigation.
• Dealing with multiple cases against various banks and requesting for accounts to be unfrozen. In the most recent case, the Client’s account was frozen and the amount of $93,848.08 was blocked for almost two months. We issued a pre-action letter against Revolut and have successfully managed to recover the whole amount and transfer it to another bank.
• Helped multiple start-ups to go through the whole journey, which started at the idea level and reached round B.
• Michael helped multiple companies with corporate structuring, required website documents (Privacy Policy, T&C, Cookies), investment agreement, convertible loans, ASA and SAFE

About Michael:

Michael is a UK-qualified solicitor with over 8 years of commercial and corporate litigation experience in IT and Tech law. He has advised on all stages of startup development and has worked on significant litigation cases. Michael has extensive experience working with various startups, in-house lawyers, founders, and businesses across different industries.

With a strong commercial mindset and significant exposure to venture capital fundraising, Michael provides strategic legal counsel to businesses navigating complex legal landscapes. He is also the Head of Legal, reporting directly to the CEO at a Legal Tech startup (part of Sterling Law Group), where he advises on development strategies, venture capital investment rounds, and negotiations with vendors, clients, and investors while supporting internal stakeholders, including sales, finance, HR, and operations teams.

Michael has a track record of successfully handling high-profile commercial litigation cases and has built strong relationships with major clients. He is also well-versed in various aspects of blockchain technology and regulatory compliance.

Areas of Expertise:

Commercial Law

• Advised clients on investments rounds and lead negotiations with VCs and Angel Investors.
• Assisted clients with mergers & acquisitions – prepared client reports advising on fund-raising, restructuring, acquisitions and attended court hearings.
• Provided legal support to tech start-ups: drafting and advising on convertible loans, ASA agreements, SAFE and KISS agreements, and conducting due diligence.
• Advised clients on corporate structuring and employment relationships. Drafted employment agreements, employee option plans, and founder’s agreements.
• Advised clients on franchise agreements.
• Advised clients to change business practices to comply with new laws and regulations.

Civil Litigation

• Dealt with high-profile, multi-jurisdictional and six figures disputes.
• Represented clients in the High Court (QBD and CHD divisions) and assisted with smaller disputes in County Courts.

TMT Law

• Consulted clients on software and hardware licensing and drafted required documents.
• Advised corporate and individual clients on data protection, privacy law, e-commerce issues and partnerships.
• Advised clients on crypto tokens (provided legal opinions on whether tokens would be considered security or utility), assisted clients with applications for EMI licensing.

Michael continues to provide top-tier legal expertise to startups, businesses, and high-profile clients needing commercial, corporate, and litigation support.