Xena Semikina

About Xena

Xena Semikina is a solicitor–advocate (regulated by the SRA) with 11 years PQE.

Xena’s main areas of practice are financial services, in particular electronic money markets, EPC contracts, M&A, and general commercial and corporate work. She handles a heavy caseload comprising drafting and negotiations, as well as litigation and advocacy. She drafts and negotiates commercial contracts, such as shareholder, investor, loan, agency, and service agreements, as well as pleadings taking her cases all the way to the court stage, where necessary, and beyond. She works with high-net-worth individuals and companies. Xena also has vast experience in family matters, including divorce and matters involving children.

Notable cases

Represented a business caught up in the sweeping freezing injunction of a seminal ruling in Ion Science v Persons Unknown,  granting out of jurisdiction disclosure orders and worldwide freezing injunctions against persons unknown in a first-ever initial coin offering (ICO) fraud case to reach Commercial Court. Xena was advising a group of ten wealthy businessmen on the matters relating to the creation and authorisation of an electronic money institution (EMI).

She has assisted an innovation company based in the USA in setting up a subsidiary in the UK.

Xena was instructed to draft and negotiate policy and operational documents and is currently providing legal support for the active business.

Xena has represented a chemical manufacturer in matters relating to an EPC contract worth 2B for the construction of a chemical plant. Has been advising them on issues arising out of force majeure due to COVID-19, as well as conducting related negotiations concerning their loan agreement with a Chinese bank.

Xena has previously handled a breach of confidence matter relating to a management agreement for the control of a sunflower oil processing business worth 80M.

In an M&A matter in the Insolvency and Companies Court she argued that the wording of M&A provisions should be interpreted with the purpose of the legislation in mind.

Xena conducted litigation and achieved out-of-court settlements for a radio station in a service level agreement and a carriage agreement, worth 3M in total.

Xena has conducted litigation and trials in financial remedy and Children Act proceedings.

She routinely works with high net worth individuals and companies.

Xena is engaged in a variety of family disputes, some of which featuring multi-million-pound assets in multiple jurisdictions. One of her recent matters was financial remedy proceedings with multi-million-pound assets in three jurisdictions, which culminated in a month-long trial in the High Court. Xena conducted two further similar cases, one comprising financial remedy, Children Act and non-molestation order proceedings, with assets amounting to £600M in four jurisdictions, and a Part III multi-million pound claim with some assets located in the UK. She has previously conducted (and won) trials relating to visiting arrangements, representing a father who had a criminal conviction for domestic violence, and a husband accused by the wife of domestic violence in her applications for non-molestation and occupation orders.

Areas of Expertise

Commercial

Corporate

Litigation

Data Protection

Family