Ukraine taps law firm Holland & Knight in dispute over body armor shipment
By Mike Scarcella WASHINGTON, Oct 15 (Reuters) — US law firm Holland & Knight is representing Ukraine in a new US lawsuit seeking to enforce a nearly $7 million arbitration award against a Florida body armor supplier. Lawyers at the firm on behalf of Ukraine's Ministry of Defense asked a federal judge in Florida on Wednesday to enforce a 2023 arbitration award issued against JMS Capital Alliance LLC. Ukraine has alleged Florida-based JMS breached a supply contract by delivering body armor plates that failed required ballistic tests after Ukraine paid in advance for them. JMS did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Lawyers at Holland & Knight declined to comment on the legal proceeding but said the firm has long represented Ukraine on legal matters. The firm is also defending Ukraine in New York and DC federal courts in cases involving the Russian oil company Tatneft's efforts to enforce a $173 million award against Ukraine. Holland & Knight’s Robert Shaw is representing Ukraine in both the Tatneft and JMS disputes. Ukraine entered into a supply agreement with JMS after Russia’s 2022 invasion of the country, court records show. Ukraine said more than 4,000 body-armor un
By Mike Scarcella WASHINGTON, Oct 15 (Reuters) — US law firm Holland & Knight is representing Ukraine in a new US lawsuit seeking to enforce a nearly $7 million arbitration award against a Florida body armor supplier. Lawyers at the firm on behalf of Ukraine's Ministry of Defense asked a federal judge in Florida on Wednesday to enforce a 2023 arbitration award issued against JMS Capital Alliance LLC. Ukraine has alleged Florida-based JMS breached a supply contract by delivering body armor plates that failed required ballistic tests after Ukraine paid in advance for them. JMS did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Lawyers at Holland & Knight declined to comment on the legal proceeding but said the firm has long represented Ukraine on legal matters. The firm is also defending Ukraine in New York and DC federal courts in cases involving the Russian oil company Tatneft's efforts to enforce a $173 million award against Ukraine. Holland & Knight’s Robert Shaw is representing Ukraine in both the Tatneft and JMS disputes. Ukraine entered into a supply agreement with JMS after Russia’s 2022 invasion of the country, court records show.
Ukraine said more than 4,000 body-armor units were missing quality-assurance documents, and the country rejected them. Ukraine said it asked JMS to either replace the unaccepted armor or provide a refund and that the company did neither. Ukraine has worked with other US law firms, including Morrison & Foerster, Covington & Burling and Quinn Emanuel. Holland & Knight has advised many other foreign clients, a review of US Justice Department records shows.
Its clients have included Japan, the Bahamas, Israel and the UK. The case is Ministry of Defense of Ukraine v. JMS Capital Alliance LLC, US District Court, Southern District of Florida, No. 1:26-cv-27193-PCH.
For plaintiff: Robert Shaw and Daniel Hanlon of Holland & Knight For defendant: No appearance yet Read more: Ukraine turns to U.S. law firm Quinn Emanuel in Russia human rights case Ukraine taps U.S. law firm Covington to press Russia claim at U.N. court Ukraine's Zelenskiy hires U.S.
law firm for sanctions advice (Reporting by Mike Scarcella)