Top Ten Bits:
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Blatant Theft from a Single Mother: Ager-Hanssen stole £1.1 million from a single mother, Zhanna Shamalova, under the pretext of providing legal and strategic advice for her divorce case.
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False Claims of Wealth: He falsely claimed to be worth at least £78 million, a blatant lie used to gain trust and appear credible.
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Misleading and Stalling Tactics: Ager-Hanssen strung Shamalova along for over a year, providing false updates and excuses about delays in the divorce proceedings.
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Misuse of Funds: Ager-Hanssen was supposed to allocate £500,000 to lawyers for Shamalova's case but instead instructed them to pause work after minimal effort and eventually terminated their retainer.
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Refusal to Return Stolen Money: Despite agreeing to return the stolen £1.1 million, Ager-Hanssen never followed through, forcing Shamalova to sue him.
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Potential Collusion with Opposing Party: There is suspicion that Ager-Hanssen deliberately stalled Shamalova’s case to benefit her husband, Kirill Shamalov, possibly in exchange for a better offer.
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Association with Sanctioned Individuals: Ager-Hanssen’s actions may have indirectly supported a sanctioned individual, Kirill Shamalov, raising questions about illegal transactions and conflicts of interest.
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Repeatedly Damaging Clients: He has a history of damaging his clients’ cases, such as advising Martin Wennberg in a way that resulted in a prison sentence, showing a pattern of unethical behavior.
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Avoiding Accountability: Ager-Hanssen avoided providing forensic imaging of his devices in a legal battle, indicating attempts to hide incriminating evidence.
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Exploiting Vulnerable Individuals: His modus operandi includes targeting vulnerable individuals like single mothers and those in complex legal battles, exploiting their desperation for personal gain.
Summary
In a scandalous turn of events, serial chaos agent Christen Ager-Hanssen, who once boasted of a multimillion-pound fortune, is now embroiled in a legal battle after allegedly defrauding a single mother of £1.1 million. Newly released court documents reveal a web of deceit and manipulation that questions the ethics and integrity of a man who presented himself as a billionaire savior.
The Deception
Zhanna Shamalova, the ex-wife of Kirill Shamalov, a sanctioned Russian oligarch and former spouse of Vladimir Putin's daughter, Katerina Tikhonova, enlisted Ager-Hanssen's Custos Group in December 2021. The contract, worth £1.1 million, was for 'Conflict Management and Litigation Strategy Advice.' Shamalova was promised not only strategic counsel but also a dedicated legal team to secure her $60 million prenup settlement.
Empty Promises and Stalling Tactics
Despite the grand promises, Ager-Hanssen's actions tell a different story. Harbottle and Lewis LLP, the law firm hired on Shamalova's behalf, filed divorce proceedings on December 30, 2021. After less than a week’s work, they were instructed by Ager-Hanssen to halt all efforts. By April 2022, their retainer was terminated. Over the following months, Ager-Hanssen fed Shamalova a series of excuses, claiming delays were due to her husband's refusal to cooperate with the English courts.
Realization and Confrontation
As months dragged on, Shamalova's suspicion grew. When she finally contacted Harbottle and Lewis directly, she discovered the extent of Ager-Hanssen's deceit. Their work had ceased months prior, and the substantial funds she believed were being utilized for her case had been squandered. In February 2023, she confronted Ager-Hanssen at the Connaught Hotel. Cornered, he agreed to return the money but ultimately failed to do so, forcing Shamalova to take legal action.
A Pattern of Deception
This incident is not an isolated one. Ager-Hanssen's history is riddled with similar accusations. In another high-profile divorce case, Martin Wennberg, a client advised by Ager-Hanssen, ended up imprisoned. Ager-Hanssen's alleged mismanagement led to bankruptcy proceedings against Wennberg for unpaid legal fees. These recurring instances suggest a disturbing pattern where Ager-Hanssen's interventions have consistently resulted in severe repercussions for his clients.
Potential Collusion and Ethical Breaches
Speculation surrounds Ager-Hanssen's motivations. There are growing concerns that his deliberate stalling in Shamalova's case may have been to benefit her husband, potentially saving him the $60 million payout stipulated in their prenuptial agreement. Given Shamalov’s sanctioned status, any financial dealings with him would be illegal, yet such an arrangement could explain Ager-Hanssen’s actions and his apparent affinity towards Putin's regime.
Avoidance and Legal Implications
Ager-Hanssen's refusal to comply with legal requests for forensic imaging of his devices in a separate legal dispute adds another layer of suspicion. This reluctance to cooperate further fuels concerns about his transparency and the legitimacy of his operations.
The Broader Impact
The fallout from Ager-Hanssen's actions extends beyond financial losses. For vulnerable individuals like Shamalova, who sought his expertise in a desperate time, the emotional and psychological toll is profound. The pattern of exploitation of those in vulnerable situations underscores a troubling modus operandi that warrants serious scrutiny.
Moving Forward
As Shamalova’s legal proceedings against Ager-Hanssen unfold, they may shed light on the full extent of his misconduct. For now, this case stands as a stark reminder of the potential for exploitation within the legal and financial advisory sectors, and the critical need for vigilance and accountability.
Conclusion
Christen Ager-Hanssen’s alleged actions reveal a deeply troubling portrait of a man whose public persona as a billionaire masks a pattern of deceit and exploitation. The legal battles ahead will determine not only the restitution for his victims but also the broader implications for ethical standards in advisory practices.
For those who have been wronged by Ager-Hanssen, the fight for justice is just beginning