Sidley Austin Brown & Wood has been drafted in to arbitrate on the $33.1bn (£17.5bn) claim by shareholders of troubled oil giant Yukos against the Russian Government. It is one of the largest arbitrations ever.

The Chicago-based giant won the role as arbitrator for Group Menatep, Yukos’ majority shareholder, which is pursuing a claim for share devaluation after the Russian Government slapped a $27.5bn ($14.5bn) tax bill on the company.