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Extra.ie
12-07-2025
- Business
- Extra.ie
Lobov stung with legal costs after changing claim against McGregor
Former MMA fighter Artem Lobov, who is suing Conor McGregor for a €6million share of his whiskey brand, must pay the lion's share of legal costs after changing his claim, the High Court has ruled. Artem Lobov, 38, a retired fighter known as 'The Russian Hammer', claims he was the original creator and co-founder of the whiskey that became McGregor's Proper No. Twelve. He said he came up with the idea while studying for his Master's degree at DCU, and his sparring partner Mr McGregor had agreed he would be entitled to a 5% share of the proceeds. He said the offer was made at the Straight Blast Gym (SBG) in Dublin. But at the pre-trial stage, Mr Lobov changed the date on which he said the deal had been agreed with Mr McGregor, resulting in the trial being adjourned with just days to go. Artem Lobov taunts opponent Andre Fili. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) Yesterday, Judge Nessa Cahill said Mr Lobov's initial statement of claim had read 'in September 2017 at the SBG gym' Mr McGregor 'made a specific offer to the plaintiff of 5% of the proceeds of the whiskey deal'. She said Mr Lobov asserted it was confirmed by a handshake witnessed by three people. Mr McGregor denied the claim, the judge said, saying there was never any agreement. The trial was set down for May this year. Five days before it was due to start, Mr Lobov's solicitors wrote to Mr McGregor: 'On reviewing the documentation… the plaintiff's evidence now shall be that the agreement… was concluded in October 2017 in SBG Gym.' Judge Cahill said that, in a sworn statement, Mr Lobov had apologised for his error. She said: 'He recalled he was, in fact, in Iceland for 10 days after the defendant's fight against Floyd Mayweather on August 26, 2017.' The court heard messages Mr Lobov had accessed confirmed to him that the meeting with Mr McGregor was in the week beginning October 9, 2017, and not in September. Artem Lobov of Russia celebrates with then teammate and UFC champion Conor McGregor after his featherweight bout against Teruto Ishihara during the UFC Fight Night at the SSE Arena. Pic: Getty Images Judge Cahill said Mr McGregor had been prejudiced in his defence by the change of date. She noted Mr Lobov was going through belongings when he found an old phone and was able to access messages on it. She ruled: 'I am of the view that the just order in the circumstances of this matter is an order that the plaintiff bear liability for 75% of the costs incurred by the defendant from March 18, 2025, in preparing this matter for trial, up to and including the costs of the first day of trial. This is to cover the costs of work done by the legal team during that period.' She said her order did not cover costs incurred before March 18, but would include 75% of the fees associated with the first day of the hearing and the costs of delivering an amended defence. Judge Cahill granted a stay on the order until the conclusion of the full case. The trial is expected to go ahead in the autumn.
Extra.ie
11-07-2025
- Business
- Extra.ie
McGregor now faces autumn legal action by former close friend
A multi-million-euro legal action taken against MMA fighter Conor McGregor by his former sparring partner and friend is likely to be heard in the autumn, the High Court has heard. Artem Lobov, 38, a retired MMA fighter known as 'The Russian Hammer', claims to have been the initial creator and co-founder of Mr McGregor's whiskey, which became known as Proper No. Twelve. The Russian native has stated in legal documents before the court that he worked for free for two years to help set up the whiskey brand. Conor McGregor showing off his whiskey. Pic: Conor McGregor/Instagram The former professional fighter, who has a Master's degree from DCU in finance and capital markets, claimed he came up with the idea after studying the liquor market at university. Judge Nessa Cahill was told yesterday that final exchanges of documents have to be made, relating to the date on which Mr Lobov alleges that Mr McGregor offered to pay him 5% of the proceeds from the whiskey sales. A file image of Conor McGregor. Pic: Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images He has said the promise was made while the pair were in a Dublin gym together. Mr Lobov has claimed Mr McGregor then reneged on that promise. At a pre-trial hearing, Mr Lobov's barrister Liam Bell told the court his client had been 'muscled out by the parties and wasn't paid what he was due'. Mr McGregor, who denies that any promise was made to Mr Lobov, is reputed to have been paid $130 million when he and two other shareholders sold their stakes in the whiskey in 2021 to Proximo Spirits, owners of Jose Cuervo tequila. He later offered Mr Lobov €1million in a post on X, which was refused. If Mr Lobov wins the High Court case, Mr McGregor could be ordered to pay him close to €6million. The eight-day trial had been due to be heard earlier this year, but was delayed after Mr Lobov said he had found an old phone, enabling him to be more accurate about when the promise was made by Mr McGregor. Pic: Instagram/Conor McGregor Having initially stated the offer was made in September 2017, he said he now believed it to have been made by Mr McGregor in October of that year. Mr Lobov's barrister, Andrew Walker, said yesterday that disclosure in the case was being extended to include October 2017. 'It is self-evident that he has to cover all the documents evidencing the agreement of October 2017, and he will,' he said. 'If the defence requires anything further, they can let us know,' he added. Mr Lobov will explain in a sworn statement why the existence of the old phone was only revealed late in the day, he said. Mr Walker said Mr Lobov was anxious to get the case listed for a full hearing as soon as possible. A file image of Conor McGregor. Pic: Dave Benett/WireImage Judge Cahill said she would list the case for mention over the coming weeks, with a view to it being heard during the next legal term, which begins in October. In the meantime, Mr McGregor is awaiting a decision from the Court of Appeal to his challenge to the jury's verdict concerning Nikita Hand's claim that she was raped by him in a Dublin hotel. The hair colourist and mother of one was awarded just under €250,000 in damages by a High Court jury last November. Nikita Hand arriving at the Court of Appeal in Dublin. Pic: Collins Courts Mr McGregor will also learn if Ms Hand is found liable by the Court of Appeal for her legal costs in suing Mr McGregor's friend, James Lawrence, for rape. She lost that claim, but the High Court ruled that Mr Lawrence must nevertheless pay his costs – which have been bankrolled by Mr McGregor. The Court of Appeal heard his costs would be significantly higher than the damages she won.
Sunday World
18-05-2025
- Sunday World
McGregor whiskey trial deferred after former friend comes across new information
Millions of euro are at stake in high-profile trial over Proper No Twelve The trial of a multi-million euro lawsuit taken against Conor McGregor by his former friend and sparring partner Artem Lobov over the creation of a whiskey brand will not now go ahead next week. An eight-day High Court case was due to get under way on Tuesday. But that date was vacated yesterday by Mr Justice Brian Cregan after lawyers for Mr Lobov said their client wished to amend his pleadings. The eleventh-hour intervention came after Mr Lobov came across new information and wished to change the date he believed an alleged oral agreement with Mr McGregor had been discussed. While Mr Lobov's side wished to go ahead with the trial as scheduled, following an objection from lawyers for Mr McGregor, they consented to the trial date being vacated. The court will now hear an application to change details in the plenary summons and statement of claim next Wednesday. It is unclear when the trial might now take place. Millions of euro are at stake in the case, which was set to be heard just six months after another high-profile civil action involving Mr McGregor. Dublin hair stylist Nikita Hand was awarded close to €250,000 in damages last November after her successful civil rape case against the former UFC champion. Mr McGregor is appealing the outcome and is seeking a retrial. Mr Lobov (38), a mixed martial arts fighter known as 'The Russian Hammer', claims to have been the initial creator and co-founder of the whiskey that became Proper No Twelve. He alleges Mr McGregor (36) reneged on an oral agreement to pay him 5pc of proceeds from the sale of the whiskey brand. The claims are disputed by Mr McGregor. In legal filings, Mr Lobov said he accepted the alleged offer made by Mr McGregor while they were in a gym in Dublin in September 2017, and that there were three others present when this occurred. But his counsel Andrew Walker SC told the court yesterday that his client had discovered an old phone 'which gave him further clarity on the date' and Mr Lobov now said the oral agreement was reached within a six-day period in October 2017. Mr Walker sought leave to bring a motion for the amendment of the pleadings, to change the date of the alleged agreement. Were the court to side with Mr Lobov, Mr McGregor could be ordered to pay him close to €6m Shelley Horan BL, for McGregor, said if the application was made, her side would not be in a position to go ahead with the trial on Tuesday. 'We have a number of witnesses lined up to meet a particular type of case, which would change if the amendment is granted,' she said. Ms Horan also said her side's discovery requests had extended only to the end of September 2017. Mr Walker said the amendment would not change things because there was no memo of the agreement. However, Mr Justice Cregan said he was 'not impressed'. 'It is quite clear the defendant is prejudiced by this application. Whether it is successful or not successful, your witness is now going to give evidence about a completely different date and the defendant needs time to prepare its defence for that date,' the judge said. Mr McGregor is reputed to have been paid $130m (€116.1m) when he and two other shareholders subsequently sold their stakes in the whiskey to Proximo Spirits, owners of Jose Cuervo tequila, for a reported $600m in 2021. Were the court to side with Mr Lobov, Mr McGregor could be ordered to pay him close to €6m. Mr Lobov claims he suggested in late 2016 that Mr McGregor develop a whiskey Russian-born Mr Lobov, a retired professional fighter with a master's degree from DCU in finance and capital markets, claims he came up with the whiskey brand idea after studying the liquor market in university. He alleges that in a gym, Mr McGregor orally agreed that he would receive 5pc of the proceeds of the whiskey. Mr McGregor later offered to pay him $1m for what he claims was Mr Lobov's 'limited involvement in prior events', but denies any such agreement existed. Mr Lobov refused to take the money. In the proceedings, Mr Lobov claims he suggested in late 2016 that Mr McGregor develop a whiskey and that he was authorised by him to investigate potential deals. Artem Lobov and Conor McGregor News in 90 Seconds - May 18th This, Mr Lobov says, culminated in him identifying West Cork Distillers and Malones Whiskey as potential partners in a deal that would have seen Mr McGregor retain 100pc ownership of the brand and a company incorporated to sell the whiskey, with profits split on a 50-50 basis with the distillers. However, Mr McGregor instead incorporated a company called Éire Born Ventures with sports agent Audie Attar and businessman Ken Austin, which entered a joint venture with Proximo Spirits. At a previous pre-trial hearing, Liam Bell BL, for Mr Lobov, told the court his client's case was that he was, in essence, 'muscled out by the parties and wasn't paid what he was due'. Mr Lobov is suing for the specific performance of the alleged agreement or damages; that is, he wants the court to order Mr McGregor to pay him 5pc of the sale proceeds received by the former UFC champion or to pay damages for breach of agreement, misrepresentation and breach of his economic interests.
Irish Daily Mirror
18-05-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
No mention of Conor McGregor as new owners release new edition of whiskey
The new owners of Conor McGregor's whiskey have brought out a new version of the liquor with no mention of his name. Proximo Spirits launched a new limited edition 13-year-old premier version of the whiskey across America last week for 60 bucks a bottle while the shamed fighter and his ex-sparring partner Artem Lobov were fighting it out over the No Twelve whiskey in the High Court. A source said: "There was no mention of Conor's name at the launch - it was as if he never existed." Whiskey expert Lobov claims the idea of a McGregor whiskey was originally his and Conor promised him a five per cent share in the brand for all the years he worked on the project. McGregor offered him a million quid to settle a few years ago but he turned it down. But now sources say both were shocked when the new 13-year-old version of the whiskey was launched last week with no mention of McGregor - another idea Lobov says was his. It is understood the original idea of number 13 was to commemorate the 13 seconds that it took McGregor to knock out Jose Aldo at UFC 194 on December 12, 2015. The No Twelve idea came from the post code in which he grew up in Crumlin, Dublin. However Proximo, which paid $600 million for McGregor's whiskey, made it clear at the launch of the single malt whiskey that the product had nothing to do with Conor McGregor any more and was a "new era" for the business. He was dropped as the brand ambassador by Proximo last November after he was found liable for sexual assault in the civil action taken against him by Nikita Hand and ordered to pay €250,000 in damages. The fighter is currently appealing that decision. There is no use of his name, face or likeness in relation to Proper No Twelve any more and the same applies to the new 13-year-old bottle. Lander Otegui, executive vice-president of marketing for Proximo Spirits said it represented a new era for the brand. He said: "This 13-year-old Single Malt is a more refined expression that still holds true to our roots - bold, accessible and built for those who appreciate character. "It's a celebration of the exciting future ahead as we continue to expand the brand's Irish whiskey offerings and disruptive approach to the category." McGregor founded his whiskey in 2018 and it became an overnight commercial success story, becoming one of the most popular brands in the USA. He walked away with $130 million from the deal. It is believed he still holds shares in it. The new whiskey is distilled at Bushmill's, the world's oldest licensed whiskey distillery. The 13-year-old whiskey is now on sale in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Tennessee, Texas and Arizona. The High Court showdown between McGregor and Lobov has been postponed for a couple of weeks while changes are made to the original claim. It is understood private talks between the legal parties involved have so far failed to find a resolution to their dispute. McGregor and Lobov were best mates and used to travel the world together before they fell out. A source close to the case said: "We are all hoping they will sort this row out and make up. The Americans couldn't care less about either of them."
Sunday World
16-05-2025
- Sunday World
Conor McGregor whiskey case not going ahead after ‘fundamental' change
The case by Russian Artem Lobov, claiming he had an oral agreement for a 5pc share made with Mr McGregor in a gym in September 2017, was due to begin next Tuesday The High Court hearing of a dispute over a claim by a former sparring partner of Conor McGregor for a share in a whiskey brand founded by the MMA fighter is not going ahead as planned next week after the case was "fundamentally changed" to what was originally pleaded. The case by Russian Artem Lobov, claiming he had an oral agreement for a 5pc share made with Mr McGregor in a gym in September 2017, was due to begin next Tuesday with eight days set aside for the hearing. The case concerns Mr Lobov's claim for a share in creating the idea for and working on setting up the "Proper Number Twelve" Irish whiskey brand. It was sold in 2021 to Proximo Spirits for a reported sum of up to US$600m and Mr McGregor was reported to have received US€130m from the sale. Artem Lobov celebrates a UFC win with Conor McGregor in 2016. Photo: Brandon Magnus — © Zuffa LLC via Getty Images News in 90 Seconds - May 16th Proximo cut ties with Mr McGregor and the brand following last year's separate High Court action in which a civil jury found he should pay almost €250,000 for raping a woman, Nikita Hand, in a Dublin hotel in December 2018. That decision is being appealed. On Thursday, a judge said he was reluctantly going to allow the case to proceed next week after he expressed concerns about whether or not it was ready. The court heard Mr Lobov's side was late in lodging pre-trial legal submissions. This meant Mr McGregor's side was unable to have its submissions in before the case was due to begin. On Friday, Mr Justice Brian Cregan was told Mr Lobov's submissions had been received after Thursday's court hearing and they contained a proposal that the date of the alleged oral agreement was not as first claimed to be, in September 2017, but October 2017. Shelley Horan BL, for Mr McGregor, said her side had prepared the case on the basis that it was a September date that the alleged oral agreement was made and they had interviewed four people who were supposed to present when it occurred in a gym. As a result, it had significant implications for the case, which counsel had described as being primarily evidence based. Her side was prejudiced by this amendment to the case and would now need time to prepare for what would be a new claim. Ms Horan also said no specific date had been given for the September claim which had created challenges for the defendant in preparing the case. The defence denied there was any oral agreement. Andrew Walker SC, for Mr Lobov, accepted what had happened was wholly unacceptable but he was seeking leave to bring a motion to amend the case next week with an affidavit setting out the rationale as to why this had happened. Asked by Mr Justice Cregan why, when the court set the hearing date for next Tuesday , that the fact the case had "changed fundamentally" had not been brought to the judge's attention, Mr Walker said he would like to have that put on affidavit. The new date is a month later, not months later or a different year, he said. New information was discovered by Mr Lobov on an old phone which gave him clarity about the date, he said. After the case was put back to later in the morning for Mr Walker to get instructions, counsel said he was agreeing to an adjournment of next week's hearing. The judge vacated the hearing date but said he would hear Mr Walker's application next week to amend the statement of claim to put in the new October date.
