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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Vincent Tchenguiz in bitter battle with detective agency | Vincent Tchenguiz in bitter battle with detective agency |
| (6 months later) | |
| A private detective agency run out of Vincent Tchenguiz's offices on Park Lane – staffed by former Israeli intelligence operatives – has been thrown out by the investment tycoon in a bitter dispute over bills they presented to him. | A private detective agency run out of Vincent Tchenguiz's offices on Park Lane – staffed by former Israeli intelligence operatives – has been thrown out by the investment tycoon in a bitter dispute over bills they presented to him. |
| Black Cube, which also has offices in Tel Aviv but still operates in London, dramatically fell out with Tchenguiz over bills that it claimed were linked to work carried out for him on multiple lawsuits he was fighting around the world. It had worked for Tchenguiz from late 2011 until the falling out two months ago. | Black Cube, which also has offices in Tel Aviv but still operates in London, dramatically fell out with Tchenguiz over bills that it claimed were linked to work carried out for him on multiple lawsuits he was fighting around the world. It had worked for Tchenguiz from late 2011 until the falling out two months ago. |
| These suits included actions in relation to failed Icelandic bank Kaupthing and Tchenguiz's judicial review of Serious Fraud Office raids on his offices, which resulted in the warrants being declared unlawful and the investment tycoon launching a £200m claim for aggravated and exemplary damages against the anti-fraud agency. | These suits included actions in relation to failed Icelandic bank Kaupthing and Tchenguiz's judicial review of Serious Fraud Office raids on his offices, which resulted in the warrants being declared unlawful and the investment tycoon launching a £200m claim for aggravated and exemplary damages against the anti-fraud agency. |
| Black Cube, staffed by former Israeli intelligence figures Daniel Zorella, Avi Yanus and Ido Josef, describes itself as a "creative intelligence" agency. It has hired lawyers from Peters & Peters to bring a £330,000 claim against Tchenguiz's company Vincos for "debt and other damages" and alleged breach of contract. | Black Cube, staffed by former Israeli intelligence figures Daniel Zorella, Avi Yanus and Ido Josef, describes itself as a "creative intelligence" agency. It has hired lawyers from Peters & Peters to bring a £330,000 claim against Tchenguiz's company Vincos for "debt and other damages" and alleged breach of contract. |
| The intelligence firm is also claiming it had an agreement with Tchenguiz that he would pay performance fees of 1% of the proceeds of cash settlements from legal proceedings, as well as the takings from a proposed film about Tchenguiz. | The intelligence firm is also claiming it had an agreement with Tchenguiz that he would pay performance fees of 1% of the proceeds of cash settlements from legal proceedings, as well as the takings from a proposed film about Tchenguiz. |
| Separately, Tchenguiz has filed a claim in Israel alleging he has been defrauded. A hearing to determine whether the two claims should be heard together in London will take place at the high court in London later this month. | Separately, Tchenguiz has filed a claim in Israel alleging he has been defrauded. A hearing to determine whether the two claims should be heard together in London will take place at the high court in London later this month. |
| The Tchenguiz camp claims Black Cube mainly does "open source" intelligence gathering – through public records and internet trawling – rather than anything more complex. | The Tchenguiz camp claims Black Cube mainly does "open source" intelligence gathering – through public records and internet trawling – rather than anything more complex. |
| In submissions to the high court, a witness statement from a Vincos lawyer claim said no written agreements existed with Black Cube. "Some £823,790 has been paid to Black Cube over the past 13 months by Vincos. It is believed by Vincos that much of this sum has been obtained dishonestly." | In submissions to the high court, a witness statement from a Vincos lawyer claim said no written agreements existed with Black Cube. "Some £823,790 has been paid to Black Cube over the past 13 months by Vincos. It is believed by Vincos that much of this sum has been obtained dishonestly." |
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