Nik Storonsky, Revolut’s co-founder and CEO, faces a legal dispute in London after yacht brokerage Cecil Wright & Partners filed a €17.5 million claim against him. The High Court case concerns a superyacht valued at €350 million. The broker says it made the purchase possible, then was excluded from the final deal. The claimed sum represents 5% of the alleged purchase price.
British media, citing court documents, report that the dispute began in October 2024, when an adviser from Storonsky’s family office approached Cecil Wright & Partners about building a new yacht. The following year, the adviser returned to look for an existing vessel while the new project progressed. The brokerage says it identified a 102.4-metre yacht under construction by German shipbuilder Lürssen as a suitable option.
By January 2026, the adviser had reportedly told Cecil Wright & Partners that Storonsky had bought the yacht directly from Canadian businessman and former professional hockey player Patrick Dovigi. The broker says its role in identifying the yacht and connecting the parties entitles it to a 5% commission, or €17.5 million, despite its absence from the final negotiations. The court will consider whether the brokerage agreement covered the deal and whether the broker’s introduction and work led to the purchase.
Storonsky’s family office has rejected the claim, saying there is no legal basis for the commission and vowing to contest the case in court. No judgment has been issued. Beverley Agbakoba-Onyejianya, writing for OAL Law, has discussed the dispute through the questions of brokerage commissions and contractual causation, as well as broker introductions and the potential evidential role of artificial intelligence, including ChatGPT.
Superyacht central to the Dispute
Industry coverage identifies the yacht as NIXIE, a 102.4-metre Lürssen vessel delivered in 2026. The yacht made its public debut at the Monaco Yacht Show, where specialist yachting coverage described it as difficult to miss in Port Hercule. NIXIE was one of six custom Lürssen deliveries highlighted that year. The other vessels named were BOARDWALK and DEEP BLUE, along with NAUSICAÄ, O3 and ODISEA.
NIXIE is listed as accommodating 12 guests in 10 cabins, with a crew of 34. Reported amenities include a glass pool and a 270-square-metre beach club, as well as a gym and cryotherapy facilities. The vessel has fold-down sea terraces. Its spa deck includes a sauna and steam room, plus a massage room and beauty salon. The helideck can also serve as a sports court. Edmiston has marketed the yacht for charter at about €2.4 million per week, putting it among the luxury-yacht market’s highest-priced offerings.
Legal Battle Amid Revolut’s Rapid Growth
Storonsky’s representatives have called the lawsuit groundless and stressed that it is a private matter unrelated to Revolut’s banking operations. The case comes as the fintech company expands: it says it has more than 75 million customers and recently completed its banking rollout in the UK. A secondary share sale in July 2026 valued Revolut at $115 billion, up from $75 billion the previous year.
The €17.5 million remains a disputed commission claim, not a confirmed debt or penalty. The outcome will depend on the court’s assessment of the brokerage arrangement and the parties’ conduct, as well as the link between Cecil Wright & Partners’ involvement and the completed purchase.
