London will be the scene for an unprecedented High Court battle between two Jewish oligarchs.

A £2 billion lawsuit against Russian businessman Roman Abramovich will go to trial after the Chelsea owner lost an appeal to quash a claim brought by his former business partner Boris Berezovsky.

The pair, who are among the world’s richest men, worked together following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

But in 2009 Mr Berezovsky launched a lawsuit, alleging Mr Abramovich had used "threats and intimidation" to coerce him into selling his stake in Russian oil company Sibneft at below value.

In March 2010 the High Court ruled that the case should go ahead and today three Court of Appeal judges refused to overturn that decision.

The trial is expected to take place in London next year.