LONDON, January 19 - RAPSI, Vladimir Yaduta. Laurence Rabinowitz, QC for exiled oligarch Boris Berezovsky who seeks to recover over $5.5 billion from Chelsea soccer club owner Roman Abramovich, has criticized Abramovich's defense in his closing speech, the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI/rapsinews.com) reported from the courtroom on Thursday.

A leading London lawyer, Rabinowitz, pointed out so many errors and drawbacks in Jonathan Sumption's concluding remarks that his own speech turned to a critique of his opponent's.

This was noted by Ali Malek representing Metalloinvest's co-owner Vasily Anisimov in the litigation. "The burden of proof is on Mr. Berezovsky to establish his claims, rather than to expose the drawback of Abramovich's position," Malek said on Wednesday.

The day before Rabinowitz accused Abramovich of cynicism, dishonesty and collusion with the witnesses, but the next day he was more reserved.

Berezovsky claims in his lawsuit that Abramovich intimidated him and his partner Badri Patarkatsishvili into selling a number of assets, including a 43-percent stake in Sibneft and a share of the Rusal aluminum group, for significantly less than their value.

Berezovsky alleged that Abramovich abused his confidence.

The Berezovsky vs. Abramovich trial has been going on in the High Court of Justice for about three and a half months. Several more closing speeches, including by Ali Malek are expected on Thursday, thereafter Judge Elizabeth Gloster is to pass a judgment.