Two expensive Russians

A ship agent in the Middle East agreed to "look after" two old Russian flag ships prior to sale.  This decision cost the Club a large amount of money.  Parties from the Middle East, who were owed approximately US$3,000,000, arrested the ships, and joined the ship agents into the action.  A deal was eventually worked out with the creditors but the lawyer appointed by the Club to defend the ship agent was entitled to a  fee equivalent to 10% of the claim and eventually agreed to discount this fee to US$125,000.