The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net THE legal feud between two wealthy Israeli brothers over $100 million could come to an end on March 16. Rami Weisfisch and Amir Weissfisch have until this date to come up with a settlement agreement proposal, and will return to the Court of Appeal on April 25 to say whether they were successful. Nicholas Lavender QC, and Brian Moree QC, the attorneys for Rami and Amir respectively, informed Justices Christopher Blackman, Stanley John and Abdulai Conteh of the brothers' decision to work out a settlement. The brothers were joint owners of one of the most prominent metal trading firms in London - Metals Resources Group (MRG). Mr Weisfisch (the brothers spell their surname differently) ran MRG, which became a dominant force in the global cobalt market in 1999 and closed in 2000. His brother Amir was his partner. Amir took legal action in England in 2006, claiming Rami refused to account to his brother for their partnership profits over an eight-year period. Last October, Justice Stephen Isaacs - the fourth Supreme Court judge to have presided over the case, each of the others having recused themselves for various reasons - described the brothers as being "locked in what began as an accounting exercise, but evolved into a pitched battle over the proceeds of a metal trading business accumulated between 1992 and 2000". Justice Isaacs, who dismissed a recusal application by elder brother Rami, said there appeared to be "many millions of dollars earned by the business over that period, which is to be divided equally" between the two brothers. Mr Weisfisch appealed that ruling, but has now agreed with his brother to move towards resolution.