Elite attorney and Morgan Stanley exec among missing after Mike Lynch's superyacht sinks off Sicily

British tech mogul Mike Lynch, best known as the founder of Autonomy, is among six people missing after a superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily during a severe storm. 

The yacht, named Bayesian, was carrying Lynch, his daughter Hannah, and several close associates, including key members of his legal team, as they celebrated Lynch’s recent legal victory in a high-profile U.S. fraud case. 

The yacht was struck by a waterspout near Porticello, close to Palermo, on Monday, leaving all aboard unaccounted for.

Lynch, 59, had recently been acquitted in a U.S. fraud case, a significant personal and professional victory after years of legal battles stemming from the 2011 sale of his company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard for $11 billion. 

The trip on the Bayesian was intended to celebrate this milestone with those who had supported him throughout the ordeal.

Among those missing are Christopher Morvillo, a prominent U.S. lawyer who played a critical role in defending Lynch during his trial, and Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of Morgan Stanley’s London-based investment banking subsidiary, who also served on Autonomy’s board during the HP deal. 

Both men were aboard the yacht with their wives at the time of the incident.

The sinking of the Bayesian comes just days after another tragedy struck Lynch’s inner circle. 

Stephen Chamberlain, a former Autonomy executive who was acquitted alongside Lynch, was fatally struck by a car while jogging in England. 

Chamberlain had been a key figure in the defense during the protracted legal battle that ensued after the Autonomy sale.

The search for the missing passengers continues as divers and rescue teams scour the waters off Sicily, but hope is fading as time passes. 

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the yacht's sinking, though it is believed the storm and waterspout played a significant role. 

Family members and colleagues of the missing have expressed their deep concern, with many describing the incident as a tragic end to what was meant to be a moment of triumph and celebration.