Ratings and Awards
Chambers Europe
Competition / Antitrust (Band 2)
Basic facts about the department
- 5 partners
- 8 other qualified lawyers
What the team is known for
Large domestic player focused on behavioural and compliance issues. Represents clients in disputes against the FAS, as well as advising on market dominance matters. Most prominent in the pharmaceuticals sector, representing a range of local and multinational corporations.
Strengths (Quotes mainly from clients)
"Pepeliaev Group offers in-depth expertise and is good for dawn raids."
Notable practitioners
Elena Sokolovskaya focuses on anti-monopoly and compliance matters, particularly in advertising and public procurement.
Oksana Migitko is well regarded by her peers for her capabilities in anti-monopoly and commercial law. She is active in both litigation proceedings and M&A transactions.
Significant clients
Auchan, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Novo Nordisk.
Ranked Lawyers
Elena Sokolovskaya (Band 4)
Corporate / M&A: Mid-Market (Band 2)
What the team is known for
Well-recognised team advising local and international clients especially active in deals in the life sciences and real estate sectors. Also active on matters in the financial services and TMT sectors. Houses an exceptionally strong tax practice.
Strengths (Quotes mainly from clients)
"A good corporate team focusing on general commercial and tax advice."
Work highlights
Advised Omya Group on its joint venture with Algol Group.
Significant clients
JTI, Harry's, Philips, VimpelCom, Gazprom.
Dispute Resolution: Domestic (Band 3)
Basic facts about the department
- 2 partners
- 10 other qualified lawyers
What the team is known for
Commercial disputes group, separate from the firm's formidable tax litigation force. Particularly noted for its strong performance in anti-monopoly disputes. Active in contentious IP cases as well as bankruptcy and construction-related cases. Firm has three offices in Russia including St Petersburg and Krasnoyarsk.
Strengths (Quotes mainly from clients)
"Has a good knowledge of court processes."
Work highlights
Defended Sensotech against accusations of trade mark infringement by a major German corporation.
Represented Nike in an invalidation of a distribution agreements case and several debt collection matters.
Notable practitioners
Yuri Vorobyev and Roman Bevzenko are key contacts for the practice.
Significant clients
Fujitsu, Hals Development, Johnson & Johnson, Thomson Reuters.
Employment (Band 1)
Basic facts about the department
- 4 partners
- 9 other qualified lawyers
What the team is known for
Leading domestic firm, acting on regulatory and day-to-day matters alongside labour disputes. Boasts experience of trade unions, unfair dismissals, immigration and employee payment disputes. Acts for a client base of major global and domestic companies.
Strengths (Quotes mainly from clients)
"One of the best Russian law firms. The legal assistance is of a high quality, with practical advice, effective decisions and a highly client-oriented approach."
Notable practitioners
Practice head Julia Borozdna moves up to the top of the rankings this year, coming highly regarded for her leading regulatory and disputes practice, representing both employers and employees. Recent work includes fixed-term employment agreements, personal data protection and migration issues. Interviewees say: "She's a very good technical lawyer."
Significant clients
DHL, Electrolux, Gazprom, Renault.
Ranked Lawyers
Julia Borozdna (Band 1)
Intellectual Property (Band 3)
Basic facts about the department
- 2 partners
- 4 other qualified lawyers
What the team is known for
Provides commercial and transactional IP advice. Assists with trade mark and patent registration and defence. Well regarded for in-house academic expertise. Clients include financial services, technology and manufacturing companies.
Strengths (Quotes mainly from clients)
"The firm has a quality IP practice."
Work highlights
Represents Hals Development in a number of disputes relating to the change of name of a flagship toy shop in Moscow.
Notable practitioners
Valentina Orlova has a wealth of knowledge and experience in non-contentious IP matters, including trade mark registration and commercial use such as licensing and franchise agreements. "She has a good understanding of the regulatory side," sources say. She is also often instructed as a technical expert in court hearings.
Significant clients
Reckitt Benckiser, Citibank, Metro, JTI, Shell.
Ranked Lawyers
Valentina Orlova (Band 2)
Life Sciences (Band 2)
What the team is known for
Focuses on regulatory advice, compliance and pricing issues as well as antitrust matters. Often assists major global and international pharmaceutical firms with their Russian activities. Also provides corporate advice.
Strengths (Quotes mainly from clients)
"The lawyers understand the specifics of the Russian market."
Work highlights
Performed a comprehensive regulatory review of all aspects of Glenmark Impexs' Russian activities, advising on ways to improve and avoid risks.
Notable practitioners
Vladimir Sokov is a corporate law specialist active in the pharmaceuticals market. He advises clients on a range of commercial issues including M&A and joint venture projects.
Department head Sergey Klimenko is "quick in responding and ready to offer assistance in any matters of the healthcare legal area." He advises clients on regulatory matters, often assisting with compliance.
Significant clients
BIND Therapeutics, GlaxoSmithKline, R-Pharm, Roche.
Ranked Lawyers
Sergey Klimenko (Associates to watch)
Vladimir Sokov (Band 3)
Real Estate (Band 3)
What the team is known for
Well-regarded team working on real estate transactions, construction projects and lease agreements. Clients include local and international industrial and manufacturing companies, retailers and real estate developers. Complemented by a stellar tax practice.
Work highlights
Assists Leroy Merlin with the expansion of its retail network in Russia that recently included the acquisition of a number of land plots.
Advised Volkswagen Group Rus on the acquisition of a large warehouse in the Moscow region.
Notable practitioners
Alexey Konevsky is a key contact for clients.
Significant clients
Alrosa, Nike, UFG Private Equity Fund, Hals Development.
Restructuring / Insolvency (Recognised Practitioner)
Tax (Band 1)
Basic facts about the department
- 11 partners
- 70 other qualified lawyers
What the team is known for
Formidable tax litigation practice with the capacity to appear on high-end tax disputes, frequently before the Supreme Court concerning tax audits. Known for advising on amendments to existing tax legislation. Offers expertise in a wide range of industry areas, though recently increasingly prominent in the oil and gas and telecommunications sectors.
Strengths (Quotes mainly from clients)
"I am happy to rely on the firm's advice. The lawyers have broad experience in tax and litigation services. The advice is based not only on legal grounds but also on practicality."
"One of the striking traits of the firm is its ability to look at things very creatively. The lawyers there really try to find new ways which are still 100% in line with the law."
"The Pepeliaev Group cannot be beaten as a firm for tax dispute resolution services."
Work highlights
Defended French retail chain Leroy Merlin Vostok in a dispute against the tax authorities concerning the deductibility of bonuses from VAT concerning the price of certain products.
Represented Aeroflot in connection with the taxability of monies paid for interline and code-share agreements for flights between separate airlines.
Notable practitioners
Deemed the "godfather of Russian taxation" by sources, Sergey Pepeliaev holds a long-standing reputation for shaping the tax market and is widely acknowledged as the market leader. He continues to represent clients in large-scale litigation cases and is renowned for his activity in domestic legislative processes. Sources state: "He is a leader who formulates the trends for the market and plays an active part in developing solutions for his clients."
Rustem Ahmetshin concentrates on VAT and profit tax issues, including pricing matters. Interviewees note his respect in the market and deep knowledge of tax laws. A further source notes: "We like to work with him for his efficiency, speed and practicality." He recently played a lead role in Aeroflot's successful litigation against the tax authorities.
Andrey Nikonov centres his practice on the calculation of payable taxes, typically acting for large domestic and international enterprises. He climbs the rankings as his fellow practitioners note his growing reputation and describe him as a "skilled, sophisticated and developed" specialist.
Valentina Akimova is recommended for her expertise in transfer pricing, excise taxes and deductibility as well as refunds of VAT and profit tax. Sources indicate that "she is capable of handling a range of issues."
Sergey Sosnovsky heads the firm's St Petersburg office and is reputed for his work in tax disputes in connection with tax audits.
Significant clients
British American Tobacco, Citibank, Gazprom, Metro, Ministry of Energy.
Ranked Lawyers
Sergey G Pepeliaev (Star Individuals)
Rustem Ahmetshin (Band 2)
Andrey Nikonov (Band 2)
Valentina Akimova (Band 3)
Sergey Sosnovsky (Band 3)
TMT (Band 4)
Basic facts about the department
- 2 partners
- 20 other qualified lawyers
What the team is known for
Primarily focuses on tax matters, including representing TMT companies in court and before the state authorities. Assists with licensing and regulatory issues.
Notable practitioners
Natalia Ivashchenko regularly advises telecoms clients on tax-related issues, including representation in court disputes. She also assists with regulatory matters.
Significant clients
Ericsson, Kcell, Megafon, Thomson Reuters, Tele 2.
Ranked Lawyers
Natalia Ivashchenko (Band 3)
St Petersburg
Dispute Resolution (Band 2)
Basic facts about the department
- 11 partners
- 21 other qualified lawyers
What the team is known for
Strong domestic firm with a stellar reputation for tax-related disputes. Litigation team predominantly acts for clients in disputes against state authorities regarding VAT and general tax issues. Also has a corporate litigation team, acting for clients on contractual and payment disputes, bankruptcy cases and labour law disputes.
Strengths (Quotes mainly from clients)
"All the lawyers are very competent and are able to explain complicated issues in simple terms for non-lawyers to understand."
"Legal assistance of the highest quality."
Work highlights
Represented property managers GSK-2 in a VAT dispute with the state authorities.
Notable practitioners
Sergey Spasennov specialises in representing clients before state authorities. Acting for clients on a wide variety of industries, he assists with labour disputes, real estate disputes and anti-monopoly cases. He has particular experience in commercial arbitration cases.
Significant clients
Citibank, Heineken, Kinef.
Ranked Lawyers
Sergey Spasennov (Band 3)
General Business Law (Band 3)
Basic facts about the department
- 11 partners
- 21 other qualified lawyers
What the team is known for
Traditionally tax-driven domestic practice. Advises on corporate structuring, joint ventures and general corporate matters as well as corporate tax issues. Represents a client base of major international and domestic companies from the FMCG and oil and gas industries. Also provides regulatory advice related to labour law.
Notable practitioners
Sergey Sosnovsky advises clients on the tax aspects of transactions. He provides corporate structuring advice to international clients who are entering or expanding in the Russian market.
Managing partner of the St Petersburg office Sergey Spasennov oversees high-profile transactions and mandates. He advises clients on anti-monopoly and corporate compliance.
Significant clients
British American Tobacco, Gazprom, Heineken, SNF Vostok.
Ranked Lawyers
Sergey Sosnovsky (Band 3)
Sergey Spasennov (Band 3)