Ratings and Awards

Legal 500

Tax – Tier 1

The department at Pepeliaev Group is led by managing partner Sergey Pepeliaev, who has strong expertise in corporate and personal tax issues, and frequently handles contentious matters in judicial and arbitration proceedings. Rustem Ahmetshin and Ivan Khamenushko are also key figures, advising on the full gamut of tax issues including VAT assessment, audit procedures and budgeting.

Leading individuals

Rustem Ahmetshin - Pepeliaev Group

Sergey Pepeliaev - Pepeliaev Group

Competition – Tier 2

The team at Pepeliaev Group exhibits ‘excellent value for money and a result-oriented approach’. Practice head Vladimir Sokov is ‘very good at managing client expectations and identifying relevant legal issues’, and Elena Sokolovskaya frequently advises on antimonopoly and advertising legislation, as well as providing due diligence. Clients include Aeroflot, GlaxoSmithKline Trading and Lukoil.

Employment – Tier 2

Julia Borozdna heads the team at Pepeliaev Group, which has ‘a deep knowledge of labour legislation’, and provides ‘highly valuable and professional advice’. Longstanding clients include Adtran, Firelek and Head Hunter. BMW and Citibank are among the practice’s recent client gains.

Intellectual Property – Tier 3

The practice at Pepeliaev Group is co-headed by Valentina Orlova and Yuri Yahin, who both conducted litigation in the chamber for patent disputes and in court for DIO Corporation, challenging the patent that the patent office issued to the Russian company. Other clients include Astellas Pharma Europe, BIND and Brunswick Rail Group.

Real Estate and Construction – Tier 3

Pepeliaev Group acted for Volkswagen Group Rus on a large-scale development project, advising on the construction and acquisition of a warehouse complex in the Moscow region. Corporate lawyer Vladimir Sokov is recommended along with ‘tough negotiator’ Natalia Stenina, who is one of the heads in the real estate practice.

TMT – Tier 3

The team at Pepeliaev Group takes ‘a business-oriented approach and studies the issues in detail, which produces high-quality work and optimal results’. Tax lawyer Rustem Ahmetshin leads the group along with Natalia Ivashchenko, who has strong regulatory expertise.

Banking and Finance – Tier 4

Pepeliaev Group has recently been involved in a number of finance disputes, while also attracting strong transactional mandates. Igor Marmalidi heads the practice and Lidia Gorshkova is the other key contact.

Dispute Resolution: Litigation – Tier 4

Pepeliaev Group’s team of ‘well-qualified professionals’ is ‘extremely competent in the litigation sphere’, providing ‘smooth, fast and flexible assistance at a reasonable price’. Yulia Litovtseva ‘immediately finds arguments to support the client’s case’, and Yuriy Vorobyev is also recommended.

Energy and Natural Resources – Tier 5

Pepeliaev Group’s offshore projects team is headed by the ‘outstanding’ Pavel Kondukov, who advises on tax legislation and regulatory issues affecting large-scale projects. The ‘highly professional’ Rustem Ahmetshin has handled numerous tax disputes in the energy sector.

Corporate and M&A: Moscow – Other recommended

Corporate, Commercial and M&A: St Petersburg – Tier 2

The lawyers at Pepeliaev Group provide ‘highly professional, valuable advice’, and the group has been particularly active in the real estate sector. Head of the St. Petersburg office Sergey Spasennov is the key contact. Former practice head Andrey Pekhovsky left the firm in April 2015.