Elena Sokolovskaya is leaving Pepeliaev Group

Elena Sokolovskaya, Partner and Head of the Antitrust Practice, is leaving Pepeliaev Group. For the time being, this area will be overseen by Aidar Sultanov, who heads the firm’s office in Tatarstan.

“We are grateful to Elena for her many years of work and her contribution to establishing and developing the firm’s antitrust practice. Thanks to her efforts, the firm has achieved significant success and earned the trust of leading Russian and international companies. We thank Elena and wish her every success in her future professional endeavours.”

Sergey Pepeliaev

Managing partner 

Pepeliaev Group’s Antitrust Practice will, as before, continue to advise on competition law issues across a wide range of industries, from pharmaceuticals and telecommunications to construction and energy. The firm’s lawyers continue to handle antitrust projects. They contribute to shaping administrative and judicial decisions, develop compliance systems, and assist business in building a constructive relationship with the antitrust authorities.

Aidar Sultanov has specialised in dispute resolution for more than 35 years and has worked for over 30 years in the field of antitrust regulation. He is experienced in resolving complex antitrust law issues, including before Russia’s Constitutional Court. He has successfully challenged provisions of antitrust legislation that allowed the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) to order that funds obtained from antitrust violations be transferred to the federal budget without limitation periods and without any requirement to establish fault. In September 2025, he secured a settlement with a regional office of the FAS by concluding an amicable agreement that was approved by the court.

Aidar is actively engaged in academic activity. Over the past three years, he has published 33 articles on antitrust matters as well as a book dedicated to antitrust disputes. He is one of the most frequently cited procedural law experts in Russia.