Ratings and Awards

Tax – Tier 1 

Pepeliaev Group fields the largest tax team in Russia, with 70 fee-earners working under the ‘expert guidance’ of Sergey Pepeliaev, whose ‘astonishing attention to detail and commitment are matched only by his knowledge of Russia’s legal system’. The practice comprises numerous sector-focused divisions, and its reach extends beyond Moscow thanks to offices in St Petersburg (where Sergey Sosnovsky is ‘an expert in regional tax incentive issues’) and Krasnoyarsk. Clients include the Russian Ministry of Energy, FIFA, Zara and Citibank. 

Competition – Tier 2 

Pepeliaev Group’s antimonopoly practice head Elena Sokolovskaya is ‘incredibly helpful for in-house counsel, providing prompt and reliable feedback’. Senior partner and head of corporate division, Vladimir Sokov regularly advises international and domestic firms subject to antitrust investigations and audits. Head of commercial practice, Oksana Migitko is an expert in vertical and horizontal agreements. 

Employment – Tier 2 

Pepeliaev Group has ‘great experience in providing legal support on the full range of employment and migration law issues’. The team is headed by Julia Borozdna and includes senior associate Dmitry Zykov, an experienced employment litigator and adviser, and associate Victoria Kushner, a migration law expert. 

Intellectual Property -Tier 3 

Pepeliaev Group devised the IP protection regime for FIFA ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Other clients include Shell, Reckitt Benckiser and VimpelCom. The team is headed by Valentina Orlova, and was joined in October 2012 by senior associate Yuri Yahin, who is experienced in copyright issues. 

Real Estate – Tier 3 

At Pepeliaev Group, Alexey Konevsky and Vladimir Sokov provide wide-ranging transactional support to Russian and international clients with Russian real estate assets. Senior associate Natalia Stenina was promoted to head the real estate and construction practice. Clients can also draw on the firm’s outstanding tax practice and its capabilities in dispute resolution. 

TMT – Tier 3 

Pepeliaev Group’s head of telecoms Natalia Ivaschenko is singled out for her ‘strong industry knowledge’, and is regarded as ‘an expert in telecoms law’ and as ‘an open-minded professional in mass media’. Her practice covers both contentious and non-contentious matters, with a strong focus on tax-related issues. 

Energy and Natural Resources – Tier 5 

Pepeliaev Group is experienced in acting for major energy firms and investors in tax disputes with large amounts at stake. On the non-contentious side, Rustem Ahmetshin and Pavel Kondukov advised the Russian Ministry of Energy on proposed amendments to a draft production-sharing agreement for use of the subsoil of the Khvalynskoye gas deposit. 

Dispute Resolution: Litigation – Tier 4 

Pepeliaev Group remains active in bankruptcy disputes. Yuriy Vorobyev, head of the dispute resolution practiceand and Yulia Litovtseva head of the bankruptcy group within the practice represented creditor Sitroniks in its RUB3bn claim against Tsifrovaya. 

Corporate and M&A: Moscow – Other recommended

Corporate and M&A: St Petersburg – Tier 2 

Sergey Spasennov heads Pepeliaev Group’s St Petersburg office, and has experience in M&A deals as well as corporate restructurings, and regularly conducts due diligence on Russian and foreign targets. Head of corporate Andrey Pekhovsky recently advised two foreign manufacturers on entering the Russian market.