Ratings and Awards

Chambers Europe

What the team is known for Focuses on behavioural and compliance issues. Known for its strength in advisory services, the team assists international and domestic clients with regulatory compliance issues relating to contracts and transactions. Provides support in contentious cases, including investigations by the FAS.

Strengths Clients value the team for its clear and client-oriented communication.

Notable practitioners

Elena Sokolovskaya (Band 3) is a reputable competition specialist predominantly assisting with advisory and contentious matters. A client describes her as "very accurate and fast."

Basic facts about the Department

• Heads of department: Ilya Bolotnov and Nikolay Solodovnikov
• 2 partners
• 12 other qualified lawyers

What the team is known for Notable team acting for a broad roster of blue-chip international clients as well as significant Russian corporates. Provides corporate structuring and governance advice and is also regularly instructed on due diligence projects. Particularly active in the consumer products and pharmaceutical sectors. Stands out for its excellent tax capabilities.

Strengths The team wins praise for its client-oriented approach. "They know our needs," a client says, while another describes the team as "fast and responsive."

Significant Clients Canon, GlaxoSmithKline, Procter & Gamble, Wihuri.

Notable practitioners

Ilya Bolotnov is a key contact for clients.

Basic facts about the Department

• Heads of department: Roman Bevzenko and Yuri Vorobyev
• 3 partners
• 10 other qualified lawyers

What the team is known for Well-regarded commercial disputes practice, separate from the firm's formidable tax litigation force. Regularly handles complex debt recovery disputes alongside commercial and contractual disputes. Represents notable domestic and European corporates as well as an increasing number of Asian business names.

Strengths Interviewees note the team's responsiveness as well as the "focus on the result and their objectivity in assessing the situation."

Work highlights Acted for PTK Granit on Moscow-based arbitration debt recovery proceedings.

Represented Rietumu Banka in a number of bankruptcy disputes against Russian debtors.

Significant Clients Alrosa, Campari, Gazprom, Oriflame.

Notable practitioners

Yuri Vorobyev and Roman Bevzenko are key client contacts.

Basic facts about the Department

• Head of department: Julia Borozdna
• 5 partners
• 8 other qualified lawyers

What the team is known for Leading team with a significant contentious practice alongside well-established advisory capabilities. Strong track record in handling unfair dismissals, migration and employee payment disputes as well as negotiations with trade unions. Also has experience advising on matters regarding the restructuring of personnel. Acts for a client base comprising major global and domestic companies.

Strengths Clients particularly value the team's analytical skills, with one of them specifying: "They give us thoughtful analysis of all steps and risks," adding that the team also offers "practical solutions."

Significant Clients FIFA, Nestlé, Gazprom-Media, Yandex.

Notable practitioners

Department head Julia Borozdna (Band 1) is a top-tier employment specialist with a long-standing reputation, offering expertise in advising both domestic and international companies on a broad array of employment issues. "She has substantial practical experience," a source confirms.

Senior associate Anna Berlina (Associates to watch) is particularly active in contentious employment work and also assists with advisory mandates.

Basic facts about the Department

• Heads of department: Valentina Orlova and Yuri Yahin
• 2 partners
• 4 other qualified lawyers

What the team is known for Respected IP team providing comprehensive legal advice on IP rights management with a focus on commercial and transactional IP. Increasingly active on contentious mandates. Respected for its in-house academic expertise. Clients include notable international brands.

Strengths Clients highlight the team's efficiency as well as its readiness to help with negotiations.

Work highlights Defended Gedeon Richter in a patent cancellation dispute with Teva.

Significant Clients BMW, Evraz, IKEA, Oriflame.

Notable practitioners

Valentina Orlova (Band 1) climbs to the top tier as a result of an impressive track record and very positive market feedback. "She is able to find and take an innovative approach to solve the client's problem," a source says. She is known for her academic background in this area of law and is particularly well respected for her in-depth knowledge of trade marks.

What the team is known for Climbs up to the top tier as a result of very positive market feedback and presence on significant cases. Advises on localisation and pricing issues as well as regulatory and compliance matters. Covers regulation of medical devices in addition to pharmaceutical products. Also handles antitrust and corporate matters for international pharmaceutical companies, and assists with investigations. Acts for importers, manufacturers and distributors.

Strengths Sources praise the team's service. "We really like them," a client says, further highlighting the team's "practical approach, clear advice, no problem with deadlines."

Interviewees laud the team's particular regulatory knowledge of the medical devices sector.

Work highlights Advised Abbott Laboratories on the launching of a new medical device in Russia.

Notable practitioners

Sergey Klimenko (Band 2) is a well-regarded specialist advising pharmaceutical clients on complex regulatory matters as well as commercial concerns. Clients benefit from his experience of working in-house for a pharmaceutical company. "He is very business-oriented but takes risks into account," a client says, adding that he provides "very balanced recommendations."

What the team is known for Well-regarded domestic team advising international and local clients across a spectrum of real estate matters. Acts on real estate transactions, construction projects and lease agreements. Notable real estate litigation capabilities complemented by its stellar tax practice. Provides due diligence support and day-to-day regulatory advice. Boasts a diverse client base, demonstrating a particularly solid track record in the retail sector. Also acts for companies in the manufacturing and pharmaceutical sectors.

Strengths Clients highlight the clarity of advice, with one of them noting: "They explained everything in great detail – all risks and consequences."

Work highlights Assisted Bionorica with the planning for the construction of a pharmaceutical plant in the Voronezh region.

Notable practitioners

Alexey Konevsky (Band 4) advises clients on construction and investment matters, including greenfield and brownfield projects.

Natalya Stenina (Up and Coming) enters the rankings this year on the back of positive feedback. She assists with transactional and construction matters. "She really knows how to speak," a client says, praising the clarity of advice.

What the team is known for Well-reputed domestic team of litigation specialists also active in bankruptcy matters. Advises both domestic and international companies on insolvency-related risks and represents them in contentious matters. Benefits from its stellar tax practice.

Strengths Clients value the team for its effective communication and clear risk-analysis, with a client saying that their legal opinions are presented in "a very clear and concise way."

Work highlights Represented Rietumu Banka in initiating bankruptcies of its insolvent Russian borrowers.

Represented ALROSA as a creditor in a number of proceedings relating to debt settlement involving nine interrelated bankruptcy cases.

Notable practitioners

Department head Yulia Litovtseva (Band 4) is a specialist in bankruptcy law advising domestic and international clients on contentious matters as well as due diligence and compliance. Clients praise her for being "easy to communicate with," adding that Litovtseva is "a good orator and negotiator."

What the team is known for Formidable tax litigation practice with an exceptional track record of acting on high-profile tax disputes, including representation in the Supreme Court. Offers strong coverage of regulatory and advisory matters, assisting with a particularly broad selection of issues. Additionally advises on international taxation issues. Clients include blue-chip international and Russian names from a variety of sectors. Also represents private individuals.

Strengths Clients appreciate the team's solution-oriented approach. "They always try to get a deep understanding of business and come up with comprehensive, detailed responses," a client says, while another adds that the team's advice is "very accurate and clear."

Interviewees appreciate the team's meticulous approach. "They are always well prepared, they work with documents very well, they are good at gathering evidence," a client says.

Work highlights Assisted Gazprom with developing a methodological approach for calculating and classifying the tax base of controlled foreign companies in the Gazprom Group.

Represented Engelhart CTP in an appeal to the tax authority on the issue of a VAT refund that was withheld as a result of claims against its subcontractors.

Notable practitioners

Eminent practitioner and managing partner Sergey Pepeliaev (Eminent Practitioner) is a revered name in the market. He offers strategic assistance with tax advisory and contentious issues. "Pepeliaev is clearly great and one of the best," a source declares.

Rustem Ahmetshin (Band 2) is a long-standing practitioner with notable experience of representing clients in contentious matters, including in the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court. He is particularly well versed in international taxation matters. A client says he highly values Ahmetshin's honest advice on tax risks.

Andrey Nikonov (Band 2) is an experienced practitioner offering expertise in VAT as well as profit and mineral extraction tax. He also represents clients in contentious matters. A client notes that he "always demonstrates a solid and comprehensive opinion."

Sergey Sosnovsky (Band 3) is a St Petersburg-based tax specialist representing clients in disputes with the tax authorities and advising foreign investors on the tax aspects of business structuring.

What the team is known for St Petersburg branch of a strong domestic firm with a stellar reputation for tax disputes. Also represents clients in a broad range of corporate conflicts, including contractual, debt recovery and bankruptcy disputes. Regulatory disputes is another area of activity. Acts for a client base of international corporates with a regional presence.

Strengths Clients note the team's approach, with one source stating: "We appreciated not only their performance quality, but also their quick responses and their efforts to achieve a reasonable result from the case."

Work highlights Represented Daesung Industrial in a USD4 million debt recovery dispute with a Russian customer.

Notable practitioners

Managing partner Sergey Spasennov (Band 3) oversees the disputes practice, lending his experience and insight to international and domestic corporates involved in contentious cases. He recently acted for a Russian natural resources company on a USD 5.5 million alleged unjust enrichment dispute versus a construction contractor.

What the team is known for St Petersburg-based outfit of a well-known Russian domestic firm. Advises on due diligence and compliance matters as well as tax issues. Clients include both international and domestic corporates from a wide range of industries.

Work highlights Advised an international manufacturer set up in Russia on the corporate and commercial structure of its operations.

Notable practitioners

Sergey Sosnovsky (Band 3) is a well-regarded tax specialist advising international and domestic corporates on the tax elements of transactions, including cross-border M&A and corporate structuring. He also assists with tax issues related to investment projects.

Managing partner Sergey Spasennov (Band 3) is a well-known name in St Petersburg's legal market. He oversees the corporate team and leads on corporate structuring and M&A mandates.