Overview
Magisters’ expanding Minsk office is making an excellent impression on the market. Highlights included advising the lead managers BNP Paribas, RBS, Deutsche Bank and Sberbank, on Belarus’ debut $1bn sovereign Eurobond issue. Other active clients include Technip Benelux, EXIDE Technologies and TDF Ecotech. Managing partner Dennis Turovets heads the quality 14-lawyer office.
Sorainen’s highly rated Minsk office is praised by clients for being ‘precise, quick in response and with a strong team covering all needs’. Jointly headed by Maksim Salahub and Toomas Prangli, the firm’s capabilities, particularly in disputes, were strengthened by the arrival of former Vlasova Mikhel & Partners Law Firm partner Alexey Anischenko, who provides a ‘strong overview of corporate law, but also other fields, which gives him great agility’. Highlights included advising the EBRD and IFC on several multimillion-dollar loans.
Despite the increased competition, Vlasova Mikhel & Partners Law Firm remains one of the best law firms in Belarus. Managing partner Konstantin Mikhel and senior partner Liliya Vlasova both have excellent reputations. Clients include Deutsche Structured Finance, Turkcell and Severstal, as well as several major international law firms.
Three-partner firm Borovtsov & Salei has a superb reputation within the market for corporate finance work, and benefits greatly from an official relationship with US firm Chadbourne & Parke LLP. Founding partners Valentin Borovtsov and Vassili Salei are very well regarded. Clients include Coca-Cola, Ford, Lufthansa, Pfizer and Japan Tobacco International.
Praised for its ‘high quality services’, Businessconsult Law Firm offers a ‘profound knowledge of law, perfect comprehension of the domestic peculiarities, and a complete understanding of the client’s needs’. Managing partner Igor Verkhovodko is considered ‘an excellent litigator’, while Dmitry Bokhan has ‘excellent expertise in business law’, and Timour Sysouev is ‘outstanding’. Highlights included advising PKF Svoboda on the $25m construction of a chemical plant.
Clients commend the ‘international standards’ at CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati FFLC, which is ‘very convincing and excellent in all aspects’. The ‘highly trustworthy and professional’ managing partner Sergei Makarchuk ‘combines international experience with knowledge of the local particularities’. Clients include Deutsche Bank, Expedia, Lukoil and Raiffeisen Zentralbank Austria.
With over 20 lawyers, Stepanovski, Papakul and Partners is one of the largest firms in the market. The firm acts for an impressive range of international clients and law firms, including British American Tobacco, Mars and Xerox. Managing partner Valery Papakul heads a strong corporate practice, while Alexander Stepanovski is recommended for disputes.
Praised for being ‘very reasonable value for money’, Law Group ‘Argument’ provides an ‘excellent’ service. Denis Aleinikov is the managing partner, while Dmitry Matveyev is considered ‘client oriented and responsible’. Clients include Ernst & Young, Heineken and McDonald’s.
Arzinger has an active four-partner practice and an impressive array of clients, including Ikea, Bosch and China Motors. Managing partner Sergey Mashonsky has a very good reputation.
Alexander Liessem has developed a strong full service practice at bnt legal & tax. The firm has a very strong link with the German market, helped by the fact that Liessem is himself German. Clients include Commerzbank and Fresenius Medical Care.
The seven-lawyer firm Ernst & Young enters the rankings for the first time. Andrei Chumakov heads the team, which has recently advised major clients in the telecoms, software and banking sectors.
Vitaly Kachelya heads Glimstedt Law Firm’s five-lawyer office, which works closely with the firm’s other practices in Lithuania and Sweden and is commended for its ‘great service’. The ‘efficient, accurate and energetic’ Darya Zhuk is recommended.
Revera Consulting Group is praised for its ‘quick reactions and passionate attitude’, and joint managing partners Dmitry Arkhipenko and Pavel Tsarev receive very strong feedback. Recent highlights include advising the Czech company Mega on a joint venture and factory development.