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TMT
Hogan Lovells (CIS)’s Natalia Gulyaeva heads a team that includes the talented and experienced Oxana Balayan and Alla Naglis. The firm’s work covers technology, including high-tech, bio-technology and IT, media and entertainment. It recently advised VolgaTelecom on a public offer to buy 100% of AIM-listed Teleset Networks for $133.5m, assisted X5 Retail on the launch of its new e-commerce business in Russia by way of establishment of a joint venture with the owners of online stores www.bolero.ru and www.003.ru, and acted for Scout24 Group on the establishment of a joint venture AutoScout24 and Pronto Moscow.
At Salans in St Petersburg, TMT group head Victor Naumov is praised for his ‘knowledge of the subject matter, analytical skills, practical advice and communication’. He is ‘one of the best, if not the best adviser on issues affecting the IT industry in Russia’. The firm recently advised Vkontakte on data protection, privacy, e-payment and regulation and assisted Google with various legal issues relating to service regulation in Russia. The firm is also advising Cogent on telecommunications regulation and licensing in Russia.
Baker Botts L.L.P. advised the majority shareholders of Teleset Networks on a divestment of their stakes in the company to Volga Telecom, a major Russian telecommunications company. The transaction involved complex structuring and regulatory considerations and combined the elements of a public takeover and a private deal. Maxim Levinson and special counsel Sergei Stepanov are recommended.
At CMS Russia, Maxim Boulba’s team provides all aspects of general IT and telecoms advice, and has also assisted major TMT sector players in emerging areas of the information technology and telecoms sectors, including outsourcing, as well as on media law, competition and antimonopoly matters. Clients include Gruner + Jahr, Hitachi Data Systems and Alcatel-Lucent.
Dechert Russia LLC’s ‘advice is very appropriate, commercially targeted and great value for money’. The TMT group ‘compares very favourably to the rest of the market in terms of orientation for business needs’. The firm recently advised Court Square Capital Partners on the Russian aspects of the acquisition of Rocket Software, a global software provider. Laura Brank is recommended.
Brian Zimbler advises on cross-border investments and financial matters at Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP. His practice covers media, telecommunications and technology.
At Herbert Smith CIS LLP, Nick Moore’s TMT group is advising Rusnano on the establishment of numerous joint ventures in the nanotechnology industry, including a joint venture with Chinese company Thunder Sky Group Limited for development and production of Lithium-Ion batteries in Russia. Other clients include China Telecom and Gazprom Space Systems
Linklaters CIS recently advised Megafon, one of the largest Russian mobile operators, on the acquisition of one of Russia’s leading alternative fixed-line long-distance operators and acted for ABBYY, an international software producer on the manufacture, import and registration of computer software and products in Russia. Associate Anton Pushkov leads the firm’s IP and TMT practice in Moscow. Denis Uvarov is recommended.
White & Case LLC recently advised PromSvyazCapital on the $745m sale of 100% of shares in Synterra to MegaFon, one of Russia’s largest mobile telecom providers. The firm also advised Axel Springer, a leading European media group on its acquisition of Gruner + Jahr’s Russian business, Gruner + Jahr Magazines. Maya Melnikas and Hermann Schmitt are recommended.
Alrud Law Firm’s Vassily Rudomino and Aleksander Zharskiy are currently advising on the proposed IPO of Russian internet group Mail.ru.
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is also involved in the expected listing of Mail.ru on the London Stock Exchange. Murat Akuyev and his team in Moscow are acting for the issuer.
Squire, Sanders & Dempsey (Moscow) LLC recently advised UFG Capital Partners as co-investor in a consortium led by Baring Vostok Capital Partners and Tiger Global Management, on the acquisition of shares representing a minority investment in Yandex, Russia’s leading internet portal with a market cap of $1.1bn. David Wack is recommended.