The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Herbert Smith LLP is a first tier firm,

Herbert Smith CIS LLP impresses with its superb track record in the energy finance sector. It advised Calyon and Deutsche Bank on a $750m secured financing for TNK-BP secured by receivables from the export of crude oil and assisted RBS on a $200m unsecured finance facility to Rosneft backed by Swedish export credit agency EKN for the purchase of equipment from Siemens. Alexander Currie, the firm’s banking and finance practice head and project finance and restructuring specialist, is ‘an outstanding banking lawyer’. Also highly recommended is commodity, real estate and acquisition finance and syndicated loans expert Ed Baring. Artjom Buligin provides Russian law insight.

Within Capital markets, Herbert Smith LLP is a second tier firm,

In the last 12 months, Herbert Smith CIS LLP has advised clients on equity capital markets transactions, liability management, bond restructuring and new bond issues on the debt side. Specifically, the ‘workaholic’ and ‘hugely experienced’ Evgeny Zelensky’s team advised VTB Capital, Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley and UniCredit on the $175m follow-on offering by Globaltrans. The firm provides ‘good quality advice’ and ‘value for money’.

Within Corporate and M&A: Moscow, Herbert Smith LLP is a second tier firm,

The ‘perfect’ and ‘exemplary’ service that Herbert Smith CIS LLP provides is testament to the quality of the firm’s lawyers. Allen Hanen heads up the corporate practice in Russia, ably supported by talented practitioners such as Robin Wittering and Alexei Roudiak. Nicholas Moore is a ‘superb corporate lawyer’, and Evgeny Zelensky is commended for his ‘creativity’ and skills as a ‘team leader’. Longstanding clients include Gazpom Group, ONEXIM Group, BP, Chevron and First Quantum but the firm has also recently attracted new clients such as Sberbank and Rusnano.

Within Dispute resolution, Herbert Smith LLP is a second tier firm,

The lawyers in Dmitry Kurochkin’s dispute resolution team at Herbert Smith CIS LLP ‘are proactive, demonstrate a creative approach, a great level of attention to detail, an understanding of the Russian business environment and reality, and (most importantly for litigators) they are real fighters’. The firm is advising IKEA in dispute settlement negotiations in Russia.

Within Employment, Herbert Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

Herbert Smith CIS LLP’s employment group is praised for its ‘good response times’. Led by Dmitry Kurochkin, the team recently advised Nortel Networks on employment and migration law issues including the transfer of its employees to other employers in Russia. Marat Agabalyan is also recommended.

Within Energy and natural resources, Herbert Smith LLP is a first tier firm,

Herbert Smith CIS LLP’s Alexander Currie heads up the projects and project financing side of the firm’s energy practice, while Oleg Konnov leads the corporate side. The firm advised BP, Gazprom Neft, Gazflot and ONEXIM Group on their M&A and joint-venture deals and other corporate matters. The firm also advised on two out of five jumbo energy finance deals in 2009 (for Rosneft and TNK-BP) and a major one in 2010 (Gazprom Neft), on innovative project financing, trade finance and restructuring in the energy sector.

Within Public private partnership, Herbert Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

Gide Loyrette Nouel suffered following the departure of its former PPP team leader Olga Revzina to Herbert Smith CIS LLP. Alexander Dolgov, previously at Allen & Overy Legal Services, now heads up the group. The firm recently acted for EBRD in connection with the financing of a municipal water services company backed by a state guarantee granted by the Pskov region.

Within Real estate, Herbert Smith LLP is a second tier firm,

Alexei Roudiak’s real estate team at Herbert Smith CIS LLP is ‘very, very good in terms of quality’. Bringing together corporate, finance, tax and dispute resolution lawyers, it recently advised on the restructuring of RosEuroDevelopment. Infrastructure specialist Olga Revzina joined the team from Gide Loyrette Nouel in 2010.

Within TMT, Herbert Smith LLP is a second tier firm,

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

Within Tax , Herbert Smith LLP is a second tier firm,

Highlights of Herbert Smith CIS LLP‘s recent tax experience include advising Gazprom, its joint venture partners and the project company on tax issues in connection with a €1bn project financing to develop the Yuzhno-Russkoye gas field in Western Siberia. Practice group leader Oleg Konnov is ‘particularly good at strategic thinking. He is always thinking of different ways to solve problems’.