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Linklaters CIS

PAVELETSKAYA SQUARE 2, BLD 2, 115054 MOSCOW, RUSSIA
Warsaw, Tokyo, Stockholm, Singapore, Shanghai, São Paulo , and 22 more

What we say about the firm's legal practice in Russia

Banking and finance

Within Banking and finance, Linklaters LLP is a first tier firm,

Linklaters CIS not only recently advised 30 banks on the restructuring of various syndicated debt facilities for Mechel, but also acted on one of the only new money transactions in Russia – a loan from ING, Raiffeisenbank and Unicredit to a gold producer, Pokrovskiy mine. The firm also assisted Calyon and Nordea on their EKN-covered financing for Turkcell. Head of banking and finance in Moscow, Michael Bott is a recognised force in this field. Dmitry Suschev is also highly regarded. In 2010, the team was bolstered by the arrival of emerging markets specialist and Russian speaker John Stansfield from the firm’s office in Frankfurt.

Capital markets

Within Capital markets, Linklaters LLP is a first tier firm,

Dmitry Dobatkin’s capital markets team at Linklaters CIS has ‘business acumen and industry knowledge that is unparalleled’. The ‘level of service is excellent,’ and a ‘first port of call for Russian bond issues’. On the equity side, the firm advised on the global of shares of UC Rusal and the $965m combined equity and convertible bond offering by Evraz. Meanwhile, on the debt capital markets side, the team assisted on the $5.5bn sovereign bond issue by the Russian Federation, the first new money international bond issue by Russia since 1998. The firm also specialises in liability management work. Andrew Burge and Peter Allen form a ‘leading team in Moscow’. Andrei Murygin is also recommended.

Corporate and M&A: Moscow

Within Corporate and M&A: Moscow, Linklaters LLP is a first tier firm,

Linklaters CIS is ‘able to react and allocate the right personnel when needed’. The firm is advising Total on its joint venture with Novatek to develop the Termokarstovoye gas field and Experian on a formation of a credit history bureau jointly with Sberbank and Interfax group. The firm also advised two of the three shareholders of Industrial Union Donbass on the sale of a controlling stake in the group to a consortium of Russian purchasers, financed by Russian state bank VEB. John Goodwin and Denis Uvarov have excellent reputations. Grigory Gadzhiev is one to watch.

Dispute resolution

Within Dispute resolution, Linklaters LLP is a second tier firm,

‘Very impressive,’ Linklaters CIS ‘enjoys an excellent reputation in the Russian market and fully deserves it’. The firm has acted on various corporate conflicts including financial litigation relating to insolvency and five LCIA arbitrations. The firm has also seen an increase in antitrust matters and regulatory investigations. Alexei Dudko is ‘very knowledgeable, efficient and practical’.

Employment

Within Employment, Linklaters LLP is a third tier firm,

Linklaters CIS lost Henry Rutstein but associate Evgeny Ulumdzhiev returned following a sabbatical. Associate Anna Ivanova joined the firm from Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited in 2010.

Energy and natural resources

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

Linklaters CIS is ‘highly competitive’, provides ‘good value for money’, and is ‘strong for professional advice and its worldwide team’. In 2010 Daniel Tyrer relocated to London, allowing Matthew Keats, an experienced energy partner formerly based in London, to take his place as head of the Russian energy team. The firm is advising Total and GdF on their proposed acquisition of a 25% stake in the Khvalynskoye Field in the Russian sector of the Caspian Sea from Kazmunaigaz. Counsel Julia Voskoboinikova, Denis Uvarov and Grigory Gadzhiev are well-known energy experts.

Intellectual property

Within Intellectual property, Linklaters LLP is a second tier firm,

Associate Anton Pushkov is head of the IP and TMT group at Linklaters CIS. The firm recently advised BP on the use of famous Russian hockey players’ images and video records under a sponsorship contract with a Russian Hockey Association – Continental Hockey League. The firm is also currently advising MasterCard on the use of Disney Toy Story 3 movie characters and on the sponsorship of Cirque Du Solei shows in Russia.

Legal market overview

Within Legal market overview,

The Russian legal market is volatile, and lateral hires of both individuals and, in some cases, teams are part of the legal landscape. This year international firms such as Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Gide Loyrette Nouel, White & Case LLC and Linklaters CIS were all subject to key partner moves. One firm’s loss is another’s gain, and, despite the difficult economic climate, many law firms, including those mentioned above are investing in growth. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP has for example welcomed the tax team from what was once Hogan & Hartson LLP. Of the Russian firms, Vegas Lex suffered a blow when a number of its partners left to form Korelskiy Ischuk Astafiev and Partners, Attorneys at Law.

Public private partnership

Within Public private partnership, Linklaters LLP is a first tier firm,

Linklaters CIS has ‘a very strong, hardworking PPP team of the utmost quality’ that clients are ‘glad to work with’. The firm led the negotiations in connection with the financial close for the concession-based project on the construction, operation and financing of the Moscow-Minsk toll road which has been agreed with the Government. Matthew Keats, the new head of the firm’s energy and infrastructure group in Moscow and Julia Voskoboinikova are recommended. In 2010, Daniel Tyrer relocated to London.

Real estate

Within Real estate, Linklaters LLP is a first tier firm,

Linklaters CIS has a dedicated group of real estate lawyers who advise on all types of transactions, from landlord and tenant negotiation to more complex financing and project development and major investment work. Xavier Hunter’s group is providing ongoing advice to AIG/Lincoln on the development of the White Square office complex, including completion of the pre-leasing to various tenants, throughout the development phase to stabilisation. Managing associate Julia Belopilskaya is also highly regarded.

TMT

Within TMT, Linklaters LLP is a second tier firm,

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.

Tax

Within Tax , Linklaters LLP is a second tier firm,

Managing associate Victor Matchekhin leads the tax team at Linklaters CIS. The firm provided tax advice to Total on its joint venture with Novatek to develop the Termokarstovoye gas field; Experian on the formation of a credit history bureau jointly with Sberbank and Interfax group; and Unilever on its acquisition of the Baltimor Group.

What we say worldwide

Please choose another Linklaters LLP office to view full details of what we say in that region, or choose from this list to view a specific editorial reference in context.

United Arab Emirates

Offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Belgium

Offices in Brussels and Antwerp

China

Offices in Shanghai and Beijing

Germany

Offices in Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, and Dusseldorf

Algeria

Spain

Offices in Madrid

France

Offices in Paris

Ghana

Hong Kong

Offices in Hong Kong

Indonesia

India

Italy

Offices in Rome and Milan

Japan

Offices in Tokyo

Kenya

Kuwait

London

Offices in London EC2Y and London EC2Y

Luxembourg

Offices in Luxembourg

Morocco

Netherlands

Offices in Amsterdam

Philippines

Poland

Offices in Warsaw

Portugal

Offices in Lisbon

Qatar

Russia

Offices in Moscow

Sweden

Offices in Stockholm

Singapore

Offices in Singapore

South Korea

Thailand

Offices in Bangkok

Tunisia

United States

Offices in New York

Vietnam

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