The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance Other recommended firms

Within Moscow , tier 4

Post-merger, Goltsblat BLP is increasingly viewed as ‘a full-service firm with international competence’. Its growing client base includes Mars and Danone as well as large Russian entities such as Rusnano. Managing partner Andrey Goltsblat, who advised Sistema-Hals on its acquisition of a controlling stake in CiTer Invest BV, is recommended along with Anton Rogoza. Anton Sitnikov heads the practice.

Within St Petersburg Leading individuals

Within Dispute resolution, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is a third tier firm,

Goltsblat BLP has added new clients such as Novorossiysk Grain Terminal and RenCap to existing relationships such as Oriflame and Danone. In late 2010, the team successfully represented Panasonic Russia in a property dispute with its former landlord. The team recently lost practice head Maxim Kulkov to Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

Within Employment, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is a third tier firm,

Goltsblat BLP recently lost its former group head Anna-Stefaniya Chepik to PricewaterhouseCoopers CIS Law Offices BV. Even so, the team continues to advise major clients and attract new mandates. Arthur Abouzov now heads the team.

Within Intellectual property, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is a third tier firm,

Goltsblat BLP acts for several large international clients with significant IP demands. It is representing TechnoNICOL in several utility model patent disputes. Other clients include Mars and Dell. Elena Trusova is now the key contact following Ekaterina Tilling’s move to Baker Botts L.L.P..

Within Real estate, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is a first tier firm,

Goltsblat BLP’s full-service group has strong leasehold, environmental, planning, construction and litigation expertise. For real estate finance, its clients include EBRD and Sistema Hals. Vitaly Mozharowski’s team advised Nord Stream on the construction of the Russian sector of the submarine gas pipepine on the Baltic seabed. Elena Barinova left to pursue a career change in 2011, but Yuri Chernobrivtsev was promoted to partner.

Within Tax , Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is a second tier firm,

Salans’ tax practice remains ‘one of the best on the Russian market’, despite the loss of Evgeny Timofeev to Goltsblat BLP. Alexei Panich’s team includes international tax expert Boris Bruk, who has ‘very strong technical experience’; tax litigator Dzhangar Dzhalchinov, who has ‘excellent business acumen and industry knowledge’; and Anna Zvereva, who focuses on accounting, due diligence, audits and consulting.