The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Baker Botts L.L.P. is a second tier firm,

The ‘excellent’ Baker Botts L.L.P. provides an ‘outstanding quality of service’. Recent work include advising EBRD and IFC on new financings and debt restructurings totalling over $700m, and Gazprombank on a €360m secured facility to Mechel Group. Maxim Levinson is ‘one of the best lawyers in Russia’; ‘reliable, prompt and always provides comprehensive support’. Konstantin Garmonin and London-based Rubin Weston are also recommended. Ekaterina Tilling, who joined from Goltsblat BLP, advises on IP-related aspects of financings.

Within Moscow , Baker Botts L.L.P. is a second tier firm,

Baker Botts L.L.P. has a strong record acting for foreign investors and Russian companies. Its longstanding clients include EBRD, IFC and several non-Russian oil and gas companies. IP expert Ekaterina Tilling, who joined from Goltsblat BLP, bolsters the team’s capabilities in cross-border IP and technology joint ventures. Maxim Levinson and practice head Steven Wardlaw are highly regarded.

Within St Petersburg Leading individuals

Within Dispute resolution, Baker Botts L.L.P. is a third tier firm,

Baker Botts L.L.P. mainly acts for high-profile Russian clients, including the Russian Federation and high-ranking government officials. Recent work includes acting for Gazprom entities in various legal proceedings brought by Moncrief Oil International regarding rights pertaining to a Siberian gas field. Other clients include Troika Dialog and Caterpillar. Michael Goldberg and London-based Jay Alexander co-chair the practice.

Within Energy and natural resources, Baker Botts L.L.P. is a first tier firm,

Baker Botts L.L.P. regularly advises on high-value, complex matters. For example, it continues to advise Novatek OJSC on all matters relating to the LNG project on the Yamal Peninsula. It also advised Rosneft on a reorganisation of its power assets and portfolio of electricity purchase contracts. Practice head Steven Wardlaw and Maxim Levinson are highly regarded. LNG expert Jason Bennett recently relocated from Dallas to Moscow.

Within Intellectual property, Baker Botts L.L.P. is a third tier firm,

Baker Botts L.L.P.’s Ekaterina Tilling is ‘always quick, clear and extremely accurate’, and has ‘deep knowledge of IP law’ and ‘broad experience in arbitration and litigation’. Tilling joined in late 2010 from Goltsblat BLP, where she had also led the IP practice. Key sector strengths for the team include energy, technology and life sciences.

Within Real estate, Baker Botts L.L.P. is a second tier firm,

Simon Elliott’s team at Baker Botts L.L.P. undertakes all high-end work for Hines, which is one of the main players in Russia. Other work includes advising a large multinational company on cross-border acquisitions involving access, title and security issues. In real estate finance, clients appreciate Maxim Levinson’s ‘reliable, prompt and always comprehensive support’.

Within TMT, Baker Botts L.L.P. is a second tier firm,

Baker Botts L.L.P. operates a full-service TMT practice with particular strengths in outbound investments and cross-border leasing. Maxim Levinson heads the team, which was reinforced by the arrival of IP expert Ekaterina Tilling from Goltsblat BLP and IT expert Mikhail Bashirov, who was previously head of legal at the Moscow branch of SAS Institute GmbH, a leader in business analytics software and services.