The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited mainly represents major corporate borrowers, but also advice on regulatory and civil law matters relating to banking and financial services. Recent work includes advising Mechel on a $471m multicurrency loan facility for the EPC construction of a universal rolling mill. Vladimir Dragunov and David Scott are the practice co-heads.

Within Capital markets, Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited acts on some complex and innovative transactions, and has been particularly active on the debt side where it advised Barclays Capital on its first Russian domestic bond transaction. Vladimir Dragunov, who leads the team in Moscow, and Igor Gorchakov, who leads in St Petersburg, are both recommended.

Within Moscow , Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited’s large practice has experience of acting for Russian and international clients on high-end deals and significant mid-market matters. Recent highlights include advising Novatek on its $4bn sale of a 12% stake to Total. A team led by co-head Sergei Voitishkin also advised Siemens regarding a $2bn contract for the delivery of trains to Russian Railways. Carol Patterson co-heads the team with Voitishkin.

Within St Petersburg, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited is one of the few international law firms in St Petersburg with genuinely broad expertise, which allows the group to attract a diverse array of instructions. Practice head Maxim Kalinin advised Ford Motor Company on its joint venture with Russian automotive manufacturer, Sollers. Other work included advising Siemens AG regarding its increase of share capital in, and equity financing of, a joint venture company seeking to acquire industrial real estate in St Petersburg.

Within Dispute resolution, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited has strength in depth with four partners. In 2011, Edward Bekeschenko successfully represented a leading medical supplies producer in several litigation proceedings across Russia. Moscow practice head Vladimir Khvalei’s strengths are ‘sound knowledge of the law’ and ‘his hard work and dedication’. Maxim Kalinin is now the key contact in St Petersburg, following Ivan Smirnov’s move to Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners.

Within Employment, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited represents some of the biggest names in retail, pharmaceuticals, technology and financial services. Recent work includes advising on complex labour law issues relating to international mergers; an anti-corruption investigation; and the establishment of a trade union. Igor Makarov and Maxim Kalinin head the teams in Moscow and St Petersburg, respectively.

Within Energy and natural resources, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Carol Patterson heads Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited’s energy group, which is advising Centerra Gold on various exploration joint ventures in Russia. Other work includes acting for Exillon Energy plc, an independent oil company with upstream operations in Russia, regarding its $280m secondary public offering on the London Stock Exchange.

Within Intellectual property, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Eugene Arievich’s team at Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited is ‘undoubtedly among the best in the country’. It successfully acted for Intel in the Supreme Arbitrazh Court against the Russian Federal Service for Intellectual Property, Patents and Trademarks (Rospatent) regarding the registration of a similar trade mark by a local telecoms company. Denis Khabarov leads on IP litigation matters, and Margarita Divina handles contractual work.

Within Real estate, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited’s real estate practice is jointly led by Konstantine Kouzine and Maxim Kuznechenkov in Moscow, and Maxim Kalinin in St Petersburg. The team advised a Russian subsidiary of Weatherford on restructuring its lease on 6,000sq m of class-A office space at Capital Plaza Office Building.

Within Tax , Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited handles complex and high-value tax litigation and advises global companies on tax-efficient policies and structures relating to distribution networks in Russia. It represented OAO Central Fuel Company in a landmark case in the Cassation Appeal Court regarding a 193m dispute with the tax authorities. Alexander Chmelev leads the team.