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Baker & McKenzie - CIS, Limited

BOLLOEVCENTER, 2ND FLOOR, 4A GRIVTSOVA LANE, 190000 ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA
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Russia : Banking and finance

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

Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited’s ‘flexible and highly professional’ team has been active in real estate, energy and construction financing. It advised the sponsor, LLC City Palace, on the $345m financing of the development of Evolution Tower in Moscow’s business district and, among several energy-related deals, advised the lenders on a $200m facility made available to a subsidiary of Kinross to develop the Kupol gold and silver mine in Chukotka. Practice head Vladimir Druganov is recommended.

Russia : Capital markets

Within Capital markets, Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited is a second tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited’s Moscow team was significantly strengthened in summer 2012 when Roy Pearce relocated from London and the firm also hired Simon Morgan from Chadbourne & Parke LLP. Pearce has recently been active on debt issuances and proposed IPO deals. The firm has a strong position in mortgage-backed securities with team head Vladimir Druganov being ‘probably the most experienced lawyer in the securitisation of Russian mortgage assets’.

Russia : Corporate and M&A

Within Moscow, Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited is a second tier firm,

As well as some impressive work in the energy and telecoms sectors, Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited gained some interesting mandates in the Russian biotech and medical industry sectors: team head Sergey Voitishkin and Andrey Afanasiev advised Rusnano on its agreement with a US venture capital firm to invest in emerging companies and foster inward investment in Russia’s life science industry. Both partners also advised Novatek on the sale of its 12% stake to Total. Marat Mouradov left the firm in January 2012 to head Salans’ competition practice.

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

Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited is ‘the "A-Team" in St Petersburg’, according to one client. Among several high-profile mandates, the team is assisting Ford in obtaining a $1bn project finance loan facility from Vnesheconombank relating to its joint venture with Sollers. Managing partner Maxim Kalinin is ‘absolutely outstanding’; associate Olga Anikina is ‘practical, creative’, and ‘has good knowledge of the St Petersburg real estate market’; and associate Edward Zadubrovsky is ‘fantastic to work with’.

Russia : Dispute resolution

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

Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited is ‘the best choice in Russia for foreign business and for Russian business with foreign investments’. Its Moscow and St Petersburg offices handle work in the Russian courts and international arbitration. Among several high-profile cases recently, the team represented Novo Nordisk in the Arbitrazh Court of Moscow in a dispute with the Russian Federal Antimonopoly Service. Team head Vladimir Khvalei and Edward Bekeschenko are the key contacts. IP litigators Eugene Arievich and Denis Khabarov are also recommended.

Russia : Employment

Within Employment, Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited’s practice encompasses employee relations, trade union negotiations and representation in court. The team provides ongoing employment advice to Microsoft and Ford, and acts for several other multinationals on matters including employee migration. Igor Makarov and St Petersburg-based Maxim Kalinin are the main contacts. Senior associate Elena Kukushkina is also recommended.

Russia : Energy and natural resources

Within Energy and natural resources, Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited is a third tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited is prominent in the oil and gas sector, where clients include Novatek and Alliance Oil, and also represented Rusnano on its joint investment in a Russian manufacturer of electrical oil extracting pumps. Team head Carol Patterson, Alexey Frolov and Alexander Gomonov are the key contacts, with Frolov regarded as being ‘one of the best Russian experts on subsoil-related issues’.

Russia : Intellectual property

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

Litigation powerhouse Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited successfully acted for Diageo, Richemont and Kraft to annul infringing trade marks in the Russian courts. In non-contentious work, the firm advised Ford and Rusnano on the IP aspects of an investment agreement and a joint venture, respectively. Team head Eugene Arievich has ‘outstanding analytical and research skills’, and Denis Khabarov is ‘singled out for his exceptional oratory skills (especially before the Courts)’. Associate Darya Ermolina is also recommended, and Margarita Divina is another key contact.

Russia : Real estate and construction

Within Real estate and construction, Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited’s ‘excellent’ and comprehensive team is prominent in both the St Petersburg and Moscow markets. Highlights included advising Kaspersky Lab on the preliminary lease of 30,000sq m of office space. Moscow-based Konstantine Kouzine ‘knows the local real estate market like no other’, and Maxim Kuznechenkov is also recommended. In St Petersburg, Maxim Kalinin and associate Olga Anikina both attract praise from clients.

Russia : TMT

Within TMT, Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited is a third tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited advises international clients on Russia-related regulatory and corporate matters. Edward Bekeschenko heads the practice.

Russia : Tax

Within Tax, Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited is a first tier firm,

Operating from Moscow and St Petersburg and encompassing all aspects of contentious and non-contentious tax work, Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited recently advised GO TEK on tax restructuring relating to a joint venture. Alexander Chmelev heads this sizeable team which includes four other tax partners. Maxim Kalinin successfully represented Jensen Group in a dispute with the Russian tax authorities in a regional court.

Further information on Baker & McKenzie

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Search News and Articles

Legal Developments by:
Baker & McKenzie

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Legal Developments in Russia

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  • Negotiations, mediation, litigation or arbitration: what to take into account in dispute resolution

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    - Pepeliaev Group

  • NEW LEGAL CHANGES SET TO TRANSFORM THE TENANCY MARKET

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