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Baker & McKenzie - CIS, Limited

BOLSHAYA MORSKAYA 57, 190000 ST PETERSBURG
Tel:
Work +7 812 303 9000
Fax:
Fax +7 812 325 6013
Web:
www.bakernet.com
Email:
Zurich, Washington DC, Warsaw, Vienna, Valencia, Toronto , and 68 more

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

Banking and finance

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

Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited operates one of the country’s leading structured finance practices, with team head Vladimir Dragunov ‘the best securitisation lawyer in Moscow’. The firm recently advised Russian Standard Bank on the securitisation of its RUR12.5bn credit card receivables; Eurokommerz Factoring on the securitisation of its RUR8bn factoring receivables; and Ursa Bank on the warehouse securitisation of a RUR8bn portfolio of mortgage loans. Impressed clients feel the team ‘fully deserves its excellent reputation’.

Capital markets

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

Led by newly promoted partner Mikhail Turetsky, who clients hail as ‘very sharp and creative’, Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited has a good reputation in acting for Russian issuers. The team, which also includes the ‘impressive’ David Scott, advised TGC-1 on a $1.3bn dual-track placement and IPO, and both TGC-9 and TGC-1 on the establishment of GDR programmes. ‘Experienced and efficient’ associate Julia Osadchaya is also recommended.

Corporate and M&A Moscow

Within Corporate and M&A Moscow, Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited’s practice is led by Sergei Voitishkin and office managing partner Carol Patterson. 2008 saw the firm handle a significant volume of M&A in the energy sector, including providing advice to EDF on its acquisition of both $6bn of shares in OGK-1 and $1.5bn of shares in InterRAO. The team, which was boosted by arrival of Igor Makarov from PricewaterhouseCoopers CIS Law Offices BV, also advised SABMiller on its acquisition of Russian brewer Vladpivo. The firm’s ‘experienced partners always get to the very essence of the issue’, while Dmitry Marchan and Max Gutbrod are ‘a great example of the added value that lawyers can provide for clients’.

Corporate and M&A St Petersburg

Within Corporate and M&A St Petersburg, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited’s ‘well-established’ St Petersburg corporate practice is a ‘long-standing leader’ in the market. Led by the highly regarded and ‘eminently likeable’ Maxim Kalinin, the firm acts for a number of Japanese clients – recently advising Sekisui Chemical on the establishment of a Russian joint venture – while it also advised Premia Tallinna Kulmhoone on its acquisition of Khladokombinat No. 1. Clients believe the firm’s international network is ‘a priceless commodity’, and found the team to be ‘knowledgeable of both Russian laws and international business customs’. Igor Gorchakov is also highly recommended.

Dispute resolution

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

Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited is ‘one of the few international firms that offers a true all-round disputes practice in Russia’. Led by the ‘hugely respected’ Vladimir Khvalei, the team was further boosted by the arrival of former DLA Piper litigation head Ivan Smirnov and a two-associate team at the firm’s St Petersburg office in March 2008. Highlights include its representation of Park Inn Pribaltiyskaya Hotel on claims relating to the alleged deterioration of health of some aqua park visitors, and trading company Unifin in an ICAC arbitration for claiming indebtedness under the supply contract from a Russian enterprise. Other clients include Lukoil, BAT and Bank of NY.

Employment

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

Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited’s ‘specialised’ team is led by the Moscow-based Evgeny Reyzman, with Maxim Kalinin handling employment matters in the firm’s St Petersburg office. The ‘market-leading’ practice primarily advises international companines on the full range of employment-related issues, such as employee data protection, termination of employment, employee compensation and benefits, and incentive schemes.

Energy and natural resources

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

Led by Carol Patterson, Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited advised West Siberian Resources on its $1.5bn merger with Alliance Oil and ArcelorMittal on its participation in an auction to acquire Elgaugol and Yakutugol shares, while other clients include Sibir Energy and Barrick Gold. Max Gutbrod has niche expertise in energy efficiency mechanism work and Alexey Frolov is also recommended.

Legal market

Within Legal market,

Elsewhere, Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited’s Russia presence was significantly bolstered by a 22-lawyer raid on PricewaterhouseCoopers CIS Law Offices BV – including highly regarded real estate head Konstantine Kouzine and two other partners, while Denton Wilde Sapte entered into a strategic alliance with St Petersburg firm Duvernoix Legal.

Real estate

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

The ‘historic champion’ of Russian real estate, Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited’s practice benefited the most from the firm’s extensive raid on PricewaterhouseCoopers CIS Law Offices BV, with two real estate partners coming on board including the highly regarded Konstantine Kouzine. The ‘extremely active’ team advised KanAm Grund Kapitalanlagegesellschaft on its acquisition of the Citydel Business Centre in Moscow from Patmian Investments; Eurasia Logistics on a $743m credit facility from Eurohypo to finance the construction of the ‘North Domodedovo’ Class A logistics complex; and KPMG on its leasing of 30,000 sq ft across ten floors in the Naberezhnaya Tower complex in Moscow. Maxim Kalinin handles real estate work from the firm’s St Petersburg office.

TMT

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

Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited’s market-leading TMT group is led by Eugene Arievich, who ‘pretty much rules the roost on Russian IP’. The team, which clients feel to be a ‘clear leader’, advised Novartis in a patent infringement case against Pharm-Sintez, represented Yandex before the Chamber for Patent Disputes, and obtained a reversal of a Chamber for Patent Disputes ruling relating to AUL’s registration of the Akai trade mark. The practice was boosted by the arrival of Yuri Pylnev, deputy head of the Federal Institute of Industrial Property, as a patent consultant, while Denis Khabarov is also highly recommended.

Tax

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

Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited is ‘the only international firm in Russia with a tax practice to match the accounting firms’. ‘Very impressive’ team head Alexander Chmelev’s ‘considerable experience’ lends him a ‘unique perspective and insight, which is invaluable given the frequent lack of black-and-white answers in Russia’. The ‘very well-positioned’ firm advised SABMiller on tax issues relating to its acquisition of Russian brewer Vladpivo, and successfully represented Western Union MT East in a dispute with the Russian tax authorities. Maria Kostenko and the ‘extremely knowledgeable’ Sergei Zhestkov, whose ‘abilities extend beyond the technical and into the practical application of the law’, are both highly recommended.

What we say worldwide

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Search News and Articles

Legal Developments by:
Baker & McKenzie

  • Tax Reforms Towards the Creation of an International Financial Center in Russia

    In December 2009 the Russian Parliament adopted important changes further promoting the Russian holding companies regime. Starting from January 1, 2011 Russian holding companies will no longer be required to meet the present 500 million ruble threshold for investments made into companies qualifying as “strategic investments” to receive tax benefits.
    - Baker & McKenzie

Legal Developments in Russia

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to

  • Tax Reforms Towards the Creation of an International Financial Center in Russia

    In December 2009 the Russian Parliament adopted important changes further promoting the Russian holding companies regime. Starting from January 1, 2011 Russian holding companies will no longer be required to meet the present 500 million ruble threshold for investments made into companies qualifying as “strategic investments” to receive tax benefits.
    - Baker & McKenzie

  • Rules for Tender Selection of Joint Implementation Projects under Kyoto Protocol

    On October 28, 2009, the Russian Government adopted two enactments concerning joint implementation projects under the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (the "Kyoto Protocol") in the Russian Federation, namely:
    - Baker & McKenzie

  • Federal Law "On the Principles of State Regulation of Trading Activity in the Russian Federation"

    On 1 February 2010, the Federal Law "On the Principles of State Regulation of Trading Activity in the Russian Federation" (the "Law") comes into force, which will substantially change the rules applicable to trade activities.
    - Baker & McKenzie

  • New Rules for Issuing Domestic Secured Bonds In Russia

    Starting January 2010, amendments to Federal Law No. 39-FZ “On the Securities Market” dated 22 April 1996 entered into force, affecting the issue of domestic bonds by Russian issuers. The new rules will apply to all domestic bond issues to be placed in the market after 31 December 2009.
    - Baker & McKenzie

  • 2010 quota for foreign workers distributed. List of quota-exempt professions for 2010 approved.

    In accordance with the order distributing the 2010 quota of work permits, a fixed number of work permits can be issued in each Russian region to work in different professions. Thus, for example, for Moscow the general quota for all professions is established at 250,000 work permits (which is considerably less than in 2009), and for St. Petersburg – 210,066 work permits.
    - Baker & McKenzie

  • Formation of the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan

    Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan will adopt new unified customs tariff and non-tariff regulations from January 1, 2010, and the Customs Union (the “CU”) of the three countries of the Eurasian Economic Community (the “EurAsEC”) will become a reality. The CU Customs Code (the “Customs Code”) is expected to take effect from July 1, 2010 to regulate the resulting integral customs zone.
    - Baker & McKenzie

  • New developments in Russian legislation on saving energy and increasing energy efficiency

    Federal Law No. 261-FZ “On Saving Energy and Increasing Energy Efficiency, and on Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation” came into force on November 27, 2009 (the “Law”), with certain provisions of the Law taking effect later. Changes to the Tax Code of the Russian Federation, for example, became effective on December 27, 2009, and those to the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation (the “Administrative Code”) take effect on June 22, 2010.
    - Baker & McKenzie

  • Changes re Criminal Liability and Prosecution of Tax Crimes

    On December 29, 2009 the RF President signed a law introducing important changes to criminal liability for tax evasion. It is established that a person violating the tax legislation may be relieved of criminal liability if the respective outstanding taxes and penalties connected to a crime are paid to the budget.
    - Baker & McKenzie

  • Revised Draft of the Law on Circulation of Medicines Prepared

    An amended version of the draft Federal Law "On Circulation of Medicines"  was placed on the website of the Russian Ministry of Healthcare and Social Development on December 3, 2009. The initial Draft Law was published on the same website on July 8, 2009, attracting much attention and criticism. Many suggestions were made to improve the initial Draft Law so as to ensure the effective functioning of the Russian pharmaceutical market. 
    - Baker & McKenzie

  • Development of anti-insider trading and market manipulation legislation in Russia

    Federal Law of the Russian Federation No. 241-FZ of 30 October 2009, "On Making Amendments to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and Article 151 of the Criminal Procedural Code of the Russian Federation" ("Law No. 241") was published on November 3, 2009.
    - Baker & McKenzie
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