The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, White & Case LLP is a second tier firm,

White & Case LLC represents various parties in finance transactions, often involving cross-border elements or innovative structures. Recent work includes advising ING Bank on a RUB1.2bn club loan with Sberbank to Russian film production company CJSC Russian World Studios, secured against the borrower’s video content library. Asset and equipment finance expert Thomas McDonald joined the Moscow team from the firm’s Paris office. Irina Nesvetova heads the practice.

Within Capital markets, White & Case LLP is a second tier firm,

Following on from Carter Brod and Sven Krogius’ relocation from London to Moscow in 2010, White & Case LLC continues to make significant investments in its capital markets practice locally, adding four new associates to the Moscow office. The team is particularly strong in debt capital markets transactions but is increasingly visible on the equity side, where it acted as underwriters’ counsel to VTB Capital on Armada’s equity offering and subsequent listing on the RTS and MICEX Stock Exchanges.

Within Moscow , White & Case LLP is a first tier firm,

White & Case LLC’s Igor Ostapets advised TNK-BP on its acquisition of BP’s pipeline assets in Vietnam and Venezuela. Practice head Eric Michailov advised VTB Capital on purchasing a 47% stake in White Square business centre and a 40% stake in White Gardens real estate project. Andrei Dontsov focuses on the telecoms and automotive sectors. Denis Bazlov joined from Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP.

Within St Petersburg Leading individuals

Within Dispute resolution, White & Case LLP is a second tier firm,

Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners cushioned the recent departure of Grigory Chernyshov to White & Case LLC by recruiting Ivan Smirnov in Moscow, who was previously St Petersburg head of dispute resolution at Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited. International arbitration expert Dmitry Dyakin also joined as a result of the firm’s merger with Magisters. Recent work for the team includes successfully acting for the Russian Federation at the International Court of Justice regarding Georgia’s application against Russia in a racial discrimination dispute.

Within Energy and natural resources, White & Case LLP is a first tier firm,

‘One of the best’, White & Case LLC’s recent work includes advising TNK-BP on a series of transactions to acquire BP’s upstream and pipeline assets in Vietnam and Venezuela; its acquisition of a gas processing facility with joint venture partner Sibur; and its establishment of a gas-to-power joint venture with OGK-1. Practice head Igor Ostapets is ably supported by Evgenia Laurson in mining; Maria Oleinik in oil and gas; and Marc Polonsky in projects and infrastructure.

Within Public private partnership, White & Case LLP is a third tier firm,

White & Case LLC has been advising lenders on several high-profile project financings. Irina Nesvetova heads the team, which is acting for Nord Stream AG (Global) on the development and project financing of the Nord Stream Baltic Pipeline.

Within Real estate, White & Case LLP is a second tier firm,

White & Case LLC advised VTB Capital on its acquisition of a 47% stake in the White Square business centre and a 40% stake in the White Gardens real estate project in Moscow. Steffen Kaufmann leads the team.

Within TMT, White & Case LLP is a second tier firm,

White & Case LLC recently advised AR-Films on acquiring a controlling stake in A-Company Consulting and Licensing, the leading film distribution company in Central and Eastern Europe. The practice also has telecoms expertise.

Within Tax , White & Case LLP is a second tier firm,

White & Case LLC’s principal focus is on the tax aspects of corporate and finance projects. Practice head Irina Dmitrieva is ‘quick, intelligent’, and has ‘very good expertise in all areas of tax’ including accounting experience. In 2011, the team advised Lhoist on its limestone joint venture with TMK.