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White & Case LLC

4 ROMANOV PEREULOK, 125009 MOSCOW
Washington DC, Warsaw, Tokyo, Stockholm, Singapore, Shanghai , and 30 more

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

Banking and finance

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

White & Case LLC’s team is jointly headed by real estate finance expert Maya Melnikas and project finance specialist Irina Nesvetova, a ‘creative, client-oriented, diligent and co-operative lawyer with a flexible approach’. The team, which was boosted by the relocation of partner Evgenia Laurson from the firm’s London office in April 2008, advised Société Générale on a $500m facility for Interros International Investments, and ABN AMRO on a $200m financing for Imperial Energy Group’s development of its upstream oil and gas assets in Russia and Kazakhstan. The firm’s advice is ‘of the highest quality’, say clients.

Capital markets

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

Following the relocation of practice head Sven Krogius to the firm’s London office, White & Case LLC’s capital markets team in Moscow is now led by newly promoted partners Olga Okouneva and Simon Morgan, the latter having transferred from London in June 2008. A highlight for the debt-oriented practice was advice to TMK on its $600m LPN issue. Clients find the firm’s advice leaves them ‘fully satisfied’, and single out associate Dmitriy Lapshin for special praise.

Corporate and M&A Moscow

Within Corporate and M&A Moscow, White & Case LLP is a first tier firm,

Jointly led by Moscow executive partner Hermann Schmitt and the ‘personable’ Eric Michailov, White & Case LLC is ‘a prominent feature on Moscow’s corporate landscape’. The busy team had a strong year in banking M&A, advising Société Générale on its $2.3bn acquisition of Rosbank, and Bank of Cyprus on its $576m acquisition of an 80% stake in Uniastrum Bank. Other highlights include advice to Nestlé Rossiya on its acquisition of Ruzskaya Confectionery Factory.

Dispute resolution

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

White & Case LLC’s team was boosted by the arrival of counsel and specialist arbitrator Alexey Barnashov from Clifford Chance, who now jointly leads the practice with Igor Ostapets.

Energy and natural resources

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

Marc Polonsky’s ‘absolutely first class’ team at White & Case LLC received a boost with the relocation of London-based project finance partner Evgenia Laurson in April 2008. Recent highlights include advice to the lenders on the phase two financing of the Sakhalin II LNG project, UPM on the establishment of a €1bn joint venture with Sveza Group, and TNK-BP on the establishment of a gas-to-power joint venture with OGK-1. Oil and gas specialist Jennifer Josefson is also recommended.

Real estate

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

White & Case LLC’s practice is led by developer specialist Eric Michailov and office chair Hermann Schmitt, who focuses on advice to real estate investment funds. The firm advised Capital Partners on a €380m financing from EuroHypo for the development of the Metropolis mixed-use project in Moscow, City Developments Limited on its $125m joint venture with the Amtel group that owns the Iris Congress Hotel in Moscow, and Patmian Limited on its $600m sale of the Citydel shopping centre in Moscow to German real estate fund KanAm. Steffen Kaufmann is also recommended.

Tax

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

White & Case LLC’s stand-alone tax structuring practice is led by Irina Dmitrieva. The firm advised Google on the tax structuring aspects of its $140m acquisition of Rambler Media.

What we say worldwide

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Czech Republic

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Denmark

Algeria

Foreign Firms

Finland

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France

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Hong Kong

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Hungary

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Indonesia

India

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Japan

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Jordan

Kazakhstan

Offices in Almaty

London

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Republic of Macedonia

UK Overview

Philippines

Poland

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Qatar

Romania

Offices in Bucharest

Russia

Offices in Moscow

South Africa

Offices in Johannesburg

Sweden

Offices in Stockholm

Singapore

Offices in Singapore

Slovakia

Offices in Bratislava

Saudi Arabia

Offices in Riyadh

Thailand

Tunisia

Turkey

Offices in Istanbul and Ankara

US

Offices in Washington DC, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, and Palo Alto

Vietnam

Search News and Articles

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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