Legal500

Clifford Chance

UL. GASHEKA 6, 125047 MOSCOW, RUSSIA

Washington DC, Warsaw, Tokyo, Sydney, Singapore, Shanghai , and 28 more

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

Banking and finance

Within Banking and finance, Clifford Chance is a first tier firm,

Clifford Chance ‘provides high-level legal services’. Both Logan Wright and Victoria Bortkevicha, who ‘meets tough deadlines and never compromises on the quality of her work,’ have impressive reputations for their expertise in banking and finance work. The firm recently advised the co-ordinating committee of lenders in relation to the restructuring of facilities made available to the RUSAL Group, which has total indebtedness of approximately $18bn. The firm has also recently advised Integra Group in connection with a $225m syndicated facility arranged by EBRD. Other clients include Credit Agricole, Halyk Bank and RBS. Jan ter Haar, who specialises in banking and secured finance, recently joined the Moscow office as its managing partner.

Capital markets

Within Capital markets, Clifford Chance is a second tier firm,

Clifford Chance ‘provides clear and concise advice focused on the issues in question’. The firm acted as issuer’s counsel on a follow-on public offering of shares in the form of GDRs of OJSC LSR Group and is currently advising two Russian banks and one Russian fertiliser producing company in connection with their Eurobond offerings scheduled for the end of 2010. The firm’s Russian capital markets practice is led by Arthur Iliev. Debt capital markets work is coordinated by Tamer Amara. Simeon Radcliff is also recommended.

Corporate and M&A: Moscow

Within Corporate and M&A: Moscow, Clifford Chance is a second tier firm,

Clifford Chance suffered the departure of one of its stars Andrei Dontsov to White & Case LLC and the relocation to London of Alex Erasmus. Nick Dingemans, a corporate finance partner who specialises in energy also left the firm to join Norton Rose (Central Europe) LLP. The highly respected Marc Bartholomy remains and welcomed newly promoted Nicholas Rees from London into the team. Competition law specialist Torsten Syrbe has also been made up. The firm recently advised Polymetal on the acquisition of the Varvarinskoye gold and copper mining project in Kazakhstan.

Dispute resolution

Within Dispute resolution, Clifford Chance is a second tier firm,

Clifford Chance suffered the departure of former head of dispute resolution Ivan Marisin and Vasily Kuznetsov to Dechert Russia LLC. The new practice leader Nicholas Munday has relocated from London to Moscow. Timur Aitkulov has a superb reputation. ‘He has proved himself as an extremely knowledgeable and fast-responding lawyer, possessing a strong analytical mind. He is also a very impressive speaker and particularly good at cross-examination.’

Employment

Within Employment, Clifford Chance is a third tier firm,

At Clifford Chance, counsel and tax specialist Alexander Anichkin also deals with employment matters. The firm’s clients include Barclays, Diageo, ABB International and Macquarie.

Energy and natural resources

Within Energy and natural resources, Clifford Chance is a third tier firm,

Clifford Chance felt the departures of Nick Dingemans to Norton Rose (Central Europe) LLP and Maria Oleinik to White & Case LLC. Global head of oil and gas Bleddyn Phillips and energy expert David Griston remain, ably supported by the firm’s banking and finance partners, and continue to advise clients such as Gazprom, Integra, Rosatom and Polymetal.

Legal market overview

Within Legal market overview,

The Russian legal market is volatile, and lateral hires of both individuals and, in some cases, teams are part of the legal landscape. This year international firms such as Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Gide Loyrette Nouel, White & Case LLC and Linklaters CIS were all subject to key partner moves. One firm’s loss is another’s gain, and, despite the difficult economic climate, many law firms, including those mentioned above are investing in growth. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP has for example welcomed the tax team from what was once Hogan & Hartson LLP. Of the Russian firms, Vegas Lex suffered a blow when a number of its partners left to form Korelskiy Ischuk Astafiev and Partners, Attorneys at Law.

Public private partnership

Within Public private partnership, Clifford Chance is a second tier firm,

At Clifford Chance, Victoria Bortkevicha, Marc Bartholomy and Torsten Syrbe handle PPP matters. The firm is advising the EBRD, IFC, Eurasian Development Bank, Nordic Investment Bank, Black Sea Trade and Development Bank, and Vnesheconombank on the financing of the development, reconstruction and operation of St Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport.

Real estate

Within Real estate, Clifford Chance is a first tier firm,

At Clifford Chance, corporate star Marc Bartholomy also leads the ’excellent’ real estate practice group. He provides ‘Russian experience as well as the knowledge of what Western clients expect’. The firm recently advised VTB Capital on the acquisition from a Moscow-based developer of one of the most prestigious office complexes in central Moscow. Real estate finance expert Logan Wright is recommended. Torsten Syrbe was made up in 2010.

Tax

Within Tax , Clifford Chance is a third tier firm,

At Clifford Chance, Alexander Anichkin continues to be the key tax contact. The firm represented Bank of New York in $22.5bn litigation under a lawsuit brought by the Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation in the Moscow court claiming for the damages resulting from the alleged participation of BoNY in a money-laundering scheme facilitating avoidance of Russian import taxes and duties.

What we say worldwide

Please choose another Clifford Chance office to view full details of what we say in that region, or choose from this list to view a specific editorial reference in context.

United Arab Emirates

Offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai

Australia

Offices in Sydney and Perth

Belgium

Offices in Brussels

China

Offices in Shanghai and Beijing

Czech Republic

Offices in Prague

Germany

Offices in Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, and Munich

Algeria

Foreign firms : Foreign firms

Spain

Offices in Madrid and Barcelona

France

Offices in Paris

Ghana

Legal market overview : Legal market overview

Hong Kong

Offices in Hong Kong

Indonesia

Foreign firms : Foreign firms

India

Italy

Offices in Rome and Milan

Japan

Offices in Tokyo

Kuwait

Legal market overview : Legal market overview

London

Offices in London E14 and London EC2R

Luxembourg

Offices in Luxembourg

Morocco

Foreign firms : Foreign firms

Netherlands

Offices in Amsterdam

Oman

Legal market overview : Legal market overview

Philippines

Foreign firms : Foreign firms

Poland

Offices in Warsaw

Qatar

Offices in Doha

Foreign firms : Foreign firms

Romania

Offices in Bucharest

Russia

Offices in Moscow

Singapore

Offices in Singapore

South Korea

Foreign firms : Foreign firms

Taiwan

TMT : TMT

Thailand

Offices in Bangkok

Tunisia

Foreign firms : Foreign firms

Turkey

Offices in Istanbul

Ukraine

Offices in Kiev

United States

Offices in Washington DC, New York, and Menlo Park

Vietnam

Search News and Articles

Legal Developments by:
Clifford Chance

Routine settlement correspondence - potentially an act of victimisation?

The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 renders it unlawful to victimise a person through less favourable treatment because they have brought sex discrimination or equal pay proceedings. Similar provisions exist in relation to other areas of discrimination.

- Clifford Chance

Legal Developments in Russia

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

The Russian Federal Tax Service on how to conclude advance pricing agreements for tax purposes

Legal Update No. 322

- Goltsblat BLP
New documents and filling rules for VAT settlements

Legal Update No. 324 Goltsblat BLP advises that Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1137 “On the Formats and Rules for Completing (Maintaining) Documents Used in Value Added Tax Settlements” was adopted on 26 December 2011 (the Resolution).

- Goltsblat BLP
Russian sac recovers actual damage and lost profit from Russian FCS

Legal Update No. 323 Goltsblat BLP advises that, on 17 January 2012, the Presidium of the Russian SAC issued a Ruling under Case No. А40-89211/10-30-762 recovering real damage and lost profit from the Federal Customs Service in favour of an exporter owing to an unlawful order.

- Goltsblat BLP
Russian sac on article 333 of the Russian civil code

Legal Update No. 320 Goltsblat BLP advises of publication of Resolution No. 81 of the Plenum of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation “On Certain Aspects of Applying Article 33 of the Russian Civil Code” dated 22 December 2011 (the “Resolution”) regarding penalty reduction.

- Goltsblat BLP
Trade marks enforceable in relation to the goods for which they are registered

Legal Update No. 325 Goltsblat BLP advises of the publication of Resolution of the Presidium of the Russian Supreme Court No. 8817/11 of 29 November 2011 upholding decisions of three lower courts in relation to a case on early termination of legal protection for the VECHERNIE trade mark with respect to goods under ICGS class 05 "pharmaceuticals" and "dietary substances for medical purposes" because the trade mark has been used during production and sale of biologically active supplements that are not on the registered list of goods.

- Goltsblat BLP
Supreme Arbitration Court supports recovery of input VAT on general production costs

Legal Update No. 317 Goltsblat BLP advises of publication of Supreme Arbitration Court Resolution No. 3844/11 dated 25 October 2011 on the case of OOO Tulatsement . The Resolution confirms the possibility to recover input VAT on repairs to another person’s property, even if the taxpayer has no right to such property and other people or entities may also use such repair results.

- Goltsblat BLP
Amendments to legislation in the area of corporate law

In January 2012, the Federal Law ‘On organised trades’ came into force

- Pepeliaev Group
Third set of antimonopoly measures: prospects and risks for business

The third set of antimonopoly measures, which comes into force on 6 and 7 January, significantly amends antimonopoly legislation, affecting business across the board. The most important new developments include:

- Pepeliaev Group
Tax discrimination against foreign investors in Russia

Julia Alexandrova, Senior Associate, Pepeliaev Group

- Pepeliaev Group
Economic partnership - a new legal form of commercial entity

Legal Update No. 308

- Goltsblat BLP