The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Allen & Overy LLP is a first tier firm,

Allen & Overy Legal Services represents most of the main players in the Russian banking and finance sector, including development banks and export credit agencies. Highlights included advising BNP Paribas, Gazprombank, UniCredit and SACE on a landmark triple-ECA-backed financing of Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant. Former Moscow managing partner Tony Humphrey retired in May 2011, but the team retains highly regarded individuals in practice head Stephen Matthews, Dmitry Shiryaev and Elena Tchoubykina.

Within Capital markets, Allen & Overy LLP is a second tier firm,

Allen & Overy Legal Services’ quality capital markets practice is ‘one of the best in terms of value for money’. Team head James Roe is ‘very efficient and always available’. He acted for Troika Dialog and NCB Stockbrokers on Avangardco Investment’s $256m IPO on the LSE. Stephen Matthews advised Renaissance Capital on the sale of its benchmark Rule 144A $325m Eurobond. Varun Gupta and two associates joined Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP in 2011.

Within Moscow , Allen & Overy LLP is a second tier firm,

Allen & Overy Legal Services shows ‘professional efficiency, ability to work hard and under pressure, and good responsiveness’. The team saw an increase in inbound and outbound investments in energy, oil and gas, and also acted on transactions in the technology, life sciences and automotive sectors. The ‘impressive’ Tim Shilling advised Rosneft on its $1.6bn agreement to acquire a 50% stake in Ruhr Oel GmbH from Petróleos de Venezuela.

Within Energy and natural resources, Allen & Overy LLP is a second tier firm,

Allen & Overy Legal Services provides ‘a very high level of service’, and has ‘strong negotiating skills’. It is particularly strong in energy-related corporate and M&A transactions, and recent highlights include advising Rosneft on the $1.6bn acquisition of a 50% interest in Ruhr Oel GmbH, as well as on an upstream gas project in the UAE. The ‘impressive’ Tim Shilling leads the team, which includes a very able group of associates. Edwin Tham and Anton Konnov are also recommended.

Within Public private partnership, Allen & Overy LLP is a first tier firm,

Anton Konnov’s team at Allen & Overy Legal Services continues to advise Transproject on project documentation for the construction and operation of the Moscow-St Petersburg toll road. Senior associate Veronika Kondruseva recently returned to Moscow after studying in London and is developing PPP expertise following valuable secondments.

Within Real estate, Allen & Overy LLP is a second tier firm,

Allen & Overy Legal Services’ real estate practice is driven by the banking and finance practice, which is led by Stephen Matthews. Among its work for investors, recent highlights include acting for VTB Private Equity on a $150m real estate finance facility. The team also represents developers and banks.

Within Shipping and transport, Allen & Overy LLP is a third tier firm,

Allen & Overy Legal Services is strong in lease financing, where clients include ILFC and VTB Leasing as well as airlines such as Avianova. The team regularly advises GECAS, which it most recently assisted in negotiations with S7 (Sirbir Airlines) regarding its aircraft lease agreement. Stephen Matthews, who also advises on shipping finance, and Elena Tchoubykina, are the most prominent members of the team.