Energy & Metals ↓
We have an intimate and deep-seated knowledge of regulation of the entire mining sector and have represented various international energy and mining companies, including Gazprom, Newmont and Lundin Mining, as well as serving related industries such as forestry.
Our range of services in this sector includes advising on land and mineral rights, licensing, privatisation, insolvency, foreign economic activity, trade usages and customs, and business practice standards.
Financial Services ↓
We represent many major banks with either Russian or international ownership, including VTB, Morgan Stanley, Barclays Capital, BBVA and EBRD. We give clients an edge through extensive knowledge of current practices and policies of State authorities such as Russia's Central Bank and the various currency control bodies and tax authorities.
Other services include: regulatory advice, advice on transaction structuring and representation in negotiations; managing ownership and consolidation of banking assets; developing branch networks; obtaining syndicated credit; and representing major credit institutions in bankruptcy litigation. We also advise borrowers and lenders in complex cross-border secured and unsecured financings.
Retail ↓
We advise the retail industry on a range of topics including wholesaling and distribution. We acted for IKEA on issues arising from certain disputes, and Yamaha and Mazda are other notable clients.
Telecommunications, Media & Technology (TMT) ↓
With clients including MTS, Rostelecom, Telenor and Svyazinvest (along with Svyazinvest's regional subsidiaries CenterTelecom, Uralsvyazinform and others), we are a leading adviser to the telecoms industry. The years of industry expertise has made us one of the very few firms to have produced doctrinal work on the legal aspects of telecommunications.
In the technology sector we represent clients such as Microsoft, protecting their intellectual property. Recently we advised on a joint venture between Alcatel-Lucent and a Russian partner, aiming to adapt top IT technology for the Russian market.
When it comes to media, we advise clients on various regulatory and legal issues. Copyright infringement disputes are also common in this sector.
Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology ↓
In this booming sector we receive instructions from pharmaceutical companies, including STADA Arzneimittel and their Russian subsidiary Nizhpharm, Talecris and Petrovax, on a broad range of matters from making acquisitions and creating joint ventures to testing and registering new products. We were counsel to SIA International, Russia's largest pharmaceutical distributor, in its proposed $800 million sale to TPG, which was the largest private equity investment deal in Russia at the time.
Transport ↓
We represent such clients as Boeing and United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) in the aviation, shipping and railroad sectors, helping them in their business as usual activities as well as acquisitions and joint ventures. Allied to this is our experience with customs rules and regulations.