Editorial: Arbitration in the CIS
Our research across the CIS countries has identified 41 leading lawyers in this sector.
Magisters has the largest contingent, with three of its partners featured. In Kiev the “highly experienced” Serhii Sviriba heads the firm’s arbitration and litigation practice and specialises in pre-arbitration and arbitration procedures in Ukraine, the European Union and the United States. Dmitry Dyakin is a “real player” and he leads the international arbitration and litigation practices at the firm’s Moscow office. He has experience in disputes involving state monopolies and companies that have foreign investments in the oil and gas, banking and construction sectors. In Astana, Marta Khomyak is perceived as a “great lawyer” and is active in this area.
Our research also identifies a high concentration of talent in Russia with a further 17 leading lawyers all based in Moscow. At Baker & McKenzie, Vladimir Khvalei is “highly experienced” in international arbitration cases under the rules of ICAC, UNCITRAL, ICC, SCC and other institutions, both as a party counsel and as arbitrator. Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP sees two partners included. The “highly experienced” Sergei Volfson is the head of the firm’s Russia/CIS dispute resolution practice and acts for Russian, US and European-listed multinationals while Jonathan Hines is “highly recommended” and assists clients in connection with Russia-related arbitration proceedings in Moscow, Stockholm, London and Paris. Ivan Zykin from Andrey Gorodissky & Partners is perceived as a “top gun” in the field with over 30 years of experience in handling complex cases before international arbitration courts. He is also vice president of the international commercial arbitration court at the Russian Federation chamber of commerce and industry. At Chadbourne & Parke LLP, Mikhail Rozenberg is “brilliant” with more than 25 years of experience in the field.
From Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners, Ilya Nikiforov is “rightfully included in the list” while Yaroslav Klimov at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP heads the firm’s dispute resolution practice in Russia and represents clients before various tribunals and courts. Maxim Kulkov at Goltsblat BLP has a “very good practice. At Herbert Smith LLP, Dmitry Kurochkin heads the arbitration group at its Moscow office and his experience extends to general commercial, corporate, M&A, labour, regulatory and shareholders’ disputes both domestically and internationally. Dominic Pellew from Lovells LLP is “well known” for his work in the sector, acting in arbitrations taking place in Iran, Russia and various European fora. His clients include oil and gas exploration companies in investments disputes with sovereign states.
At the Maritime Arbitration Commission, Sergei Lebedev is seen as “the great authority on arbitration” by sources. Boris Karabelnikov at the Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences is “an expert”, while Nina Vilkova at the Russian Academy of Foreign Trade has a “very knowledgeable” practice. At the international commercial arbitration court at Russia’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kostin Alexei is considered a “leading authority”, while Alexander Komarov is “rightfully included in the list”. Two lawyers from Clifford Chance LLP also appear in this chapter. Ivan Marisin is “a very good lawyer” and he recently successfully represented Tekhsnabexport in a US$1 billion uranium arbitration in Stockholm. The “very reputable” Timur Aitkulov has acted as counsel in a number of international arbitrations in relation to nuclear energy, oil and gas, mining and general commercial matters.
A further seven prominent professionals are selected from Ukraine. The “very talented” Svitlana Romanova from Baker & McKenzie represents clients in the oil and gas industry and related infrastructure and environmental projects. She has recently been involved in representing a Ukrainian publicly owned oil and gas company under the rules of the Stockholm arbitration institute regarding recognition of the claimant’s right for exploration and development of oil fields and payment of damages. Sergei Voitovich at Grischenko & Partners is seen as “brilliant” and has represented Ukraine as counsel in several multimillion investment arbitration cases before ICSID in addition to being recognised as “The Honoured Lawyer of Ukraine” by the country’s president in 2008. Yevhen Kubko is a “real player” and president at Salkom Law Firm acting as an arbitrator for the international arbitral centre of the Austrian federal economic chamber in Vienna. Igor Pobirchenko from the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce & Industry is also noted for his work in the field. Two representatives from Vasil Kisil & Partners are nominated. The “extremely good” Tatyana Slipachuk chairs the international arbitration group and acts as a party-appointed arbitrator, sole arbitrator and as chair of the arbitral tribunal, as well as representing clients’ interests as counsel. Oleg Alyoshin is “highly skilled” and represents clients in a range of jurisdictions acting as party representative or expert on Ukrainian law issues. In Kiev, the “outstanding” Andriy Astapov is head of dispute resolution at Astapov Lawyers and was internationally recognised for his skill and experience in a range of fora worldwide.
In Kazakhstan, the “excellent” Aigoul Kenjebayeva from Salans makes it into the chapter. Her colleague Yuliya Mitrofanskaya heads the arbitration, litigation, IP and employment practices in Almaty and has acted as counsel in arbitrations conducted under ICC, SCC and UNCITRAL arbitration rules. At Chadbourne & Parke LLP the “superb” Sergei Vataev advises and represents a large number of major oil and gas companies in contractual and regulatory arbitrations. Dinara Jarmukhanova from McGuireWoods LLP has “extensive experience” in the field and represents the government, National Bank, state agencies and private companies in ICSID, SCC, LCIA and NAI arbitrations in London, Stockholm and Rotterdam. The “very bright” Aidyn Bikebayev is the founder of Sayat Zholshy & Partners and has acted as an adviser to the prime minister of Kazakhstan.
In Belarus, Alexander Danilevich at his own firm has “very good” practice in the evaluation of arbitration agreements, representation proceedings and recourse against arbitral awards. The “excellent” Alexander Botian at Borovtsov & Salei is an arbitrator of the international arbitrage court at the Belarusian international chamber of commerce and industries. Igor Verkhovodko from Businessconsult is very well regarded within the field while the “highly skilled” Timour Sysouev also specialises in this sector. From Vlasova Mikhel & Partners, Alexey Anischenko “knows his area” and makes it into the final list. Eugene Lazarenkov is the deputy director of Law Firm Trust and receives “excellent recommendation”.
Edith Khachatourian is a partner at International Legal Consulting in Armenia and is “highly skilled”. In Kyrgyzstan, at Kalikova & Associates, Nurbek Sabirov has a “very good” practice, while Temirbek Kenenbaev from Partner Law Firm acts as an arbitrator in commercial disputes and has “broad experience” in the field.