Editorial: Mergers & Acquisitions in the CIS
Our research identifies 95 outstanding lawyers in this practice area.
White & Case receives the most nominations and is particularly strong in Moscow. Marc Polonsky is “one of the most experienced lawyers in Russia” and has particular expertise in the natural resources sector. Igor Ostapets has advised Russian and foreign companies in the metal and oil industries. Eric Michailov heads the M&A practice in Moscow and regularly represents investment funds and international companies on their projects in Russia, particularly in the real estate, consumer products and telecommunications sectors. The “brilliantly skilful” Hermann Schmitt has represented major foreign investors and Russian banks, telecommunications operators and industrial manufacturers. In Kazakhstan, Yuriy Maltsev is “first class for M&A” and was previously involved in the privatisation and acquisition of Shymkent refinery by Hurricane Hydrocarbons (now Petrokazakhstan) for approximately US$1 billion. The merged entity was the first vertically integrated oil company in Kazakhstan.
Four lawyers at Baker & McKenzie stood out during our research. Based in Kazakhstan, Curtis Masters is “a great lawyer” who advises President Nazarbayev twice a year on legal issues pertaining to foreign investment into the country. Azamat Kuatbekov practises in this area and has recently advised an Israeli investor in connection with the bankruptcy acquisition of the mining and chemical facilities in Kazakhstan. In Azerbaijan, Natik Mamedov is an associate noted for his work in telecommunications transactions, while Aykhan Asadov is “the man for M&A”.
Magisters also has four nominees in this chapter. The “marvellous” Anna Rusetskaya heads the M&A practice in Belarus while Dennis Turovets is a managing partner of the Minsk office and is also recommended. Marta Khomyak in Kazakhstan has advised leading CIS-based corporations and global investors across a broad range of sectors, as well as acting for state authorities. Andrew Mac manages the Kiev office and is also on our list.
Vlasova Mikhel & Partners provides four lawyers for our Belarus list. Liliya Vlasova is “a business guru” while Konstantin Mikhel is “a high quality and reliable” lawyer. Tatiana Emelianova is also seen as a leading lawyer in this jurisdiction and Sveltana Dashuk “should definitely be on anyone’s list”.
We list three lawyers at Clifford Chance LLP. Marc Bartholomy is “a real player in Moscow” while Andrei Dontsov is also highly rated. Alex Erasmus’s “top quality” practice has also been pointed out to us.
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP also has three Moscow lawyers prominent in our research. Jacky Baudon is a “terrific guy” with a broad corporate experience in a range of industries such as energy, natural resources, chemicals, engineering and telecommunications. Dmitry Surikov is “a top-tier lawyer” who advises leading Russian metal, mining companies and Western investors on their projects abroad while Igor Gerber also advises on major projects in the energy, metals, mining and retail sectors.
Grata Law Firm has three representatives in our final list. The “superior” Zafar Malikov is managing partner and director of the Tashkent office and controls the firm’s activities in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Umid Aripdjanov heads the commercial law group and advises international corporations in the oil and gas industry, telecommunications and automobile manufacturing. Rashid Gaissin is a managing partner in Kazakhstan and advised the UniCredit Group in its US$2.3 billion acquisition of ATF Bank.
Three lawyers at Salans have proved to be prominent in our research. Oleg Batyuk “is a true expert in this area” and is managing partner of the Kiev office. Aigoul Kenjebayeva is managing partner of the Almaty office with a focus on foreign investment in Kazakhstan. James Hogan is a managing partner of the Baku office and “has profound experience in the region”. He has concentrated exclusively on corporate, commercial and natural resource matters relating to the CIS and Eastern Europe since 1988.
Russia has a large pool of talent in this area with 18 leading lawyers identified by our research. Two lawyers from Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners are in the final list. Managing partner Ilya Nikiforov is seen as “top-notch” and in 2004 was given the diploma “for successes in commercial law” by the council of the Russian federal bar association. Dimitry Afanasiev is also a managing partner of the firm and was awarded the order of “fidelity to a lawyer’s duty” by the same association. Two lawyers at Goltsblat BLP are particularly well regarded in this area. Managing partner Andrey Goltsblat is “an outstanding lawyer” and “very well known in Moscow”. Previously the Chief of Staff for the constitutional commission of the Russian parliament, he counsels boards of directors and senior management in connection with investment projects and deal structuring in Russia and the CIS. Anton Sitnikov “should be on anyone’s list of the best” and works in a number of industries such as oil and gas, mining, the food industry, services sector and banking and finance. At Linklaters LLP Denis Uvarov is “exceptional” and was involved in the acquisition by BP of strategic investments in TNK-BP and Slavneft, while John Goodwin is a managing partner of the firm’s Moscow office and has “first class” counsel. Edwin Tham from Allen & Overy LLP is “a rising star” and has been involved in the acquisition of a drinks producer in the Ukraine and within the oil and heavy transportation sectors. At ALRUD Law Firm, Alexander Zharskiy has been active in joint venture projects from Europe expanding into Asia while Vassily Rudomino “certainly deserves to be on the list”. From Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, Scott Senecal regularly advises on merger and acquisition transactions and joint ventures, representing foreign investors (both private equity and corporate) and Russian entities.
At Debevoise & Plimpton LLP the “highly skilful” Dmitri Nikiforov chairs the Moscow office and advises on complex international transactions for the Russian government. From Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, the “highly distinguished” Oleg Berger co-chairs the M&A group and represents a growing number of Russian clients. Alexei Roudiak at Herbert Smith LLP is “incredibly smart” and advised Tata on the transfer of Land Rover and Jaguar in Russia from Ford Motor Company. Oxana Balayan at Lovells LLP is also well regarded by her peers and she advises a variety of major international and Russian clients. Her work involves a wide range of industries, including financial services, retail, media, pharmaceuticals, automotive and real estate. The “highly respected and business minded” Anatoly Andriash at Macleod Dixon LLP is a managing partner and advises clients in the spheres of natural resources and telecommunications. Ilja Ratschkov of Norrr OOO has a “very impressive” practice and advises Russian and foreign companies including banks and state authorities. Anton Klyachin of Salomons is held with high regard in our research and has extensive experience in Russia. He has previously provided legal counsel for the corporate restructuring of the largest media holding in Russia. From Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP the “highly reputable” Alexey Kiyashko co-heads the Moscow office and has advised major Russian companies and investment banks in connection with international corporate finance transactions. Maxim Sterin at Hannes Snellman LLC is a “stellar practitioner”.
Ukraine also has a strong representation in this practice area and provides 14 leading lawyers for our list. Asters has two of its lawyers included. Armen Khachaturyan is held in high regard for his practice in this area. The “highly experienced” Oleksiy Didkovskiy is managing partner of the firm and has been involved in a number of acquisitions, including the takeover of Poltava Diamond Plant by Element Six from the De Beers Group. Two lawyers at Sayenko Kharenko are listed. Vladimir Sayenko is “extremely active” in the financial, energy, oil and gas, real estate and media sectors and Michael Kharenko has advised a range of leading investment banks, multinational financial institutions and corporates. At Arzinger & Partners, Timur Bondaryev is seen as “outstanding” in the field while Oleh Malskyy of Astapov Lawyers heads the firm’s M&A practice. From Chadbourne & Parke LLP, Jaroslawa Johnson is “a big name” and recently represented the bank of Cyprus in its acquisition of a medium-sized Ukrainian bank. Adam Mycyk, the managing partner at CMS Cameron McKenna, regularly advises multinationals, foreign and domestic companies, banks, investment banks and other financial institutions. Margarita Karpenko from DLA Piper LLP is “highly recommended” for local M&A. At Frishberg & Partners, Scott Brown is held in high regard for his work in this area, while at KM Partners Alexander Minin also comes highly recommended. At Konnov & Sozanovsky the “very distinguished” senior partner Sergei Konnov was granted “The Badge of Honour of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine” by the Ukranian government. Denis Lysenko of Vasil Kisil & Partners has wide experience in representing interests of foreign investors in cross-border transactions involving Ukrainian assets and companies. Roman Kolos at Wolf Theiss Rechtsanwälte GmbH has also featured strongly in our research.
In Belarus, we identify 11 prominent lawyers; Sorainen Law Offices provides two of these. Maksim Salahub is “a world-class lawyer” and co-manages the Minsk office while heading the M&A practice. He has significant experience in advising on cross-border M&A transactions in the complex Belarusian legal environment, especially in due diligence of local enterprises and provides a full array of legal advice to foreign investors. Kiryl Apanasevich is also highly rated and provides legal support to clients in numerous complex M&A transactions and asset deals. Two lawyers from Stepanovski Papakul and Partners Ltd have also been nominated. Alexander Stepanovski is “a fantastic lawyer” and has extensive experience in Russia and Belarus. Valery Papakul is the managing partner and is perceived as “truly one of the best in the region”. The “exceptional” Dmitry Viltovsky from Arzinger & Partners also makes it onto the list. Borovtsov & Salei receives two nominations: Vassili Salei is well regarded for his expertise in this area, and Alexander Botian is “highly knowledgeable”. At Businessconsult, Timour Sysouev is known for his “broad experience” while Dmitry Bokhan provides “impressive” counsel. Sergei Makarchuk is the managing partner of the Belarusian office of Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati while at Law Firm Trust Eugene Lazarenkov is also a leader in this jurisdiction.
A further six exceptional lawyers in Kazakhstan are selected in our research. Two nominees from Aequitas have been listed. Tatyana Suleyeva is “excellent in the field” and has been involved in advising major European and US banks in acquiring other banks active in Kazakhstan. The “very talented” Olga Chentsova, managing partner of the firm, also features. At Denton Wilde Sapte Kazakhstan Limited Joel Benjamin is “superb” and represents clients from a range of industries such as oil and gas, mining and banking. From Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, Aset Shyngyssov is the managing partner of the Almaty office and provides “fantastic counsel”. At Macleod Dixon LLP Maxim Telemtayev manages the firm’s Almaty office and is “a top M&A lawyer”, with over 10 years of legal practice in the mining, oil and gas, uranium and telecommunications industries. Michael Wilson is the founder of Michael Wilson & Partners and has been involved in many of the largest projects in the region.
In Azerbaijan, Omni Law Firm has two lawyers on our list. Ismayil Zargarli is “one of the best”, while Jeyhun Bayramov is “a very fine lawyer”. At BM Law Firm, Farhad Mirzayev has an “exceptional” practice and has represented Lukoil Europe in connection with the acquisition of shares of a leading telecommunications company. Nariman Ramazanov, the founder and managing partner of Fina LLP, is a “first-rate” lawyer. MGB Law Offices’ Ismail Askerov is reported to be “the man for Azerbaijan” and has previously advised on the acquisition of shares in the telecommunications sector.
In Moldova, Turcan & Turcan has two lawyers in our final list. Alexander Turcan is highly regarded for his work in the field and Octavian Cazac has an “outstanding practice” in this jurisdiction. Victor Burac is perceived as “very good” and is active in this practice area while Mihail Buruiana at his own firm, Buruiana & Partners, is seen as “great with this kind of work”. Managing partner Victor Levintsa at Levintsa & Associates is the “main competitor” and is rated highly rated.
Three lawyers based in Armenia are featured here. At Ameria Legal Practice David Sargsyan has “brilliant” practice in the field while Andrew Mkrtchyan has also received positive mention in our research. Thomas Samuelian is a managing partner at Arlex International Ltd and is one of the first foreign lawyers admitted to the Armenian bar.
From Kyrgyzstan Gulnara Kalikova is seen as “number one” and is managing partner of Kalikova & Associates. Niyaz Aldashev from Lorenz is “an extremely good lawyer” and his practice in the past has involved a large M&A project in the telecommunications sector. Mirgul Smanalieva at Partner Law Firm has also been highly recommended in our research.
Finally, Ilkhom Azizov heads Azizov & Partners in Uzbekistan and provides “highly skilled services” in the field.