Commercial Litigation in the CIS
With 48 lawyers listed in eight CIS jurisdictions, this is one of the largest and most geographically diverse chapters in the current edition, and demonstrates the sophistication of the region’s litigation bar.
Baker & McKenzie fields representatives from three offices in this section. Vladimir Khvalei is the head of the firm’s CIS dispute resolution group in Moscow and “one of the sharpest litigators in Russia” according to sources. A client list that includes Lukoil alongside numerous Russian, Chinese and US corporations and funds, and a position as vice president of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, further attest to Khvalei’s “rock solid” credentials. Svitlana M Romanova is based in Kiev and combines her “first-rate” disputes work with a “strong” knowledge of environment and corporate law. In Almaty, Azamat A Kuatbekov comes “highly recommended” for his disputes, acquisition and financing expertise in the natural resources sector.
Kiev-based Alexey Reznikov heads the litigation practice at Magisters and peers place him “among the best in Ukraine” for corporate disputes. His practice combines expertise in tax, customs and securities law, and he has argued cases before the Supreme, Supreme Economic and Administrative Courts of Ukraine. The “superb” Dmitry Dyakin chairs the international arbitration and litigation groups at the firm’s Moscow office and counts Avtotor and Linas Agro among his recent clients. Dennis Turovets acts as managing partner of Magisters’ Minsk office and is recognised for his “broad and sophisticated” disputes practice, encompassing construction, real estate, transactional, IP and tax knowledge.
Aigoul Kenjebayeva has acted as the managing partner of the Almaty office of Salans since its opening in 1994 and has developed an “incredible reputation” for project, natural resources and banking disputes in Kazakhstan and the Caspian region. Yuliya Mitrofanskaya heads the arbitration, litigation, IP and employment practices at the same office and is “first-rate” according to respondents to our survey. A “go-to guy” for corporate securities and transactional disputes in the CIS and Central and Eastern Europe, Mikhail Ivanov acts as managing partner of the firm’s St Petersburg office and head of the Russian arbitration and litigation practice group.
Olexiy Filatov is the head of the litigation practice group at Vasil Kisil & Partners in Ukraine and peers praised his “impressive” work in competition, IP and administrative disputes. Oleg Makarov is the firm’s managing partner and a “leading authority” in domestic and international litigation, with “an arsenal” of expertise in tax, investments, securities and bankruptcy law.
Moldovan “powerhouse” Turcan & Turcan places two high profile names in this section. Alexander Turcan is a “superb” and “internationally experienced” corporate litigator who helped establish the American Chamber of Commerce in Moldova. Senior associate and “bright spark” Carolina Parcalab is also listed.
Kyrgyzstan’s Kalikova & Associates sees two “top names” make the cut. Omurgul Balpanova spent ten years at the Kyrgyz patent office before entering private practice and she is described as “world class” for her IP and corporate disputes work. Nurbek Sabirov specialises in natural resources and contract disputes and is hailed as “brilliant” by peers.
Sergei Vataev of Chadbourne & Parke LLP is a “leading light” in Kazakhstan for dispute resolution, frequently representing domestic and international companies and joint ventures with particular emphasis on oil and gas.
Moscow-based senior partner Mikhail Rozenberg is also known for his natural resources litigation, counting Yukos Oil among his recent clients.
Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners has an “outstanding” reputation for the calibre of its disputes work, with clients including Eurocement, BP and the Russian government. “High flyers” Grigory Chernyshov and Ilya Nikiforov represent the Moscow and St Petersburg offices respectively.
Armen Melkumyan and Monika Sargsyan are both “prominent names” at Yerevan-based Ameria Legal Practice. Businessconsult places the “excellent” Dmitry Bokhan and Timour Sysouev close in the upper echelons of our Belarusian research alongside the “superb” Alexander Khrapoutsky and Valery Papakul of Stepanovski Papakul and Partners.
Timur Aitkulov is based in the Moscow office of Clifford Chance LLP and has an internationally recognised disputes practice, encompassing energy-related arbitration, business crime defence and cross border litigation. Dmitry Kurochkin heads the litigation and arbitration group of Herbert Smith LLP’s Moscow office and has been involved in a wide variety of international and domestic disputes on behalf of such clients as TNK-BP, CSFB Securities, Alfa Bank and Pilkington Glass. Ivan Marisin represents the Moscow office of Dechert LLP where he acts for international and domestic clients in corporate, banking and foreign investment related disputes and is considered “grade A” by peers. The “top-tier” Sergei Volfson is the head of the Russia/CIS dispute resolution team of Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP and has been involved in complex litigation arising from product liability claims, employment disputes and defamation cases as well as insurance, tax and competition issues.
Goltsblat BLP’s Maxim Kulkov counts Nike, Hyundai and Gazprom among his recent clients and he is “one of the best litigators in Moscow” according to respondents to our survey. Also well thought of in the Russian capital is Tatiana Menshenina at MGAP Attorneys at Law whose disputes work encompasses IP, corporate and commercial law.
Grata Law Firm is a “leader in the region” and the “first-rate” services offered by the firm’s Almaty office are aptly demonstrated by Almat Daumov, whose practice encompasses tax, transfer pricing, natural resources and investment-related litigation. Valery Zhakenov of Zhakenov & Partners is highly rated, Maxim Telemtayev represents Macleod Dixon LLP and is a “strong name” and Vladimir Furman of BMF Group LLP is a “star”.
Law Group “Argument” is a “great resource” in Belarus according to respondents to our survey, and senior partner Denis Aleinikov received reams of praise for his disputes work. Eugene Lazarenkov is the deputy director of Law Firm Trust in Minsk, and was recommended for his tax and foreign investment-related work. Alexey Anischenko is the head of Sorainen’s Belarus dispute resolution team and provides “five-star” service in international trade, administrative and corporate litigation and arbitration. Vlasova Mikhel & Partners is a “great firm” and managing partner Konstantin Mikhel comes highly recommended for his finance, tax and insolvency litigation.
Frangiz Baghirova counts Standard Bank, Caspian Energy Group and the Azerbaijan government among her clients and she represents Baku-based BM International LLC in this section. Anar Janmammadov represents MGB Law Offices and was lauded for his “five-star” expertise. Omni Law Firm fields corporate and commercial expert Ismayil Zargarli who is well regarded for his natural resources, insurance, banking and telecoms-related work. Adalat Law Firm is another “leading service provider” in Azerbaijan, and Mukhtar Mustafayev is an “excellent choice for inclusion” while Alexander Botian at Borovtsov & Salei is hailed as “great”.
Sergiy Shklyar is a managing partner at Arzinger in Ukraine and a “go-to guy” for competition, public procurement, insurance and insolvency disputes. Ilyashev & Partners sees managing partner Mikhail Ilyashev earn a prominent listing in this chapter. Peers were quick to praise his “hard-nosed” work in public and private disputes, with clients including Altimo, Ukrgaz-Energo CJSC and the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine. Astapov Lawyers’ managing partner Andriy Astapov heads the firm’s disputes team and is particularly well thought of for his trade, energy and aviation related work.
Edward Mouradian is managing partner of Prudence in Armenia with “extensive experience” in corporate and financial transactions and disputes in both the public and private spheres.