Construction & Real Estate in the CIS
The rate of new construction projects and transactional work in the real estate sector continue to be sluggish, but many of the lawyers included here have found work in industrial projects We identify the 31 leading lawyers active in the construction or real estate practice area in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan.
Salans earns four inclusions in this edition – one more than last year. Our sources commented that “the firm is outstanding in this area and is well known for its real estate practice.” Timothy Stubbs is based in Moscow and his real estate clients have included SRV-Okhta and several European international financial institutions on construction financing. Florian Schneider is the head of the global retail practice and he advises on the structuring of real estate acquisitions, leasing agreements and joint ventures. Two Azerbaijani lawyers from Salans are included – Ophelia Abdullayeva and Vagif Ahmadov. Of counsel Abdullayeva has “an excellent reputation – particularly for oil and gas projects”. Ahmadov has advised on construction projects involving hotels, highways and waste incineration plants.
Three lawyers from Baker & McKenzie earn inclusion in Russia. Konstantine Kouzine leads the real estate and construction group in Moscow and advises on real estate acquisitions, leasing arrangements and power plant construction. Maxim Kuznechenkov has experience as an in-house counsel at a real estate brokerage firm and advises clients such as Boeing, Quintiles and Weatherford on office and warehouse facilities. Maxim Kalinin is the managing partner of the St Petersburg office and he is “a prominent figure in infrastructure projects and corporate real estate”.
Sergey Koltchin from DLA Piper LLP heads the real estate and construction group in Moscow. He “gives a strong impression”, has “an extensive client list” and focuses on foreign direct investment, land ownership issues and infrastructure development issues. In Kiev, Natalia Kochergina is “outstanding” and advises on matters such as lease negotiations, industrial real estate and on real estate M&A.
Goltsblat BLP has two inclusions in Moscow. Elena Barinova is “an expert” who is “an active player at the real estate bar in Moscow”. Her clients include Sistema Hals, Fleming Family & Partners and Credit Suisse. Vitaly Mozharowski has worked on a prominent submarine pipeline project and has represented clients such as Auchan and Tomilino Logistic Park and has acted on office leases for Nike, Volkswagen and Motorola.
In Chisinau, Turcan & Turcan works on matters such as the leasing of production and office facilities, property development and real estate transactions. Alexander Turcan at is “a top guy with excellent experience” who is “used by prominent international firms” according to one source and Octavian Cazac is “knowledgeable and proactive”.
MGB Law Offices in Baku is described as “a go-to firm for international investors active in Azerbaijan” and the firm has an alliance with the UK firm McGrigors. Elchin Mamadov and Ismail Askerov are included and the firm advises on such projects as oil and gas pipelines, the financing of hotel and residential developments and the construction and reconstruction of industrial plants.
Belarus firm Borovtsov & Salei gains two listings. The firm operates in cooperation with US firm Chadbourne & Parke LLP and has a list of clients that includes international embassies, tobacco and automotive companies. Managing partner Vassili Salei is “great at finding practical solutions” and Alexander Botian is “responsive and business-minded”.
A number of individual practitioners who are highly rated by our sources gain inclusion. In Russia, Xavier Hunter at Linklaters LLP “has a great reputation” and “a well-established practice”. He specialises in real estate transactions and has over 20 years of experience in London and Moscow. Marc Bortholomy is at Clifford Chance LLP and is “excellent for real estate financing”. Norton Rose LLP’s Valentina Gluhovskaya is head of the firm’s Moscow practice and advises investors and developers on real estate issues and she is also recognised for her disputes work. She is “a reliable and proactive lawyer” and “sensitive to the client’s needs”. Eric Michailov leads White & Case LLP’s corporate and M&A practice in Moscow. He has advised clients such as Capital Partners, Enka and Ramenka on the acquisition and development of commercial real estate assets. Falk Tischendorf is listed from Beiten Burkhardt. He works primarily for German and Russian companies on matters such as financing, leasing agreements, construction and facility management. Thomas Mundry at Noerr has advised numerous car and truck producers, banks and industrial entities on joint ventures, financing and restructuring of real estate. Irina Anyukhina at ALRUD Law Firm in Moscow is “outstanding” and heads the firm’s real estate practice.
In Ukraine, Timur Bondaryev at Arzinger is “well known in the market” and advises on real estate and construction transactional issues. Vasil Kisil & Partners’ real estate group is led by the “eminently qualified” Oleg Alyoshin.
Three individuals are listed in Belarus. Kiryl Apanasevich is “a true specialist” and heads Sorainen’s Belarus transaction practice. He focuses on large-scale construction, development and real estate transactions. Alexander Stepanovski, the managing partner of Stepanovski Papakul and Partners, is “top-notch” and Konstantin Mikhel at Vlasova Mikhel & Partners is “first class for real estate transactions”.
In Armenia, David Sargsyan of Ameria Legal Practice “provides a superior legal service” and Ulan Tilenbaeva at Kalikova & Associates is “the best in Kyrgyzstan for real estate and construction”.