Management Labour & Employment in the CIS
During our research we identified 22 leading practitioners. This is a 15 per cent reduction in the number we featured last year. The global economic crisis and rise in unemployment in the CIS region have resulted in a fall in demand for labour and employment lawyers forcing some practitioners to diversify into other areas.
Russia has the highest number of individuals listed in this chapter. We feature 10 lawyers. At ALRUD Law Firm, Irina Anyukhina heads the real estate and labour law practice with a focus on employee benefits. She is joined by senior partner Vassily Rudomino who is renowned as an expert in this area as well as in corporate matters.
At Balashova Employment Consultants Elena Balashova is lauded for her “strong” advocacy skills. At Linklaters CIS Henry Rutstein is regarded as a “great” lawyer. Marina Ryzhkova at Salans set up the firm’s Russian employment practice and is known for her leadership, experience and formidable knowledge in Russian employment law matters.
Anna-Stefaniya Chepik at Goltsblat BLP is well known for her litigation work. She has acted as outside counsel for a number of international companies in an advisory and contractual role.
Olga Chislova at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP practises in this field and immigration law, with a focus on employment termination, secondments, and disciplinary actions. She has extensive experience in a range of areas including employee data privacy as it relates to foreign companies and individuals in Russia. She is joined by Michael Schwartz who is considered “one of the top guys”. His expertise centres on employment dispute resolution.
Anton Klyachin at Salomons represents employees and employers in employment litigation. He has developed a significant bank of knowledge and experience in confidentiality agreements and non-compete clauses.
Evgeny Reyzman at Baker & Mckenzie – CIS Limited has an enviable reputation in Russian labour law and litigation. He specialises in business immigration, employment litigation and administrative justice matters. He is regarded as “knowing everything there is to know about employment law”.
In Armenia, Karakhanyan & Partners Law Office LLC offers Aram G Katakhanyan. He is included for his recognised advocacy, litigation and legislative lobbying.
In Belarus, Law Group “Argument” boasts Denis V Aleinikov for his “impressive” legal skills and his knowledge of litigation and procedure. At Sorainen Kiryl Apanasevich has acted for the Belarusian government and has developed an “enviable” practice.
Alexander Bondar at Businessconsult is considered a “leading” lawyer in employment matters.
“Top” firm Vlasova Mikhel & Partners offers Svetlana Dashuk. She is “a talent” and is considered a leading lawyer in corporate and labour matters.
Tatsiana Ignatovskaya at Stepanovski Papakul and Partners has provided “expert” legal advice to Danone during its entry into the Belarusian market and is well regarded for her employment and corporate practice.
Anna T Rusetskaya at Magisters is the head of the M&A and corporate practice in Minsk. She provides legal advice to well known international companies on corporate and employment issues.
In Kyrgyzstan, Omurgul Balpanova at Kalikova & Associates is considered “first rate” in the area of IP related employment matters.
In Moldova at his own law firm Alexei Ghertescu practises in a range of areas including labour contracts, employer liability, labour inspections and legal audits. He acts for both employer and employee and is considered a “leader”.
In Ukraine, Armen Khachaturyan at Asters has extensive experience in finance, corporate and employment issues. He advises clients on regulatory changes and litigation strategies relating to employee problems. The firm has represented Cola-Cola on employment contracts, regulations and internal policies.
Oleksandr A Aleksyeyenko at Integrites advises clients on a range of issues in the course of international business projects and represents both domestic and international clients in Ukrainian courts on financial and IP related matters.
Oksana I Voynarovska at Vasil Kisil & Partners is “exceptionally experienced” in labour contracts, collective agreements, dismissal and termination and employment affecting cross-border businesses, among other areas.