Trade & Customs in the CIS
Trade and customs practitioners have seen a steady workload over the past 12 months. Sources highlight an increasing number of disputes with customs authorities. International trade contracts too are on the increase as foreign investors look to the CIS for growth and new opportunities. This is supported by a network of strong legal teams. Our research uncovers 22 highly praised practitioners in six jurisdictions.
Seven names are listed in Belarus. Eugeny Malinovsky at Businessconsult is a very well thought of, “highly competent practitioner”. At Borovtsov & Salei, Alexander Botian is a “first-class name” and a “true leader in the field”. At Magisters, Dennis Turovets is an “excellent lawyer with outstanding litigation experience representing the interests of foreign investors”. At Law Group “Argument”, Denis Aleinikov is a “sound practitioner” and a “solid choice for trade and customs work”. At Law Firm Trust, Eugene Lazarenkov is “clever and effective” and at Sorainen, senior associate Maksim Salahub’s “excellent experience in trade goes from strength to strength”. Vlasova Mikhel & Partners’ Konstantin Mikhel is an “active, sharp and effective practitioner”.
Five practitioners make the list from our research in Russia. Wilhelmina Shavshina from DLA Piper Rus Limited receives high praise as one of the industry’s finest, in the words of one prominent source in particular: “I couldn’t say there was anyone better than her for trade and customs in Russia.” At MGAP Attorneys at Law, Amiran Gogiberidze is “a great lawyer”. Pepeliaev Group’s Alexander Kosov is a “star” and at Debevoise & Plimpton, Victor A Snegirev is “terrific” for customs regulation. Russin & Vecchi LLC’s Jonathan Russin is “tremendously experienced” and a name that practitioners “rate very highly”.
In Ukraine, another five names are included. D & D Lawyers’ Viktor Dovhan is a “very strong practitioner” and also serves as a lecturing professor at the National University of Kiev Mohyla Academy. Two further names are included from Vasil Kisil & Partners where Tatyana Slipachuk is “a superb lawyer” consistently recommended to researchers and Nataliya Mykolska is “an active, responsive and talented adviser”.
Ismail Askerov at MGB Law Offices is a name that contemporaries “greatly recommend” in Azerbaijan and Aykhan Asadov from Baker & McKenzie - CIS Limited is “a shrewd practitioner”.
In Kyrgyzstan, two lawyers feature, both from Kalikova & Associates. Maksim Smirnov is a “leading light” and Gulnara Kalikova is “great at delivering client-led solutions”.
Two names are also included from Turcan & Turcan. Managing partner Alexander Turcan is “top notch” and Octavian Cazac is a “go-to name” in Moldova.