The popularity of commercial arbitration continues to grow across the region. Parties are increasingly turning to arbitration to solve cross-border disputes, and it is the forum of choice for an increasing number of industries. Our research across the CIS countries has identified 42 leading arbitrators and counsel.

Following the recent credit crisis the aviation and shipping sectors in the CIS have started to pick up again as governments back national companies active in these industries. Our research identifies 10 of the best lawyers with expertise in this field.

After a slowdown in the number of transactions during the credit crisis and a large amount of debt restructuring, new money deals are now entering the market. Regulatory lawyers can also expect their workload to increase as tighter regulations on bank lending are implemented. We identify 40 leading banking lawyers in ten jurisdictions in this chapter, with Russia, Moldova and Ukraine the best-represented nations.

This chapter features 15 stand-out lawyers from four jurisdictions who provide exceptional expertise for clients’ capital markets transactions. While this industry’s lawyers in the region experienced less work in early 2010, many reported during our research that they are now actively involved in a number of projects as confidence has steadily re-entered the market.

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.

In this chapter we identify the 29 outstanding individuals across the region for counselling and litigating on behalf of clients on competition matters relating to mergers and acquisitions, monopolisation and cartels.

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.

Local corporate tax knowledge is invaluable to foreign companies investing or setting up business operations in countries in the CIS. We have identified 33 lawyers in nine countries who can be considered leaders in the field.

Our research finds a small but highly sophisticated contingent of franchise lawyers in three countries in the region.

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.

During our research we identified 87 leading practitioners: an eight per cent fall from last year’s edition. Due to the global economic downturn, capital lending by banks has been slow and companies are less willing to embark on expensive expansions. Consequently M&A lawyers have seen a drop in demand for their expertise and are looking for work in related areas, such as project financing and joint ventures.

Sources highlight a prevailing international interest in mining activity in the CIS. Our research uncovers 20 lawyers in four jurisdictions, praised for their expertise in this sought-after and heavily regulated industry.

With several economies in the CIS benefiting from rich natural resources, it is no surprise that this chapter is one of the largest in this publication. Russia and Kazakhstan provide the vast majority of inclusions, but Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are also represented.

In a market hit by a limited availability of financing brought on by the global economic crisis, project finance practitioners in the CIS describe an interesting shift in their practice. Asian capital and investors are becoming increasingly prominent as key players in the field, especially for large infrastructure and alternative energy projects where international financing in conjunction with local sources is a must. Contributors further highlight a market “still heavily driven by oil and gas activity” with large pipeline projects fuelling tremendous interest as a result.

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.

Baker & McKenzie LLP - CIS Limited features the most practitioners in guide for the second year running, with 38 listings across 15 practice areas. The firm has built a reputation as a provider of leading advisers with a global perspective and strong commercial and business expertise, which is demonstrated with their extensive presence in seven CIS countries. We mention four in this edition.

Since it’s inception in 1992 Grata Law Firm has grown into one of the leading firms in Central Asia with more than 90 lawyers and a network of offices in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, London, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and the United States. We list 14 lawyers in eight practice areas from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Formed in 2002, Kalikova & Associates has rapidly grown into one of the leading commercial law firms in Kyrgyzstan. With 18 inclusions across 13 chapters in this guide, the firm fields a depth and breadth of expertise that receives widespread recognition. Below is a selection of the high industry praise levelled at the talented team.

Magisters was established in 1997 and has grown into a full service, international firm with offices in Belarus, Russia, Ukraine and recently London. The firm lists 21 lawyers over 11 practice areas.

Established in 1995 MGB Law Offices has undergone a number of reinventions. The firm began life as Jura Consultants Limited; in 1999 it morphed into Ledingham Chalmers Baku Limited before adopting its current name. Its founders Ismail Asekerov and Elchin Mammadov manage the Azerbaijani firm and provide a strong array of expertise to foreign and domestic entities. It enjoys 13 listings over 10 practice areas.

Salans enjoys 25 listings over 10 practice areas. The firm has offices throughout the CIS region, and we feature lawyers from four of them in this year’s research.

Since White & Case opened its office in Moscow in 1991, the firm has continued to provide a first-class service to clients throughout the CIS with a physical presence also in Kazakhstan. The following pages feature a total of 13 listings from the firm across seven practice areas.

Who's Who Legal interviews the Head of Legal at Sky Mobile LLC in Kyrgyzstan about the callenges and rewards of doing business there.

OAO Lukoil's general counsel in Russia shares his thoughts with Who's Who Legal on life as an in-house practitioner and the relationship of his company with external counsel.