Category: Russia

Gide Partner Arnaud Michel has been appointed President of LES International (Licensing Executives Society) at its international delegates assembly, held in Moscow on May 18, 2014.

According to Gide, “LES International (LESI) is one of the main international organizations active in the field of intellectual property, recognized worldwide by patent offices, national authorities, and the European Commission. Its 10,000 members globally are grouped into 32 national and regional societies, covering over 100 countries. Its object is to promote and advance intellectual property rights, in particular through technology transfers and licensing. LESI members are drawn from the industrial sector, intellectual property rights development companies and liberal professionals alike, all active in the field.”

Michel has been a Partner at Gide since 1988, and he headed the firm’s Brussels office from 1986 to 1993. He is also an expert to the World Intellectual Property Organization, a member of a number of professional organizations, the President of LES France from 2002 to 2004 and the President of APRAM (the Association of Trade Mark and Design Law Practitioners) from 2000 to 2001. 

Of his appointment, Michel said: “The strength of LES International comes from its deep roots in industry. It is an honor and a challenge to chair this impressive IP organization, in a world where the role of IP is constantly growing and changing.”

Hogan Lovells has added Partner Alexander Dolgov to its global Infrastructure, Energy, Resources and Projects group (IERP) in Moscow.

Dolgov will join the firm on May 16, and will bring Associates Konstantin Makarevich and Fedor Kovatev and Trainee Grigory Fedorov with him. The team comes to Hogan Lovells from Gide Loyrette Nouel, where Dolgov moved in 2010 from Allen & Overy. He focuses on public-private partnerships and project finance in the infrastructure and energy sectors. His client base includes Sberbank, EBRD, BNP Paribas, and other public authorities, among many others. In addition to his core PPP and infrastructure practice, Dolgov also has significant debt capital markets expertise.

According to a statement released by Hogan Lovells, “CIS is a key market for energy and infrastructure – the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) estimates the required investment in Russian infrastructure to be USD 753 billion over the next 10 years; with 80 projects in the medium to long term deal pipeline.” Adrian Walker, Global Co-Head of Hogan Lovells Infrastructure, Energy, Resources & Projects practice, said of the hire that “Alexander and his team have a great practice and his arrival adds to our immensely strong global team. The last two years have been exceptional for us and we have been very busy advising on over USD 150 billion of deals.  With Alexander and a number of other significant investments, we are in a fantastic position to ensure we can deliver our exceptional global experience to our clients in all jurisdictions. Our clients are delivering projects that make a real, practical, difference to peoples’ lives and we at Hogan Lovells are proud to support them in that.”

Dolgov added that: “Hogan Lovells gives me a truly global network, an impressive client base and significant ambitions for growth and I’m delighted to be joining the team.”  

Liniya Prava has announced that Corporate lawyer Ruslan Nagaybekov joined the firm on May 5, 2014, becoming Head of Corporate Practice.

Nagaybekov has 18 years of experience, with a focus on Corporate/M&A, Project Finance, and legal advice on metallurgy and natural resources projects. Before joining Liniya Prava, he worked for Kirovskiy Zavod, Severstal Metiz, and UC RUSAL. In his last position at Kirovskiy Zavod, Nagaybekov managed the defense in a pending corporate dispute relating to the current director liability matters, and which Liniya Prava says “is likely to raise a lot of theoretical and practical disputes among practicing lawyers.”

Andrey Novakovsky, Liniya Prava’s Managing Partner after the departure of Prava Glazounov, said that, “we are glad to welcome Ruslan as a new Partner,” and that “I am sure that his vast experience in corporate law and his great competence will let us expand and strengthen our practices, such as Corporate, M&A, Energy and Natural Resources.” 

The Russian Antitrust Advisory law firm has announced that two new Partners, Igor Panshensky and Alexander Egorushkin have decided to join the Competition boutique. Both Partners come from Dechert’s Moscow office.

Panshensky led the Dechert Antitrust/Competition practice in Moscow, and he has over 20 years of experience in the Russian market. He advises Russian and multinational industrial companies and financial institutions on a variety of competition and regulatory issues, including merger clearance, investigations and risk prevention, cartel and other proceedings, distribution and sales agreements, and general competition advice. He also claims extensive experience in the consumer products, energy, financial services, media and life sciences sectors. 

Egorushkin was a member of Dechert’s Competition and Corporate practices, and has previous experience with DLA Piper and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. He focuses his practice on M&A and foreign investment regulation in sectors including consumer products, finance, and the petrochemical industry. He also advises on the trade and competition aspects of anticompetitive agreements and concerted actions, tender proceedings and dominance issues.

Evgeny Khokhlov, Partner at Antitrust Advisory, commented: “We are delighted that such experienced and highly respected experts as Igor and Alexander have decided to join our firm from a Moscow office of an international law firm. This decision meets our firm’s growth strategy and reiterates our commitment to offer the highest quality services. With their knowledge and leadership, Igor and Alexander are an excellent fit for our team. I am happy to welcome them on board and look forward to continuing our firm’s gradual development with them.”

Hengeler Mueller announced that it advised Fresenius Kabi on its creation of a joint venture with CJSJ Binnopharm in Russia and CIS countries, initially reported by CEE Legal Matters on April 29, 2014.

Fresenius Kabi — the German healthcare company based in Bad Homburg, will own 51% of the shares. Binnopharm is part of  Sistema JSFC — one of the largest companies in Russia — and provides intravenous drugs and infusion solutions and manufactures active pharmaceutical ingredients. The Moscow-based company has two manufacturing facilities, employs more than 350 people, and generated sales of USD 104 million in 2013. Zenitco Finance Management holds a minority stake in the company.

Fresenius Kabi has been active in the Russian market since 1994, and generated sales in Russia of USD 73 million last year. 

Hengeler Mueller advised Fresenius Kabi in tax matters in connection with the joint venture. Partners Ernst Thomas, Counsel Mathias Link, and Associate Steffen Horns led the team.

Allen & Overy has advised the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) on its proposed acquisition of 75.5 percent of the issued share capital of Tekstil Bankasi (Tekstilbank) from GSD Holding, for TRY 669 million (approximately USD 316 million).

Under Turkish capital markets law, the acquisition will trigger a post-closing mandatory tender offer for all remaining shares in Tekstilbank. Tekstilbank, listed on Borsa Istanbul, is primarily engaged in corporate and commercial banking including SME and retail banking. GSD Holding, also listed on Borsa Istanbul, is the Turkish holding company of a group spanning financial services and shipping.

The transaction is subject to approval from GSD Holding’s shareholders as well as Chinese and Turkish financial regulators and the Competition Board of Turkey. Upon completion, ICBC will become the first Chinese bank to operate in Turkey, which ranks China as its third largest trading partner.

A&O Partner Gary McLean said of the deal that: “We are delighted to have been involved in this transaction which sees ICBC continuing on its path of expanding in markets across the globe.”

The Allen & Overy team was led by McLean in Hong Kong, Partner Jane Jiang in Beijing, and Partner Gokhan Eraksoy in Istanbul, with support from Senior Associate Jinghua Zou, James Burton, and Steve Quinn, and Associates Xin Cheng, Catherine Liu Omer Sirin, Taylan Caliskan, Zeynep Saydi, and Deniz Avci. 

The Turkish Atim & Atim law firm was counsel for GSD Holding.

DLA Piper announced the promotion of Julian Hansen to Partner in its Moscow office, effective May 1, 2014. 

Hansen is a general transactional practitioner specializing in international corporate and commercial law matters, cross-border M&A, private equity and joint-ventures. He focuses primarily on the energy, natural resources, telecommunications, and infrastructure sectors. 

Hansen’s appointment is part of a 45-strong global partnership promotion round at DLA Piper, which saw new partners in 12 countries. Corporate saw the largest intake of new partners with 13 promotions, followed by Litigation & Regulatory with 12 and Intellectual Property & Technology with 9 promotions. The Real Estate group had 4 promotions with a further 3 in Tax, 2 in Restructuring and 1 each in Finance & Projects and Employment. There were 21 promotions in the United States, 10 across Continental Europe, 7 in the United Kingdom, 1 in the Middle East, 2 in Asia and a further 4 in Australia.

Squire Sanders has advised Ozon Holdings, Russia’s leading e-commerce and on-line retail group, on a USD 150 million fund raising from Sistema, the largest publicly traded diversified holding company in Russia, and Mobile TeleSystems (MTS), the leading telecommunications group in Russia and the CIS. 

Structured as an issue of new shares to the investors, the transaction sees Sistema and MTS each acquire a 10.8% stake in Ozon Holdings. The group is comprised of five companies each covering different aspects of e-commerce: OZON.ru, the leading online store in Russia; O-Courier; its dedicated parcel delivery service; OZON.travel, the online travel agency; Sapato.ru, the online shoe and apparel retailer; and OZON Solutions, the b2b service supporting other companies with their e-commerce strategies.  Proceeds from the deal will support continued company growth, including expansion of product lines and delivery infrastructure in Russia. 

The Squire Sanders team was led by Partners David Wack and Chris Rose, supported by Associate Julie-Anne Lucchetti, and involved lawyers from the firm’s Moscow, London and Birmingham offices.  “I am pleased we could support our clients and the varied shareholders of Ozon in this complex deal,” commented David Wack.  “It will see significant investment for growth in Ozon’s multiple businesses,” explained Chris Rose, “and marks a new record in a single investment round in Russian e-commerce.”

The Russian Vegas Lex law firm announced that Yury Bortnikov, the Head of the firm’s International Projects group, has become Partner, and that Nikolai Andrianov, in the firm’s Real Estate, Land & Construction Practice, has become Counsel. 

Bortnikov focuses on large M&A transactions, joint ventures, international deals, foreign investment, and international commercial disputes. VEGAS LEX Managing Partner Alexaner Sitnikov commented on the promotion: “The firm is gaining more weight in the market of multi-jurisdictional projects. A growing number of the leading international brands and companies from all over the world entrust Vegas Lex to provide legal support for their business in Russia and abroad. Yury Bortnikov is a respected expert of international law, who is trusted by foreign companies. He will continue to represent their legal interests in his new capacity.” 

Commenting on his appointment, Bortnikov said: “It is an honor to be promoted to the Vegas Lex Board of Partners. It is a new achievement in my career, and I hope that the experience I gather in my new capacity will allow me to continue to promote the firm’s international projects branch and help win the leading position for the firm in this market.”   

Andrianov has provided legal support for urban developments (including the construction, development, reconstruction, and maintenance of real property) and has represented clients’ interests in court for over 10 years. During his time with Vegas Lex, he published over 100 research papers, articles, and analytical reports. “Nikolai Andrianov is a top professional who is highly respected by market players,” said Igor Chumachenko, a Vegas Lex Partner and Head of its Real Estate, Land & Construction Practice. “He is respected in the market not only for his professionalism, but also as one of the best authors who contribute to the branch media.”   

The Pepeliaev Group and Russin & Vecchi law firms have formed a strategic alliance aimed at providing legal support to clients in Vladivostok, the Primorsky Krai region, and the Russian Far East.

The alliance’s representatives will provide legal support in areas such as the fuel and power industry, natural resources law, transport, construction, tourism, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, telecoms, marine law, agriculture and timber processing.  

The firms report that they have already started to collaborate actively in the context of the alliance: in early April they held a seminar in Vladivostok on the “Legal Aspects of Doing Business in the Russian Far East in 2014.” During this event, the firms discussed tax difficulties, amendments to the Civil Code, and issues occurring as a result of the move towards deoffshorization, along with many other matters of interest to businesses in the region. Those taking part in the seminar included representatives from the Consulates General of South Korea and the USA, as well as Heads of Legal and senior managers from foreign companies doing business in the Far East, and senior figures from companies in the region.

The firms combined have more than 170 lawyers and more than 1,500 clients in Moscow, St Petersburg, Krasnoyarsk, Vladivostok, and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, among other cities.