CISPractice of sanctions lawSecurities
Conversion of ADRs for an amount over 6 billion rubles
Foreign investors asked for help in supporting the conversion of depositary receipts into local shares of the Russian Federation.
Completed cases
CISPractice of sanctions lawSecurities
Receipt of missed dividends on ADRs - over 200 million rubles
Foreign investors have asked for help in claiming missed dividends on ADRs of Russian companies.
CISDispute Resolution Practice
Judicial protection of the capital of legal entities - over 100 million rubles
Protect the interests of Russian and foreign legal entities in the courts of the Russian Federation.
CISPractice of sanctions law
Obtaining EU permission to transfer Russian shares
Obtain permission from the authorized EU bodies to transfer shares to the infrastructure of the Russian Federation.
CISCommercial Law PracticePractice of sanctions law
Support of more than 250 foreign investors
Realize the legal economic rights of foreign investors in the Russian Federation.
EuropeSanctions and compliance
European Union sanctions, export controls and international compliance
The French buyer refused to pay for the supply of machine tools from the Russian Federation, citing the risk of violating EU Council regulations on restrictive measures. The correspondent bank blocked the payment, and the compliance officer of the French side requested confirmation that the equipment was not a dual-use product within the meaning of European Union export controls.
EuropeArbitration and disputes
International commercial arbitration
An Italian supplier of industrial equipment refused to return the advance payment for a machine that was not delivered. To justify the refusal, the Italian side referred to a hidden clause in the contract regarding penalties, which, according to the supplier, was part of the general conditions and excluded the return of the advance payment. The client faced the risk of losing the advance payment and disrupting the production schedule at his enterprise in the Russian Federation.
EuropeInvestments and M&A
International investments, Private Equity, Venture Capital and M&A transactions in Europe
A British venture capital fund was planning to acquire a minority stake in a Finnish software developer. The transaction was subject to the European Union Foreign Subsidies Regulation and required notification to the European Commission. Additional complexity was created by the Finnish company’s intellectual property portfolio, distributed among different subsidiaries.
EuropeCorporate structuring
International corporate structuring
A Polish IT company operating in the development outsourcing market was looking for a way to optimize the taxation of profits and transfer the management of intangible assets to a jurisdiction with a more favorable tax regime within the EU.
EuropeCorporate structuring
International corporate structuring
The owner of an online store from Kazakhstan agreed to sell the business to a buyer from the UAE. However, the business was registered in the name of an individual entrepreneur, the purchase and sale agreement was drawn up in Russian, and the legal form of the individual entrepreneur did not allow the transfer of assets and contracts in a form that would suit the buyer and the bank in Dubai.
EuropeInvestigations and business protection
Corporate investigations, regulatory audits and business protection
A German distributor of consumer goods received an unscheduled inspection by German customs. Inspectors suspected a systemic underestimation of the customs value of imported goods from China and threatened to impose additional customs duties for several periods, plus fines for violating EU customs legislation.
EuropeTechnologies and digital assets
Artificial intelligence, digital assets
A Dutch trading platform has implemented an AI algorithm for dynamic pricing of consumer goods. The Dutch regulator saw signs of an indirect coordination effect in the algorithm’s work and demanded to reveal the logic of the AI’s work, suspecting collusion, which is prohibited by EU antitrust law.
EuropeEntering the market
Entering the European market, company registration and international expansion
A Turkish building materials manufacturer has decided to open a warehouse and sales office in Germany to enter the European Union market. The company faced administrative barriers: a trade certificate (Gewerbeanmeldung), a tax number, permission to hire staff and VAT registration were required.
EuropePrivate Capital and Family Office
Family Office, international wealth management and asset structuring
A beneficiary from Kazakhstan, who has tax resident status in the European Union, wanted to consolidate personal assets into a single structure. The assets were scattered across jurisdictions: real estate in Spain, investment accounts in Switzerland and a stake in a British technology startup. The main objective is tax-transparent consolidation without loss of personal control over assets.
CISBusiness support
Legal support for business in Russia and the CIS
The Russian manufacturing company had a full-fledged material base: a workshop with industrial equipment, warehouses, and hired personnel. However, all activities were carried out without state registration of a legal entity, accounting and employment contracts. An urgent legalization of business was required with the parallel launch of accounting processes.
CISSanctions and compliance
Sanctions regulation, export control and international risk management
A Russian manufacturer of rolled metal products entered into a contract with an Uzbek buyer, but the payment was stuck in a Russian bank. The reason is enhanced compliance control: the bank was afraid of secondary sanctions from the European Union and demanded evidence that the product was not sanctioned and would not be re-exported to the EU in violation of restrictive measures.
CISEntering the market
Organization of business in Russia and the CIS
A Russian entrepreneur planned to open a warehouse and sales office for the wholesale trade of textiles on the domestic market. The complete lack of legal infrastructure required starting a business from scratch.
CISArbitration and disputes
International arbitration and dispute resolution with Russian counterparties: choosing a neutral jurisdiction
A foreign company working with a Russian supplier was experiencing systematic delivery delays and wanted to initiate a dispute, but the contract contained a conflicting arbitration clause. It was necessary to choose a neutral jurisdiction, equidistant from both parties and ensuring recognition of the future arbitral award in the Russian Federation.
CISInvestments and M&A
International investments, M&A transactions and joint ventures
A Russian manufacturer of building materials was looking for a partner in Kazakhstan to launch a joint venture. The stumbling block was corporate control: the Kazakh side insisted on a controlling share in the authorized capital, the Russian side demanded parity management and a veto on key decisions.
CISTrade and contracts
International trade and cross-border transactions
A Russian grain exporter shipped goods to an Armenian buyer. The buyer accepted the goods, but delayed payment, citing the allegedly low quality of the grain, although no complaint reports were drawn up, and the acceptance documents were signed without comments.
CISCorporate conflicts
Corporate conflicts, disputes between shareholders
Two Russian founders of a limited liability company, owning equal shares, have reached an impasse. One wanted to get out of business and initiated the sale of a warehouse owned by the company, the second blocked the deal, insisting on buying out the share of the exiting participant at a significantly reduced price.
CISCorporate structuring
Corporate restructuring and international business transformation
A Russian industrial holding company, which owns three manufacturing plants and a trading company in Kazakhstan, planned to divide its operating assets into different legal entities. Goals: reducing the consolidated tax burden, protecting production assets from the risks of trading activities and increasing transparency for potential investors.
CISEntering the market
Entering the markets of Russia and the CIS for international companies
The Turkish manufacturer of packaging materials sought to begin direct deliveries to retail chains in Russia and Belarus. An obstacle was the lack of local legal presence in the Eurasian Economic Union: retailers refused to enter into contracts with a non-resident without a registered representative office and VAT payer status.
CISRegulation and GR
Interaction with government agencies and regulatory support
A Russian manufacturer of building materials received an order from the territorial department of Rospotrebnadzor to suspend the production workshop. The department motivated the decision by the lack of a sanitary and epidemiological certificate for the products. The workshop was stopped, shipments were frozen, and penalties began to accrue to customers.
UAELicensing and compliance
Legal support of licensing, corporate compliance and regulatory requirements for international business in the United Arab Emirates
A European technology company has decided to open an office in Dubai to serve clients in the Gulf region. However, the process of obtaining a license became more complicated: it was necessary to choose between Mainland and Free Zone, determine the right types of activities, go through the procedure for obtaining initial approval and prepare a package of corporate documents that meets the requirements of the Department of Economics and Tourism.
UAETechnologies and digital assets
Digital assets, artificial intelligence and regulation of new technologies
A blockchain startup from Singapore was developing a platform for tokenizing real assets and wanted to obtain a license in Dubai to legally offer digital assets in the Middle East market. It was necessary to comply with the regulatory requirements of the Dubai Virtual Assets Authority and avoid claims from supervisory authorities.
UAERegulatory risks
International regulatory risk management and strategic legal support
A large international holding company operating in the field of logistics and cargo transportation was faced with disparate regulatory requirements in several jurisdictions of its presence - the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. It was necessary to build a unified regulatory risk management system, synchronize compliance policies and prepare for possible inspections by local supervisory authorities.
UAELabor law
Labor law
The foreign company, registered at the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, hired employees from several countries - the UK, India and Russia. A few months later, a labor dispute arose: one of the employees demanded payment of end-of-service gratuity ahead of schedule, and another challenged the legality of termination of the limited term contract. The situation was complicated by the fact that the employment contracts contained provisions that contradicted the UAE Federal Labor Law.
UAEEntering the market
Creating a business and entering the UAE market
A successful food manufacturer from Turkey was planning to enter the UAE market: open a warehouse, establish distribution to retail chains and launch an online store with delivery throughout Dubai. It was necessary to choose the optimal form of presence, undergo product certification and hire local staff.
UAESanctions and compliance
Sanctions, export controls and international compliance
The trading company, registered in the Jebel Ali Free Zone, purchased electronic components from a European supplier for subsequent resale to African countries. The correspondent bank in Dubai blocked the payment and requested detailed information about the supply chain, citing sanctions compliance and the risk of re-export to sanctioned jurisdictions.
UAETrade and contracts
International commercial contracts and contract law in the UAE
A UAE company has entered into a contract for the supply of industrial equipment with an Italian manufacturer. After partial delivery, a dispute arose regarding non-compliance with technical specifications, and the Emirati side refused to pay the remaining amount. The Italian supplier threatened arbitration, citing a dispute resolution clause at the ICC in London. The contract was drawn up in two languages, and the Arabic version contained discrepancies in the description of the warranty obligations.
UAEInvestments and M&A
International investments, Private Equity, Family Office and M&A transactions in the UAE
A family office from Europe decided to create a platform for direct investments in high-growth companies in the Middle East, with a focus on fintech and healthcare. It was necessary to choose the optimal structure in the UAE, ensure the confidentiality of beneficiaries, minimize tax consequences and prepare for the first M&A transaction - the acquisition of a controlling stake in a Dubai health-tech startup.
UAECorporate structuring
International corporate structuring and creation of holding companies in the UAE
A group of companies with operating assets in Southeast Asia and Africa were looking for a neutral jurisdiction to establish a headquarters and holding company. The UAE was seen as an alternative to Singapore and the Netherlands. Main objectives: asset consolidation, protection against expropriation in the countries of presence, dividend efficiency and access to double taxation agreements.
UAETrade and contracts
International trade, distribution and cross-border transactions
A building materials manufacturer from India wanted to distribute its products to the Gulf countries through a warehouse in the UAE. It was necessary to conclude distribution agreements with local partners, set up customs clearance and ensure protection against parallel imports.
UAEInvestigations and business protection
Corporate investigations, regulatory audits and business protection
A surprise inspection was initiated by the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention at the Dubai branch of an international pharmaceutical company. Inspectors suspected violations of good distribution practices and storage of medications. At the same time, an internal signal was received about a possible conflict of interest on the part of the regional purchasing director.
UAECross-border projects
Europe - UAE - CIS: support of international business, investments and cross-border projects
A family of entrepreneurs from the CIS with assets in Russia, Kazakhstan and Cyprus planned to relocate part of their business to the UAE and build a tripartite structure to manage trade flows between Europe, the Eurasian Union and the Middle East. It was necessary to synchronize corporate, tax and sanctions aspects in three jurisdictions.
UAEArbitration and disputes
Arbitration and enforcement of judgments
A Russian company won arbitration proceedings in the LCIA against a counterparty from the UAE, but the decision was not voluntarily enforced. The debtor delayed the process, the assets were dispersed across accounts in several banks in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. It was required to recognize and enforce the arbitral award in the UAE.
UAEFreezone and Mainland
Freezones & Mainland
A foreign investor decided to open a business in the UAE, but could not choose between registering on the mainland (Mainland) and in one of the many free economic zones (Free Zone). The business model involved both working with the local Dubai market and re-exporting goods to neighboring countries. It was necessary to evaluate restrictions, costs, opportunities for obtaining resident visas and banking services.
UAEPrivate Capital and Family Office
Family Office, private wealth management and international asset structuring
A wealthy family from the CIS countries with a diversified portfolio of assets - shares in industrial enterprises, commercial real estate in Europe and investment accounts in Switzerland - planned to create a Family Office in the UAE. Key requests: continuity of generations, protection from forced inheritance under the laws of the country of origin, consolidated management and tax-efficient structure.