Projects

M&A We acted for an investment group acquiring a Russian bank; the work included legal due diligence, transaction structuring and
documentation drafting (under Russian and English law), obtaining consents of the government authorities and closing
the transaction.

Lending We acted for of one of the major Japanese banks in analysing the terms and conditions of contractual documentation for a large loan to a leading Russian bank. We helped draft and negotiate contractual provisions acceptable to both parties.

Financial leasing We advised one of Russia’s largest leasing companies on setting up of its holding structure to attract financing. Our work included establishment of Russian and Cypriot legal entities, support in the state registration of a share issuance and a share conversion through a share split. 

Hedging transactions Determination of proper qualification of hedging transactions (forward and option contracts) as «term contracts» in financial
instruments in the context of applicable regulatory provisions; evaluation of legal justification for hedging transactions and
their proper supporting documentation. Recommendations on optimization and development of supporting documentation for
hedging transactions (including the economic justification of intent, formation of the hedged interest and evaluation of the hedging purpose).

Handling a number of criminal cases Instructed by a major international retailer and manufacturer of household goods with an extensive network of stores in Russia, we handled a number of criminal cases in which company employees were held liable for thefts of company property. The company regarded the fact that former employees were held liable as being a deterrent to those still employed within the company. All of the criminal cases went to court, with the guilty parties punished by imprisonment by virtue of article 73 (conditional conviction) of the Russian Criminal Code being applied. Civil lawsuits were upheld in full.

Providing support in the context of a preliminary investigation We devised a legal position and provided support in the context of a preliminary investigation conducted regarding executives of our client, a major food producing concern. The criminal case was brought in relation to the alleged carrying on of unlawful business activity by failing to have a licence when a licence was required. The preliminary investigation lasted for a year before a rare procedural decision was handed down: the head of the investigative body issued a resolution cancelling the investigator’s decision to bring criminal charges. This resolution actually acknowledged the fact that the criminal case was originally launched unlawfully and with no justification.