Projects

Buy-out of shares in a Russian limited liability company Advised in relation to various issues connected with a buy-out of shares in a Russian limited liability company. The transaction was complicated owing to certain aspects of Russian antimonopoly law and "Russian membership" in production sharing agreements (PSAs) while the Sakhalin-2 project was implemented.

Advising a company with foreign capital Advised a company with foreign capital which is implementing projects in the Kara Sea in relation to issues of installing drilling rigs on the continental shelf. The scope of services included analysing the procedure for licensing the use of explosive and chemically hazardous industrial facilities, the issue of whether a construction permit should be obtained when drilling works are performed on the shelf, as well as issues relating to customs law and the drilling personnel and the crew of the drilling rig being relocated to the continental shelf.

Development of Shtokman gas condensate field Development of Shtokman gas condensate field: provided full Russian law support for the project; reviewed and drafted EPC contracts, advised on legislative amendments; advised on various land, construction and regulatory issues including construction of all the infrastructure for the purposes of implementing the project, obtaining rights for development land plots, construction of offshore part for the project, and project structuring issues; and advised on various environmental issues applicable to the project

Legislative drafting and expert assessment Participation in legislative drafting and expert assessment: participated in drafting of continental shelf legislation, performed legal expert assessment; participated in drafting the laws on production sharing agreements and special economic zones, performed legal expert assessment of the draft laws; participated in drafting the laws on taxation of companies involved in off-shore projects; discussed the suggested amendments with the clients and lobbied the clients’ interests when preparing legal expert opinions on the draft laws

Advising project participants Advising project participants, their contractors and subcontractors. Advised on all legal aspects that arise in the course of the off-shore projects development and implementation (i.e. compliance with statutory requirements and risk assessment).Provided legal support and analysed agreements between the project operator and its contractors, well as agreements between its contractors and subcontractors and other transactions, assessed the relevant risks. Advised clients on how to prevent, mitigate or rule out the risks identified. Conducted legal analysis of permits and identified whether the client had rights to develop mineral deposits and carry out related work.

Representing clients that liaise with state controlling bodies Supporting and representing clients that liaise with state controlling bodies: advised clients on issues that arise in the course of the audits carried out by controlling bodies;participated in drafting replies and clarifications as required by controlling bodies; drafted objections and appealed to higher or supervisory level authorities against actions / omissions of controlling bodies or documents issued by the latter, took part in the review of objections or appeals; represented clients liaising with controlling bodies; obtained licenses, documents on the allocation of land and other kinds of permits