EPAM persistently keeps its top positions on the market according to newly released Chambers Europe 2016, covering 52 jurisdictions across Europe. For the second year in a row the Firm has become the only Russian law firm listed in the CIS ranking published by Chambers.
In Russia, EPAM is the only law firm listed in the top Band 1 for Competition/Antitrust and in Band 1 law firm for Domestic Dispute Resolution. The Firm has been also highly recommended for Banking & Finance, Capital Markets, Corporate/M&A, Dispute Resolution: International and Corporate Crime, Employment, Intellectual property, TMT, PPP, Real Estate, Restructuring/Insolvency, and Tax. Chambers ranks the Firm for Life Sciences for the first time. It is also well positioned in the local category for St. Petersburg: General Business Law.
EPAM has become the sole law firm in Russia ranked in the highest Band 1 for Competition/Antitrust. The Firm’s team is «well known for appearing at the forefront of major complex cases» is active in government tenders, cartel investigations and high-value competition disputes. Clients say, the team «has very deep knowledge of anti-monopoly laws and the practices of the relevant authorities». «They deal with the most challenging cases» and «never disappoint».
Partner Natalia Korosteleva climbs to the very top of the ranking of notable individuals; she is listed in the highest Band 1. Natalia leads the Firm's practice and covers contentious and regulatory matters. She is «very business-minded and a strategic thinker who gives practical advice and has good time management». Her recent work includes playing a lead role in advising Pfizer on the public procurement of a vaccine to be sold on the Russian market.
The Guide praises Partner Anna Numerova for “her very helpful role as mediator between clients and the Federal Antimonopoly Service”. She successfully represents “large multinationals in litigation proceedings against the FAS”.
Senior Associate Elena Kazak focuses principally on anti-monopoly filings for a range of high-profile clients. She advised Evraz Group on anti-monopoly regulation and compliance issues.
Among practice recent work highlights – representing Sakhalin Energy in the FAS Russia with regard to a multi-billion dollar dispute with Rosneft as well as defending the interests of Mediterranean Shipping Company in connection with the FAS investigation over suspected cartel agreements among 13 market players. Competition Practice team also successfully defended the interests of Yandex against Google’s market abuse in relation to pre-installed app stores for devices on the Android operating system.
EPAM is traditionally in the top Band 1 for Domestic Dispute Resolution, both in Russia and locally in St Petersburg. The Firm is also recommended for International and Corporate Crime Dispute Resolution.
The Firm's team is “the largest on the market”, it is “extremely responsive and the advice is usually very clear and business-focused”. “The lawyers are clever, innovative and strong enough to defend clients in really unique disputes that can change the practice”.
The member of the Partners' Committee Dimitry Afanasiev is known as “the firm's key rainmaker” and is listed as Eminent Practitioner. He provides "strategic advice on contentious and transactional issues”. “If there are major, important, complex issues to discuss we always involve him”, clients say.
Managing Partner Ilya Nikiforov is top ranked among Notable Practitioners in the highest Band 1. He is “is highly recognised international arbitration expert in Russia and abroad who always provides expert legal opinions”.
Dispute Resolution team in St. Petersburg led by Managing Partner of the St. Petersburg office Ivan Smirnov tops the local ranking. Ivan “has a glowing reputation in the field of international arbitration”. He also lends his vast litigation experience to high-value bankruptcy and debt recovery disputes, where he represents creditors.
Partner Evgeny Raschevsky who splits his practice between international arbitration and litigation is singled out for representing the Russian government in a number of high-profile litigation cases.
Partner Dmitry Dyakin is acknowledged for his track record in international arbitration as well as disputes in local Russian courts. Clients say, “he is truly outstanding and one of the best lawyers in Russia. His strategic thinking is second to none”.
“Very well known in the market” Partner Valery Eremenko strengthens his personal positions in the ranking this year. The Guide recognises Valery for his “huge experience in corporate disputes” and emphasises that “he acts on big cases being a very strong performer in court”.
Chambers highlights Partner Sergey Kovalev for his “in-depth knowledge and strategic approach”. “He handles cases related to several jurisdictions very well”.
Partner Denis Arkhipov focuses on IP disputes and complex regional cases. He is recommended for "going in-depth into details and offering creative solutions".
WCC Partner Victoria Burkovskaya is well praised for her “very strong background”. She advises on the most high-profile cases, including defending against charges in large infrastructure projects and contentious cases in the pharma products market.
The Firm’s strong Litigation Practice enlists the support of the Restructuring and Insolvency team led by Partner Sergey Kovalev. The practice is widely known for its debt recovery matters and contentious bankruptcy cases. Clients say, “it's a very impressive team: smart, efficient, results-oriented and made of real fighters. The best lawyers for bankruptcy cases ever met”.
The Firm’s Corporate and M&A Practice is very well position in the ranking. Clients praise the Firm for being “one of the best” Russian M&A and corporate advisors, “providing very high-quality services”. The team represents clients in cross-border joint ventures and M&A deals, assist with complex restructurings and corporate governance issues, and represent notable government-owned companies.
Among the Firm’s main clients – Bank Saint Petersburg, Glavstroy, Lenta, Modern Times Group, Velle.
Highly recommended US and Russian-qualified Partner Arkady Krasnikhin advised major Russian and international clients on corporate and transactional issues while UK-qualified Partner Robing Wittering is “results-oriented and hands-on”.
In St.Petersburg the Firm is also highly recommended in the local General Business Law category. Clients say that the team “provides good-quality work and support”. St. Petersburg Corporate Practice head
Elena Agaeva is acknowledged for her “client care skills and for her commercial outlook”. Clients say, Elena make them feel “like they are the only client". “She's very quick, very precise and very to the point".
EPAM is recommended among notable legal advisors for Real Estate work. In particular, the Guide lists the Firms in this new category for St. Petersburg.
Banking & Finance and Capital Markets Practice, representing many prominent Russian banks, is ranked by Chambers as “particularly active in local securitisation deals”. The lawyers “understand the essence of matters, help in a focused and useful way and offer 24/7 availability and constant readiness to help”.
Practice Head Dmitry Glazounov is a very respected “for his knowledge of securitisation deals”. Senior Associate Oleg Ushakov acts on the firm's most important deals and “can do very well large amounts of work in short periods of time”.
Among the most significant clients Chambers lists Agency for Housing Mortgage Lending (AHML), Credit Europe Bank, Uralsib Bank.
EPAM’ Employment team is also well positioned. Is it known for assisting clients with regulatory and general advisory matters, representing a core clientele of large Russian companies. Clients say, “litigation is the team's strong point - the lawyers can very effectively resolve difficult situations”.
Practice Head Anna Ivanova is praised for being “very good at technical work and litigation”. She successfully defended interests of top-level executives and trade unions in a number of disputes.
The Firm’s expertise in Intellectual Property and TMT is also commended. The team is “responsive” and has a strong force in litigious matters, it is increasingly popular with media companies. Intellectual Property team is “efficient, with international mentality, adjusting to different jurisdictions”.
Practice Head Pavel Sadovsky gets the excellent feedback from clients. He is praised for “lateral thinking and extremely attentive approach”. Pavel advises on regulatory matters and also lends his IP expertise to companies in TMT.
The Firm’s “very accessible, responsive and proficient” Tax Practice is also highly recommended. Clients notice that “the lawyers are extremely responsive and very knowledgeable”.
Sergey Kalinin who recently joined the Firms as Practice head is recommended in Chambers ranking. Focusing on international taxation and tax disputes, "he reacts very quickly and is very detailed".
Igor Schikow, German-speaking notable practitioner, “gives quick, practical and well-structured advice with comprehensible reasoning”. He acts for clients from Germany and Austria and they single out his “reliability and attention to details” as key strengths.
Among significant clients Chambers mention KLD Coffee, Moskovskiy Department Store, NC Pharm.
In Ukraine, EPAM strengthens its positions being recognised across 11 practices: Banking & Finance, Capital Markets, Competition/Antitrust, Corporate/M&A, Dispute Resolution (Arbitration and Litigation), Employment, Intellectual Property, Real Estate, Restructuring/Insolvency, and Tax, with 9 individual rankings across 7 practices. Furthermore, for the third consecutive year, the Firm remains the only law firm to be recognised in Band 1 for Dispute Resolution Arbitration category.
EPAM remains a step ahead being the only law firm recognised in the Band 1 in Dispute Resolution: Arbitration category. Chambers notes the Firm that ‘offers significant experience representing Ukrainian government bodies’, and ‘is recently active on cross-border litigation advising a number of foreign governments on asset recovery cases’. According to the clients, the team provides ‘understandable, clear, transparent advice,’ and easily manages ‘if something complex comes up.’
The Guide acknowledges ‘one of the best-known international arbitration specialists in Ukraine’ Kyiv-based Managing Partner Serhii Sviriba praising his ‘strategic and management skills.’
Partner Markiyan Kliuchkovskyi is recognized as a specialist in international arbitration who also assists with related litigation cases, with sports law as his additional area of expertise.
For the first time Chambers Europe ranks recently made up Partner Gleb Bialyi for Domestic Litigation work, and ‘professional advice on international trade and customs law’, and Partner Sergiy Grebenyuk who is ‘in charge of the Firm's active white-collar crime practice.’
The Guide recommends the Firm which is considered to be ‘technically one of the strongest law firms in Ukraine’ for its ‘solid’ Banking & Finance and Capital Markets capacities. Partner and Practice Head Roman Stepanenko is referred to as ‘practically minded, solution-oriented’ lawyer who ‘knows what is expected.’ Among the clients of the practice team - Credit Suisse Securities, Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley, Oschadbank, UBS.
The Firm’s Competition Practice gains recognition being a ‘strong choice for merger clearance, behavioural investigations, litigation and horizontal and distribution agreements’. Partner and Practice Head Oksana Ilchenko is described as ‘very responsive and willing to be practical in addressing the client's needs, advising representatives of ‘the banking, FMCG and oil and gas sectors.’
Headed by Oksana Ilchenko who ‘solves problems in quite a creative way’, Corporate and M&A team is praised for its ‘strong day-to-day support and general corporate advice.’ The Guide emphasise that ‘the team is business-oriented and takes a pragmatic approach.’
Firm’s Intellectual Property Practice is praised for ‘comprehensive IP outfit’ covering ‘unfair competition and counterfeit claims.’ A ‘well-known’ Practice Head Taras Kyslyy is acknowledged for ‘additional expertise in representing clients before national courts and the Anti-Monopoly Committee of Ukraine.’
Chambers highly estimates the Firm’s Restructuring and Insolvency team noting its capacities in financial and corporate restructurings, as well as court matters ‘benefiting from the firm's strong disputes practice.’ Partners Roman Stepanenko and Oksana Ilchenko are key contacts for restructuring and insolvency matters.
Tax team is also well recognised for ‘a dedicated tax litigation team in addition to tax advisory and regulatory matters.’ Counsels Oleksandr Maydanyk and Arsen Miliutin are mentioned among notable practitioners.
Employment and Real Estate teams have improved their positions: they have been ranked by Chambers Europe for the first time.
In Belarus, EPAM stands first for Banking & Finance. It is also highly recommended for Dispute Resolution work, Corporate/Commercial and Intellectual Property.
The Guide ranks the Firm in the highest Band for Banking & Finance.
The team is widely recognized for high-level transactional and regulatory advice to multinational financial institutions and foreign banks. Chambers highlights its expertise in international loans and project finance, in capital markets, energy and infrastructure sectors. "The lawyers are really patient and proactive".
Minsk Managing Partner Dennis Turovets is ranked in top Band 1. Clients saying: "He is always proactive in trying to find solutions in negotiations." Peers describe him as "very detailed and thorough. He always does everything to make sure his clients get the best deal".
Chambers highlights Partner Anna Rusetskaya who focuses on foreign investment, particularly advising on regulatory issues.
Among the most significant clients Chambers lists China Development Bank, Citigroup Global Markets, VTB Capital, Eurasian Development Bank.
The Firm is recommended in Corporate/Commercial. Its team is "a very reactive, efficient and thorough”. "Very knowledgeable; they understand international groups and their needs”. Clients praise the Firm for “very high quality of the associates ”.
Notable practitioner Dennis Turovets “has an excellent academic background and is great at analysing”.
Corporate/M&A head Anna Rusetskaya is“extraordinarily helpful in explaining. She really understands how our business works and comes up with solutions and suggestions on how to do business our way in Belarus”.
EPAM in Belarus is also acknowledged for Dispute Resolution.
The team is well known for experience in debt recovery cases and commercial dispute matters. Department head Dennis Turovets “has an excellent understanding of Belarusian law”.
Chambers top ranks the Firm for Intellectual Property as a team which is “very pleasant to deal with”.Anna Rusetskaya and Dennis Turovets are ranked as Notable Practitioners.
