EPAM ups English law capacity with hire from Herbies' Moscow team

Russian law firm EPAM has hired Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) English-qualified corporate and energy partner Robin Wittering to join its Moscow office.

Wittering, who spent seven years as a partner at legacy firm Herbert Smith’s Moscow office, left the firm on 31 December 2011 and joined EPAM at the beginning of November this year after a period of gardening leave, a spokesperson for the firm confirmed.

Wittering, who is dual qualified as a solicitor and barrister in England and Wales, has a wide range of experience in the Russian market, having handled cross-border deals and litigation issues in Russian and the CIS for almost a decade. His most recent work includes acting for Sinopec on its $3.7bn (£2.33bn) acquisition of Russian oil producer Udmurtneft from TNK-BP, as well as the related leveraged buyout and joint venture with Rosneft, and more recently advising the management of TNK-BP in connection with the shareholder dispute between BP and Alfa Access Renova (AAR).

The hire follows EPAM announcement last year that it planned to become the first Russian domestic firm to have an English law offering.

By Ruth Green