On 14 November 2013, a seminar for private clients entitled 'Family Matters: Business, Capital and Inheritance', organised by EPAM and the ATON Investment Company, was held for the first time at the Firm's St. Petersburg Law Office. Experts in the fields of jurisprudence, finance, economics, and corporate governance considered fundamental aspects of managing personal affairs.

During the seminar, leading experts in working with private clients focused on the following issues:

• management, control, and continuity as applied to business and other assets
• matrimonial property regimes
• inheritance planning
• effective positioning of personal capital in Russia and abroad

Anton Andreev, a consultant at EPAM, talked about management, control, and continuity as applied to business and other assets, and explained the importance of business diagnostics, as well as how to ensure a balance of interests and strategically well-conceived business relationships.

In her presentation, Elena Antonova, a notary public and expert at the Inheritance Centre, discussed the issues of inheritance planning and matrimonial property regimes. She also examined the advantages and disadvantages of intestate and testate succession, as well as matrimonial property regimes, and gave recommendations on drawing up marital agreements.

Elena Agaeva, Head of M&A and Corporate Practice at the St. Petersburg Law Office of EPAM, used real-life examples to outline key features of the inheritance of stocks and shares.

Representing the ATON Investment Company were Oleg Puntusov, Director of the North-West Branch, and Irina Grekova, Head of the Compliance Division, who explained how to position capital in such a way as to create 'safety cushions' in Russia and abroad. Using practical examples, the speakers highlighted and illustrated the specific features of different jurisdictions, the creation of individual infrastructures, and monitoring and financial management tools.

The event generated considerable interest among business owners, company shareholders, managers, and proxy holders.

For more information on future seminars for private clients organized by the Firm, please send a request to events@epam.ru.