Conference on ‘Resolution of Commercial Russia-Related Disputes; a New Wave’ organized by the American Bar Association through support of EPAM Law took place on September 21, 2009

The key objective of the conference was to bring together members of the international legal community to analyze the current status and prospects of litigation in Russia, the experience of Russian companies in foreign courts and arbitration, high-profile civil and criminal lawsuits in the Russian Federation.

Welcoming remarks were offered by John Bayerly, the US Ambassador to the Russian Federation, and Anton Ivanov, the Chairman of the Supreme Arbitrazh Court of the Russian Federation in Moscow. “Russian lawyers, including judges, have developed a correct attitude toward international arbitration: it is friendly, well-intentioned and reasonable. I believe that seminars of this kind render important assistance to this process”, emphasized Anton Ivanov, opening the conference.

At the session entitled ‘Arbitration in Russia: Current Status and Prospects for Development’ and chaired by Ilya Nikiforov, the managing partner of EPAM, St. Petersburg Law Offices, participants examined from the practical point of view advantages and disadvantages of having arbitration proceedings take place in Russia– both within ICAC and through the support of other arbitration organizations outside Moscow. A number of pressing issues were offered for discussion: the mechanics of running successful arbitration proceedings in Russia, lessons learnt from cancellation of arbitration rulings in Russia, the experience of arbitration organizations from Saint Petersburg, Siberia, the Far East and other regional centers.