On 13-14 April 2011, Moscow hosted the VII Russia’s Legal Forum organized by the Vedomosti newspaper. As in previous years, EPAM acted as a strategic partner of the event. Dmitry Afanasiev, the Chairman, and partners Dmitry Stepanov and Grigory Chernyshov participated in the Forum.
The Forum brought together leading representatives of the business and legal community to discuss legal issues surrounding business development and actions they would like to see on the part of the government aimed at creating a favorable business environment in the country. The participants also discussed bringing up to date the Russian legal system and the possible introduction of case law in Russia, as well as the initiatives aimed at amending the Civil Code in respect of the corporate law, antitrust law, arbitrazh process and electronic justice system.
Dmitry Afanasiev, the Chairman, opened the VII Russia’s Legal Forum and gave a speech in support of the Russian law development and modernization:
‘Evidently, the return of entrepreneurs to Russian legal framework is in line with our country’s strategic security interests', said Dmitry in his welcoming address to the Forum’s delegates. 'However, in first instance, Russian law needs to be adjusted to meet practical needs of businesses, and, first of all, the unnecessary imperative rules need to be removed from the civil law. I am sure that when the Russian law becomes less imperative, people would apply it more eagerly, as, firstly, it will save money, and secondly, it will be clearer’.
Following Dimitry’s presentation, at the plenary session on ‘Key legal issues to be resolved to stimulate business development in 2011’ representatives of the leading Russian and foreign companies and financial institutions voiced their views on possible areas of the Russian law reform. Speakers included Konstantin Olefir, head of legal department at Deutsche Bank Ltd, Anna Goldin, head of legal department at AFK Sistema, Konstantin Kolpakov, director of the Sberbank’s legal department, Yury Udaltsov, director for innovative development at Rosnano, and Ruslan Ibragimov, vice president, corporate and legal affairs of MTS.
The issues raised at the plenary session were further discussed at the ‘Corporate Law – QUO VADIS?’ discussion platform, moderated by Dmitry Stepanov, partner at EPAM Law. A lively discussion of the recent initiatives to amend the Civil Code involved representatives of the legal and business community seeking to find the balance between toughening regulation proposed by the amendments developers and liberalization of the corporate law actively promoted by the business community.
The second day of the Legal Forum focused on the court reform matters. Grigory Chernyshov, partner at EPAM, delivered a speech during the plenary session 'Case Law in Russia. Evolution or Revolution?' addressing such issues as reaching uniformity and consistency of senior courts’ legal positions, means of changing the legal technique of court decisions preparation, possible changes in the work process of practicing lawyers, especially court representatives. Grigory spoke on 'Shortcomings of the legal techniques of Russia’s Supreme Arbitrazh Court Presidium Resolutions Texts as exemplified by the Supreme Arbitrazh Court Presidium Resolution dated February 8, 2011 No.12146/10’.