Ilya Nikiforov, managing partner of EPAM, delivered a speech at the Interregional Conference on Innovation Revolution in Legal Support Services for Corporations on 28 October 2010. The event, organised by Delovoy Peterburg newspaper in collaboration with the Northern Capital Innovation and Learning Center, was held in Saint Petersburg on 27-29 October 2010.

The level of in-house legal support, where highly qualified lawyers help companies conduct business within law and order, plays an important role in commercial success of a business.

Accelerating pace of business visibly changes the way the legal departments of companies operate. In recent years, the performance of in-house lawyers has become increasingly dependent on the ability to utilise new document preparation techniques and procedures, absorb newly introduced legislation promptly and flexibility to follow the changing procedures for interaction with the court and supervisory authorities. Does a lawyer have to keep abreast of the most recent developments in his professional area? Or does he have to become an innovator himself? Who devises new technologies for the legal area?

Heads of legal departments and experts of law firms, representatives of judicial and government authorities and academics discussed above questions and other current and relevant issues. They have also discussed recent case law and new trends in contract law, latest information technologies and the importance of intellectual property protection in the current environment.

Ilya Nikiforov delivered a speech on the subject of Principles of Commercial Agreements and Other Non-Government Regulators in Contractual Work. He shared his views about existing standard contracts and their importance in the daily work of an in-house lawyer, and provided practical guidelines on using standard forms in corporate contractual work.