On October 1, 2015 Mikhail Kazantsev, Partner of EPAM, was appointed public business Ombudsman on de-offshorisation and capital amnesty by the office of Boris Titov, Business Ombudsman under the auspices of the Russian President.

In his business Ombudsman status, Mikhail will exercise public oversight of observance of entrepreneurs’ rights and legitimate interests in the area of taxation related to de-offshorisation and capital amnesty.

In particular, Mikhail’s efforts will be focused on identification of underlying problems in de-offshorisation legislation in order to devise comprehensive proposals on their solution. He will also liaise with government authorities, entrepreneurs and their associations on any matters related to complaints of violation of rights in taxation in connection with de-offshorisation and capital amnesty as well as implement legal awareness effort in this area.

Mikhail Kazantsev has extensive experience in legal support of major M&A transactions and investment projects, conducting legal due diligence and obtaining necessary regulatory approvals as well as in corporate governance matters.

He was involved in the drafting of Russian legislation on controlled foreign companies and capital amnesty. He was on the inter-agency task force to draft a capital amnesty bill and a task force on legislative initiatives regulating legal services under the auspices of  the Russian Ministry of Justice. He is a member of the Moscow Bar Association.

Mikhail is recommended by such reputable legal directories as Best Lawyers and Legal 500 EMEA. He has been given a note of acknowledgement by the Director of the State Customs Committee titled ‘For Significant Personal Contribution to Protection of Economic Interests of the Russian Federation'.

He graduated with honors from the law school of Saint Petersburg State University and Columbia Law School of Columbia University (New York) as one of the best alumni  (James Kent Scholar). He was admitted to the bar in the State of New York, USA.