The 4th CIS-EU Legal Forum: Eurolawyer 2011 was held in London on 2-3 of June. The Forum’s agenda was focused on topical issues related to the legal and practical aspects of investing into the CIS region. The CIS market is growing again and attracts the attention of the international investment community. This in turn requires continual professional collaboration of legal experts.

Mikhail Kazantsev, Partner, Head of M&A Practice at EPAM, presented at the session on ‘Antimonopoly practice in the CIS: Protection of Competition in International Trade in the CIS’.

He also moderated the session “M&A and Corporate Law: Case Studies” and spoke on the topic of project coordination between teams in cross-border transactions using the Danon/Unimilk merger in the CIS as an example. The Firm advised Danone in Russia, a key jurisdiction for the transaction, and coordinated the transaction in all other CIS countries.

In addition to the usual agenda, Eurolawyer 2011 introduced Eurolawyer Awards for best CIS and EU legal departments involved in cross-border activities within the two regions.

At the Eurolawyer Awards 2011 Danone was awarded “Best EU legal department involved in M&A with CIS companies” for its Danone/Unimilk merger in the CIS. The Danone-Unimilk deal was also a winner of the IFLR Europe Awards 2011 M&A deal of the year.

During the “Eurolawyer Awards” ceremony Mikhail Kazantsev also presented an Award in a Trade Financing category to Metaloinvest Holding which was received by Sergey Gorin, Deputy General Director for Legal Affairs.