London, April 22, 2008 – Partners from the leading independent law firms from around the world held a special morning session during The Russian Economic Forum in London today. Entitled ‘The Battle for Assets: How to Approach the Markets’, it focused on the key challenges and problems faced by Russian investors abroad, and the various strategies and tactics to adopt in a competitive international market. Participating firms were EPAM (Russia), Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz (USA), Slaughter and May (UK), Hengeler Mueller (Germany), Bredin Prat (France), Bonelli Erede Pappalardo (Italy), Uria (Spain), De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek (Netherlands), Mannheimer Swartling (Sweden) and Schönherr (Austria).

Russian companies starting their battle for prospective assets abroad may face a web of long established relationships between multinational corporations and other organisations. In addition they are less familiar with the relevant corporate law and the related legal system. Do these circumstances give their foreign competitors a real advantage? If so, does it help them to acquire assets at a more attractive price? What can Russian companies do in order to strengthen their position in the international arena? Where can they find the best assistance and support? How can foreign partners and advisors be most efficient? How can Russian advisors be better placed to assist their Russian clients?

These questions were discussed by the leading lawyers from their respective jurisdictions: Andy Nussbaum (Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz); Jeffrey Twentyman (Slaughter and May); Oleg de Lousanoff (Hengeler Mueller); Giovanni Domenichini (Bonelli Erede Pappalardo); Patrick Dziewolski (Bredin Prat); Sebastián Sáenz de Santamaría (Uría) Bernard Roelvink (De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek); Christian Herbst (Schönherr); Andrei Gusev (Mannheimer Swartling). The panel was chaired by Dimitry Afanasiev (EPAM).