Akin Gump has advised Russian Internet and IT company Mail.ru on the formation of a joint venture with the Alibaba Group, a global digital commerce company, PJSC MegaFon, a pan-Russian operator of digital opportunities, and the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Russia’s sovereign wealth fund. Cleary advised MegaFon on the deal, while Linklaters advised the Russian Direct Investment Fund. Debevoise advised Alibaba.
The joint venture has received approval from the Federal Antimonopoly Service in Russia.
Akin Gump's team in London included Partners Artem Faekov and David Sewell and Associate Harpreet Hundal, while its team in Moscow included Partner Vladimir Kouznetsov and Counsel Anna Semashko.
Cleary's team in Moscow included Partners Yulia Solomakhina and Murat Akuyev, Associate Ilya Nekrasov and Paralegal Taisiya Kogalenko. Its team in London included Partner Richard Sultman and Associates Bridget English and Edward Hicks.
The Linklaters team included Partner Grigory Gadzhiev, Managing Associate Ivan Chuprunov, and Associates Leonid Lepold and Anna Tiunova.
The Debevoise team included Hong-Kong-based Partner Edwin Northover, Associates Wen-Wen Lai, Monisha D'souza, and Christian Richter, and Legal Consultant Yue Yang, Moscow-based Counsel Anna Maximenko and Associates Nikolay Kiselev, Elena Klutchareva and Mikhail Movshovich, Washington-based Partner Satish Kini and Associate Robert Dure, and London-based Partner James Scoville and Associate Heather Atkins.
