Partly due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Russia’s legislative process has slowed down, says CMS Moscow Partner Anton Bankovskiy. “However,” he says, “the ‘regulatory guillotine,’ – the ongoing process of amending or eliminating the many laws remaining from the country’s Soviet past – has picked up pace.” In addition, he says, “the State Duma recently passed new laws introducing the ‘regulatory sandbox’ framework, which enables companies and entrepreneurs to implement innovative technologies, unrestricted by the current legal limits related to those technologies.” 

Rybalkin, Gortsunyan & Partners, working with Debevoise & Plimpton and Henry King QC as part of PJSC Tatneft’s legal team, has successfully defended the right of Russian lawyers to claim attorney-client privilege in English court proceedings.

On 8 September 2020, Russian and Cypriot authorities signed* a Protocol amending the applicable double taxation treaty (DTT).

Hogan Lovells has advised Netflix on its partnership with Russia's National Media Group.

DLA Piper has advised Sberbank Investments on its secured mezzanine loan to Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod Region and Prosveshcheniye Group for the construction of a training and educational center.

Debevoise & Plimpton has advised longstanding client PJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel on its USD 500 million Eurobond offering due 2025 with a coupon rate of 2.55% per annum.

Starting from 1 January 2019, Russia has been implementing a programme of “waste reform” to radically change its municipal waste-management system across the country. Many of the scheduled preparation and organisational arrangements have already been implemented or are in the pipeline.

For our Checking In feature, we reach out to partners and heads of practice across CEE to learn how specific practice areas are faring in their jurisdictions. This time around we asked firm Energy experts: What, in your view, is the most effective scheme currently in place in your jurisdiction to attract investments in renewable energy? If you had to pick one, what additional step from the regulators do you believe would have the most positive impact?

On 31 July 2020, the Russian President signed Federal Law No. 265-FZ* (the “Law”) enacting a tax manoeuvre for the Russian IT industry. How will this manoeuvre affect domestic and foreign market players in this field?

Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners has advised US-based Clemco International, a manufacturer of air-powered abrasive blasting equipment, on IP, corporate, customs, and regulatory matters in Russia.

Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners has provided BNP Paribas Fortis Private Equity Belgium with a red flag analysis of contracts for the provision of freight forwarding and customs representative services and storage.

On 8 July 2020, the Presidium of the Russian Supreme Court approved a Review* on specific issues of judicial practice related to the adoption of measures by the courts to counter illegal financial transactions.

White & Case has advised Raiffeisenbank on a loan of up to USD 127 million to Rosvodokanal.

Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners has advised DynaEnergetics on the sale of its subsidiary in the Tyumen region of Russia, representing its exit from the Russian market. 

On 6 August 2020, the Federal Tax Service of Russia (FTS) issued a Letter of long-awaited clarifications* on the taxation of services rendered to Russian taxpayers by interdependent foreign organisations that are part of the same international group of companies.

BGP Litigation has successfully represented Irina Zhivova against her ex-husband in a post-divorce process regarding challenges to agreements involving property, children, and alimony.

Climate change and sustainability have become trending issues in Russia with the government encouraging “green” projects. The Russian authorities have been steadily implementing legal acts confirming Russia’s commitment to high standards of energy efficiency and setting out practical steps to be undertaken to achieve these. In this article we summarize the most notable developments and most anticipated legal acts in the sphere.

Russia's Rodin & Partners has been appointed to PAO Sberbank's legal panel for administrative disputes and litigation, as well as public-private partnership projects.