team

Disputes in Russia

The Attorneys of the Dispute Resolution Practice at Nordic Star Law Offices represent their clients in Russian courts of all levels of the judicial system, including the Russian Supreme Court and Russian Constitutional Court, and are engaged in settling disputes in Russian arbitral tribunals.

Our team provides services not only in the North-Western Federal District, but also across Russia, including Moscow and Moscow Region, Nizhny Novgorod, Perm, Kazan, Stavropol, Krasnodar and other cities.

Our attorneys act for clients from various industries, including mechanical engineering and metallurgy, shipbuilding, the food industry and fisheries, IT, telecoms and pharmaceuticals. Our clients also include financial institutions, international and state-owned corporations, governmental institutions, and companies from the real estate, construction, retail, and fashion and lux industries.

Areas of Expertise

 
  • Handling complaints and settling disputes at the pre-trial stage
  • Legal representation in Russian state commercial courts and in courts of general jurisdiction at all levels, including the Russian Supreme Court
  • Handling disputes with state authorities, including anti-trust and tax disputes
  • Legal representation in insolvency (bankruptcy) cases
  • Having judgments and awards of foreign courts and arbitral tribunals recognized and enforced
  • Providing legal support during enforcement proceedings
  • Managing arbitral proceedings and appearing before international commercial arbitration in permanent arbitration institutions in Russia

Recent Cases

 
  • Represented a business unit of a global industrial group in Sweden in a complicated dispute encompassing multiple issues in connection with the illegal privatization of residential premises in the centre of Moscow. The dispute stretches back over 15 years. The integral strategy for the litigation included participation in several parallel arbitration proceedings and the conduct of about 60 proceedings in courts of general jurisdiction
  • Represented a subsidiary of a leading global supplier of FMCG for the home and garden in a dispute with a large Russian retail chain over debt recovery under a supply contract
  • Represented one of the five largest Russian metal traders in a dispute with customs authorities over the customs classification of a production line the client had purchased. A number of cases were commenced against our client and its customs broker in courts of general jurisdiction and in commercial courts. The cases were resolved in favour of our client
  • Represented a leading European agricultural producer in a dispute with a tax authority over an incorrect assessment of value-added tax
  • Represented a Finnish trader of agricultural products, which was a creditor in bankruptcy proceedings with respect to a Russian fisheries enterprise
  • Represented a large Swiss investor and developer in a dispute with a Russian strategic company. The dispute concerned the payment of debt under credit agreements
  • Represented a Russian developer in a dispute with local citizens who were challenging a construction permit and favourable opinions of the Committee for the State Control, Use and Protection of Historical and Cultural Landmarks in St Petersburg. The dispute concerned the construction of residential buildings in the centre of St Petersburg
  • Represented a former employee of Russia’s biggest power grid company in a dispute over reinstatement to work and payment of salary and fines. The outcome of the case considered in the first instance court was that the employee was reinstated to work. However, the court dismissed the claims for the recovery of salary. The court of appeal upheld the plaintiff’s salary claims
  • Represented a major producer in the chemical industry as a third party in a dispute over the quality of a product our client had produced. The dispute was between a Russian construction company and the client’s official distributor

Rankings

 

Chambers Europe

  • Dispute resolution (2013 – 2021)

Chambers Europe | 2021

One impressed source remarks: “They are focused on the interests of their clients and their results.”

Another source notes that the team is “business-focused, flexible and can react really fast,” and adds: “Team gives me confidence that everything is under control.”

Chambers Europe | 2020

Sources note the firm’s client-centric approach: “They have an attentive attitude to the client and always try to find the best solution.”

Chambers Europe | 2019

“They have a constructive and forward-thinking understanding of our case. Clients like how they react and the steps they suggest.”
“The lawyers have a deep understanding of the Russian market and always give us straightforward and clear advice.”

The Legal 500

  • Dispute Resolution: Litigation (Tier 5: 2013 – 2019)
  • Dispute Resolution: Litigation (Tier 6: 2021)

The Legal 500 | 2021

‘Experts in disputes relating to the former Soviet Union; they bring a huge amount of experience and technical skill in matters requiring foreign lawyers and multi-jurisdictional disputes. They are a pleasure to deal with.’

‘The team led by Andrei Gusev is technically very knowledgeable and follows a strong service culture being very responsive and prompt. They combine the above with very strong English language skills and with familiarity, earned on the field, with how European law firms work. Their collegiality is refreshing.’

‘This team is truly exceptional in putting together a multi-disciplinary team to get the best result for their client. They have contacts in multiple jurisdictions and choose the right people to deliver the best service for their clients whilst always overseeing the strategic direction of the case.’

Pravo – 300

  • Arbitration proceedings, Federal ranking (Group 4: 2018, Group 2: 2019, Group 3(High-market): 2021)
  • Litigation, Federal ranking (Group 2: 2018)
  • Arbitration proceedings, Regional ranking (Group 2: 2018, Group 1:(High-market): 2022-2023)

The Best Lawyers

  • Arbitration and Mediation: Anna Zabrotskaya (2019 – 2022), Lyubov Erigo (2019 – 2022, Lawyer of the year 2021), Irina Selezneva (Lawyer of the Year 2022), Andrei Gusev (2010 – 2022), Andrew Bezhan (2022)
  • Litigation: Anna Zabrotskaya (2021 – 2022, Lawyer of the Year 2022), Irina Selezneva (2013 – 2022, Lawyer of the year 2020), Lyubov Erigo (2012 – 2022), Andrei Gusev (2010 – 2022), Artem Zhavoronkov (2010 – 2022), Andrew Bezhan (2020 – 2022)
  • Criminal Defense: Lyubov Erigo (2022)

Kommersant

  • Arbitration proceedings. Commercial dispute resolution: High-end. Federal ranking (Band 2: 2022 – 2023)
  • Litigation in courts of general jurisdiction. Disputes on property relations, on the protection of honor, dignity and business reputation. Regional ranking (Band 2: 2022)
  • Production and industry. Resolution of key disputes in the industry. Federal Ranking (Band 2: 2023)
  • Retail and trade, FMCG. Resolution of key disputes in the industry. Federal ranking (Band 1: 2023)
  • Agriculture. Resolution of key disputes in the industry. (Band 1: 2023)
  • Transport and logistics. Resolution of key disputes in the industry. Federal ranking (Band 2: 2023)

Russian Arbitration Association

  • Litigation and Dispute Resolution. Group 2 (Progressive Practice)

Additional information

 
 
Anna Zabrotskaya
Partner, Attorney-at-Law
+7 921 951 39 18
St. Petersburg