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The Capital Legal Services team of professionals is comprised of 35 attorneys who have graduated from leading Russian higher education institutions and speak one or several foreign languages.
Many of our associates have undergone additional training and have studies abroad, have a PhD or are working on achieving one and some have a second degree in addition to a degree in law.
The high qualifications, ability to find non-standard solutions in complex situations and to open new possibilities for clients for developing their business allows CLS attorneys to fully comply with the serious requirements that international and Russian companies expect from law firms.
Key employees of the firm:
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PARTNERS |
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Vladislav J. Zabrodin
Managing Partner
Moscow, St. Petersburg
Telephone: +7 (812) 346-79-90
E-mail: vzabrodin@cls.ru
Vladislav Zabrodin is the Managing Partner of Capital Legal Services, L.L.C heading the Moscow and St. Petersburg representative offices.
Vladislav has extensive experience advising business clients on corporate and commercial law, transactional law, mergers and acquisitions, tax law, cross-border transactions, alternative dispute resolution, securities law and other aspects of conducting business in the CIS, including client representation before federal and regional state authorities.
Prior to joining Capital Legal Services, L.L.C., Mr. Zabrodin was a senior associate with McDermott, Will & Emery, L.L.C. and supervised their offices in St. Petersburg, Russia. From 1995 until 1998 he headed the CIS legal group of OTIS Elevator Company, working from offices in Hartford, Connecticut, Paris, France, and Moscow, Russia, traveling to and providing legal services in and with respect to many republics of the former USSR, including Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan. In 1993, Mr. Zabrodin was invited to Turku University, Finland, to lecture on Russian Law.
Vladislav has published a number of articles in various international and Russian periodicals; he is a member of International Bar Association (IBA) and Legal Counsel International (LCI).
Areas of Law:
- Corporate Law
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Securities Transactions
- Real Estate
- Foreign Investments
Education:
- St. Petersburg State University (1991, law degree with highest honors)
- St. Petersburg State University Post-Graduate (International Law)
- Northwestern University, Chicago, USA (1995, L.L.M.)
Languages:
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Derek A. Bloom
Partner
Moscow
Telephone: +7 (495) 970-10-90
E-mail: dbloom@cls.ru
Derek Bloom is a Partner with Capital Legal Services who has been practicing law in Russia since 1995. Mr. Bloom is a member of the District of Columbia Bar Association and practiced law in Washington, D.C. from 1984 to 1995 where he was a partner in a securities law firm focused on securities issuances by US financial institutions.
In March 1995, Mr. Bloom moved to Moscow to commence work on investments in Russia by multi-national corporations, becoming a partner with Coudert Brothers, a noted international law firm. While primarily based in Moscow, Mr. Bloom ran the firm's St. Petersburg office for three years, during which time Coudert Brothers and Capital Legal Services collaborated on a high profile real estate project. At Coudert Brothers, Mr. Bloom led work on a large number of foreign investments in Russia, developed a significant financial leasing practice, completed the first leases of Boeing aircraft by a large Russian charter airline, and led the hostile takeover defense of a major Russian corporation.
In January 2005, Mr. Bloom became General Counsel to Golden Telecom, a NASDAQ-listed fixed line telecommunications company headquartered in Moscow prior to its merger into Vimpelcom, one of the three leading telecommunications companies in Russia. Mr. Bloom then became a partner with a Washington DC law firm specializing in corporate aviation, working in Washington, D.C. and Moscow during 2006 and 2007, including on several aircraft acquisitions by Russian businesses.
From August 2006 until February 2008, Mr. Bloom was a Partner with the Washington, D.C. corporate aviation law firm, GKG Law, and during this period closed two dozen purchases and sales of corporate aircraft, and completed numerous aircraft charter, management and financing agreements. This work built on his experience in Russia on several aircraft transactions, including the first acquisition and lease of commercial aircraft by Meridian Leasing.
In February 2008, Mr. Bloom became General Counsel of PromSvyazNedvizhimost, a Russian commercial real estate holding company where he was responsible for a corporate restructuring and preparing the company for a public issuance of shares. With the public offering postponed in changed economic circumstances, Mr. Bloom renewed his collaboration with Capital Legal Services and joined the firm in September 2009.
At Capital Legal Services, Mr. Bloom is continuing his practice in the areas of foreign investments in Russia, commercial real estate investments by Russian and foreign investors; secured financings and financial leasing in Russia; and corporate aviation. Mr. Bloom is advising two Russian holding companies on their plans for acquisitions of corporate aircraft, and is advising a certain Russian real estate investment fund on planned investments in Moscow and other investors on workouts of distressed assets.
Mr. Bloom is fluent in Russian, and married to a Russian citizen. Mr. Bloom is a regular speaker at conferences on legal developments in Russia, and has published numerous articles on Russia legal issues, including on sensitive topics concerning hostile takeover defense and necessary legal reforms in Russia.
Areas of practice:
- Foreign investments in Russia
- Commercial real estate investments in Russia by Russian and foreign investors
- Secured financings and financial leasing in Russia
- Acquisition and management of corporate aircraft in the US and Russia
Education:
- Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C. (LLM, Taxation, 1989)
- Boston University School of Law, Boston, Massachusetts, 1984
- Leningrad State University, St. Petersburg (formerly Leningrad), USSR (Certificate, 1980-1981; Semester Program to study Russian language and Literature
Languages:
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Irina Onikienko
Partner
St. Petersburg
Telephone: +7 (812) 346-79-90
E-mail: ionikienko@cls.ru
Irina Onikienko is a Partner at the St. Petersburg office of Capital Legal Services L.L.C. and is in charge of the Litigation Department. Irina is also one of the attorneys engaged in real estate projects.
Irina has extensive experience in law practice (member of the Bar Association for over 15 years), and successfully defends the interests of clients, both legal entities and individuals, in court.
Irina is developing a service on assessment of court risks under agreements in various areas of law enabling the company clients in avoiding disputes, and in the event any arise –resolve disputes in their favor.
Irina has vast expertise on protection of business reputation of companies.
Another strong point of Ms. Onikienko is representation of interests in numerous court disputes with tax authorities regarding field audits, VAT refund, employing procedures to raise tax efficiency, dividend payments, etc.
Having successfully developed jurisprudence associated with protecting clients’ interests in court disputes with state supervisory bodies such as the State Fire Service under the Russian Ministry of Emergencies, the Federal Service for Environmental, Technological and Nuclear Supervision, etc.
Even though criminal law is not the cornerstone of Irina Onikienko’s current court practice, her vast experience in the area of criminal proceedings enables her to provide fair and sound assessment of potential adverse consequences associated with risky business practices and to propose ways to minimize such risks, and if necessary to effectively protect the interests of individuals (company officials).
Areas of Law:
- Court Practice (including criminal law)
- Real Estate
Recent experience:
- Legal support of current activities of one of the most high-tech companies in Russia manufacturing aviation equipment in Moscow, as well as support of the company’s activities on construction of a new plant;
- Management of a team on support of a large unique investment project on construction of a golf-field in St. Petersburg within the framework of which attorneys find solutions to numerous questions associated with design and construction of a business area, residential area, as well as use of cultural heritage sites of federal importance;
- Protection of clients’ interests in court disputes on deeming transactions void, including through reviewing privatization results;
- Protection of clients’ interests in court disputes on use of real estate, including conclusion, execution, and termination of lease agreements.
Education:
- Department of Law of the St. Petersburg State University (1991)
Languages:
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Pavel V. Karpunin
Partner
St. Petersburg
Telephone: +7 (812) 346-79-90
E-mail: pkarpunin@cls.ru
Pavel Karpunin is a Partner at the St. Petersburg office of Capital Legal Services L.L.C. and heads a team of attorneys supporting projects on corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, public-private partnerships, and project finance.
Pavel is recognized as one of the leading attorneys on public-private partnership issues in Russia.
Pavel has more than 16 years of experience in law practice, including corporate law, securities transactions, privatization, and real estate transactions. Prior to joining Capital Legal Services, L.L.C. in 2006 Pavel had a private practice in the Inter-Republic Bar and later worked at the Federal Registration Service of the Russian Federation for over five years.
Areas of practice:
- Corporate Law
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Public-Private Partnerships (PPP)
- Securities Transactions
- Labor Legislation
Education:
- Moscow State University Law School (1995, graduated with highest honors)
- Russian Institute of State Registrars at the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation (2001)
- Academy of National Economy at the Government of the Russian Federation (2004)
Languages:
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Carol A. Emory practices in the areas of international business transactions, joint venture companies, export and import trade, technology licensing, trademarks, intellectual property, product distribution, marketing and outsourced manufacturing agreements, and consults on international commercial litigation and privacy issues.
Ms. Emory is a graduate of the University of California School of Law at Berkeley (Boalt Hall), and a member of the Oregon, California and District of Columbia Bars.
She practiced previously with the firm of Perkins Coie in the US, and private business practice in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, representing technology companies. Earlier in her career, she served as Division Legal Counsel for the Bechtel Group of Companies, engineers and constructors of major infrastructure projects worldwide, based in San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.
Ms. Emory has held a faculty position for international law at Northwestern School of Law, Lewis & Clark College, served as trustee of Mary Baldwin College, and is currently a Board member of the Law & Entrepreneurship Center at the University of Oregon.
Ms. Emory was a founder and editor of the International Lawyers' Newsletter, published by Kluwer Law & Tax for 23 years, and chaired the American Bar Association's Task Force revising in 2004 the joint AAA/ABA Code of Ethics for Commercial Arbitrators. She is a member of the American Bar Association and the American Bar Association Fellows, the Federal Bar Association, the International Bar Association, and is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States.
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| SENIOR ASSOCIATES |
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Elena Stepanova
Head of Real Estate Department in Moscow Office
Moscow
Telephone: +7 (495) 970-10-90
E-mail: estepanova@cls.ru
Elena Stepanova is a Head of Real Estate Department in Moscow Office of Capital Legal Services L.L.C., and heads the team specializing in projects on real estate legislation, land and town planning legislation, construction, and court practice. Elena joined Capital Legal Services, L.L.C. in 2005.
Elena has a successful track record of defending the interests of clients, both legal entities and individuals, in general jurisdiction and arbitration courts on various issues.
The combination of broad expertise in real estate and experience of protecting client’s interests in litigation enables Elena to effectively assess potential legal risks attributable to the implementation of various real estate projects by the clients.
Elena is an author of a number of publications in various periodicals dedicated to practical aspects of doing business in the sphere of retail and commercial real estate.
Areas of Law:
- Land and Investment Legislation
- Real Estate and Construction
- Leases
- Court Practice
- Contract Law
Recent experience:
- Legal support for regional projects to construct and operate multifunctional shopping and entertainment centers for leading European retail companies
- Legal support on issues related to construction and hookup of infrastructure and utilities needed for operating shopping centers (including roads, transportation junctions, water, natural gas, and power supply systems, sewerage and drainage). Obtaining from authorized state bodies, other users and relevant monopolists the permits and approvals necessary for the infrastructure
- Participation in negotiations on execution of general contracts for the design and construction of multipurpose shopping and business centers
- Legal support for acquiring or leasing land (including leasing with an option to buy) for construction purposes, registration of rights to land, and protecting investor interests in relations with state authorities, institutions and other organizations
- Resolving complicated issues related to rezoning, changing land category and permitted use, and issues concerning land surveys
- Due Diligence reports for real estate (including land) in various regions of Russia, as well as preparation of legal opinions and development of legal concepts for acquisition of title to real estate
- Development of template agreements for large western developers for leases of premises in multipurpose shopping and business centers at the stage of construction
- Defense of clients' interests in court disputes related to the use of retail and commercial real estate, including disputes over the conclusion, performance, and termination of lease agreements
- Legal support for the rezoning of five land parcels from agricultural to industrial use, and including the parcels into territory reserved for construction of transport infrastructure related to the construction of the Central Ring Road
- Development of a legal model for implementing an investment project on construction of a multifunctional shopping and entertainment center of international class on several land parcels purchased and leased by the client and separated by a municipal road and accompanying infrastructure facilities
- Support to an international logistics operator on registration of title to a major warehouse facility
- Due Diligence reports for a chain of fast food restaurants, as well as preparation of related legal opinions and development of plans for the acquisition of title to the sites and to the restaurants
Education:
- Russian State Tax Academy of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation (2005, law degree with highest honors)
Languages:
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Igor Gorokhov
Senior Associate
St. Petersburg
Telephone: +7 (812) 346-79-90
E-mail: igorokhov@cls.ru
Igor Gorokhov holds the office of Senior Associate at the ST.Petersburg office of CAPITAL LEGAL SERVICES L.L.C., and heads a team providing legal support for projects in the sphere of real estate and court disputes.
Igor has an extensive sucessful track record of defending clients' interests in court.
Prior to joining CAPITAL LEGAL SERVICES L.L.C, Igor worked as in-house lawer in ST.Petersburg bank holding anf represents of companies in commercial arbitration courts and courts of general jurisdiction.
Irina has vast expertise on protection of business reputation of companies.
Another strong point of Ms. Onikienko is representation of interests in numerous court disputes with tax authorities regarding field audits, VAT refund, employing procedures to raise tax efficiency, dividend payments, etc.
Having successfully developed jurisprudence associated with protecting clients’ interests in court disputes with state supervisory bodies such as the State Fire Service under the Russian Ministry of Emergencies, the Federal Service for Environmental, Technological and Nuclear Supervision, etc.
Even though criminal law is not the cornerstone of Irina Onikienko’s current court practice, her vast experience in the area of criminal proceedings enables her to provide fair and sound assessment of potential adverse consequences associated with risky business practices and to propose ways to minimize such risks, and if necessary to effectively protect the interests of individuals (company officials).
Areas of practice:
- Court Practice
- Real Estate
- Court Law
Recent experience:
- Protection of interests of a major foreign holding in a court dispute with the Moscow Goverment on recognizing the ownesship title to real estate facility;
- Representation of interests of a foreign pharmaceutical company on a bankruptcy (acting as creditor);
- Protection of interests of a foreign manufacturing company in a set of court disputes in the commercial Arbitration court of Samarskaya Oblast;
- Representation of interests of a number manufacturing companies when bringing real estate documentation into compliance (legalization of unauthorized construction, registration of changes, transfers, termination of rights in the United States Register of rights to Real Estate and Transactions Therewith);
- Comprehensive legal analysis of risks for a major foreign manufacturing investor acquiring a land parcel in Leningradskaya Oblst.
Education:
- St.Petersburg University of Humanitarium and Social Sciences, Faculty of Law (2002)
Foreign Languages:
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OF COUNSELS
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Sergey Lysenko
Of Counsel
Moscow
Telephone: +7 (495) 970-10-90
E-mail: slysenko@cls.ru
Sergey Lysenko is an Of Counsel at the Moscow Office of CAPITAL LEGAL SERVICES. Sergey focuses on issues of the antitrust legislation and is an active member of the Competition Support Association (a Non-Profit Partnership).
Due to his vast and long experience of holding management positions in legal departments of major Russian holdings (OAO Zarubezhneft, OAO Rosneft, OAO Atomenergoprom) Sergey is able to easily resolve even the most complicated legal issues arising in the course of companies’ business activities. Sergey Lysenko also held the position of Senior Attorney at the Moscow Office of the international legal firm CMS Cameron McKenna and has an extensive experience in law practice.
Areas of law:
- Antitrust legislation
- Litigation (competition issues)
- Power
Recent experience:
- Participation in reorganizing a holding of a nuclear energy industrial complex of the Russian Federation
- Legal support for investment activities and construction of a nuclear power plant in the Russian Federation and abroad
- Legal support on incorporation of joint ventures with foreign and Russian partners
- Successful participation in antitrust cases examined by the Federal Antitrust Service, in administrative and arbitration proceedings
- Representing clients before the Federal Antitrust Service on issues of foreign investments in strategic industries
Education:
- Military Institute of the Russian Ministry of Defense; specializing in Law (1982)
Languages:
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| PATENT AGENT |
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Alla Demyanko posesses extensive expertise and experience in patents and trademark registration.
In 1972, Ms. Demyanko graduated from Saratov Polytechnic Institute as a qualified technical engineer. In 1974, she obtained a degree in patenting at the Central Institute of Advanced Patenting Qualification (TsIPK). In 1993, to advance her qualifications, she took a Patent Agent course at the Institute of Industrial Property and Innovation.
Prior to joining Capital Legal Services Internationl, L.L.C., Ms. Demyanko worked for 15 years at the Federal Institute of Industrial Property (FIPS) of Rospatent as a Senior Officer, a Senior State Patenting Expert, and a Chief Specialist.
For many years Alla Demyanko lectured on technical design examination at the Russian Institute for Intellectual Property and intellectual property issues at the International Economics, Science and Engineering Center and at Saint Petersburg State University. |
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