Vinson & Elkins has represented the interests of clients doing business in the former Soviet Union since the early 1970s, and established our office in Moscow early in 1991, being one of the first Western law firms to do so. Our Russian/CIS practice group includes experienced Russian, English, and American lawyers from the Moscow, London, Asian, and Middle East offices. V&E lawyers advise international clients doing business in the Russian Federation and CIS, including Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan.

The core practice areas of our Moscow office include the following:

Energy / Natural Resources: V&E lawyers have advised clients operating in the Russian and CIS energy and natural resources markets for more than 30 years, including on the acquisition and disposal of energy assets and companies, joint ventures, subsoil law and license compliance issues, oil and gas transportation, international hydrocarbon sales contracts (including long-term supply contracts and export financing), service contracts (including with Russian majors), and on developing and financing large-scale energy and infrastructure projects (including pipeline construction and liquefied natural gas projects).

Mergers and Acquisitions / Private Equity: We have significant experience in complex, high-value, domestic and cross-border M&A and private-equity investment transactions in a number of sectors, primarily in oil and gas, as well as in retail and consumer goods, food and drink, telecommunications, media, and advertising. Our clients include both domestic and international companies, and transactions include both inbound and overseas investments. We advise on the relevant regulatory requirements applicable to foreign direct investment, and have experience advising on the laws introduced in 2008 restricting foreign investment into strategic sectors of the Russian economy.

Corporate / Commercial: The Moscow office provides a wide variety of corporate and commercial advice, including in connection with investment structuring, establishing new businesses in Russia, obtaining necessary accreditations and registrations, entering into joint ventures, structuring corporate governance relationships between Russian and foreign shareholders, protecting shareholder rights, developing strategies to suit the demands of the Russian business environment,  labor, and competition law issues.

Capital Markets: Teaming up with lawyers from our London and U.S. offices, V&E has worked on a variety of capital markets transactions, representing issuers and underwriters in equity and debt offerings.

Finance: Vinson & Elkins attorneys have represented lenders and borrowers in a variety of financing transactions, including syndicated lending, acquisition, and project financing.

International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution: Working closely with lawyers in V&E’s London and other offices, we advise international, and Russian clients on resolving disputes on matters involving Russia and the CIS.

In addition to these core practice areas, the Russia/CIS practice group regularly advises on other areas of Russian law, including intellectual property, immigration, and general tax.

Recognition
V&E lawyers leading our Russia practice are recognized for their deep experience by clients and the legal community. In 2011, Chambers Global recognized both Rob Patterson, former co-managing partner of the Moscow office, and Natalya Morozova, managing partner of the Moscow office, for their “considerable experience of working on cross-border M&A deals.” In 2010, Chambers Global noted that Rob and Natalya received "enthusiastic client endorsements, noting above all the impeccable response time and the excellent quality-to-price ratio," and that they “complement each other perfectly with their respective UK and Russian backgrounds.” In 2009-2010, Legal 500: EMEA recommended our Russia/CIS practice group for corporate & M&A work in Moscow, recognizing our “fantastic reputation in the oil and gas sector,” as well as our “superbly talented” and “down to earth” lawyers. (View all firm rankings here.)

Representative Experience
Vinson & Elkins Russia/CIS lawyers have extensive experience in areas including: Corporate, Mergers and Acquisitions, Private Equity, Energy and Natural Resources, Finance, Capital Markets, Non-Oil and Gas Projects, and Dispute Resolution. (View our representative experience here.)

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.