Launch of CIS Leading Counsel Network
Nine leading law firms from the countries of the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) economic region announce the launch of a new alliance, The CIS Leading Counsel Network, which aims to transcend the national boundaries and offer clients a seamless advice across these fast developing markets.
The CIS Leading Counsel Network (LCN) brings together the following prominent law firms: in Armenia - Ameria, in Azerbaijan - FINA, in Belarus - Vlasova Mikhel & Partners, in Kazakhstan - Aequitas, in Kyrgyzstan - Kalikova & Associates, in Moldova - Turcan & Turcan, in Russia - Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners, in Turkmenistan - ACT and in Ukraine - RULG - Ukrainian Legal Group. The network, chaired by a rotating chairperson from participating firms, aims to combine the highest international professional standards with a unique local insight in these regions, which are increasingly attracting international investments.
The inaugural meeting of the LCN members, hosted by Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners in Moscow on 28 September, elected Ms Irina Paliashvili as first Chair of the Network. She is the president of RULG -Ukrainian Legal Group and founder and co-chair of the CIS Local Counsel Forum, an informal annual conference of managing and senior partners of the CIS and international law firms.
Representatives of a leading German law firm Hengeler Mueller, Mr Oleg de Lousanoff, and a leading French law firm Bredin Prat, Mr Patrick Dziewolski, have attended the inaugural meeting as guests of honor and shared their experience of building up a Best Friends Network in Europe as a model to be followed by the CIS Leading Counsel Network.
LCN members have a long history of successful collaboration. The alliance takes to a new level their time-tested relationships and offers clients integrated teams in these dynamic and challenging jurisdictions.
LCN will offer members a platform to pull resources to get the latest in law firm technology, training and knowledge management systems. The network will also offer annual training programs for the associates of the participating law firms and regular seminars for clients, giving unique perspective on the local markets across the CIS.
Member law firms of the LCN are not exclusively bound and are free to work with non-member firms.
Irina Paliashvili, Chair of LCN, commented:
"I am very excited about this project and honoured to be chosen by my peers as the first Chair of LCN. As our profession is becoming more globalized, it is increasingly important for independent law firms to offer clients top quality cross-border capabilities, especially within our broader economic regions. LCN is a winning combination of the traditional non-exclusive network approach with innovative ideas answering the demands of the modern markets. It allows the participating law firms to retain their independence while harmonizing and enhancing their services and cross-border capabilities.
It gives me a great pleasure to see how long standing cooperation with our good friends across the CIS economic region evolved into this alliance, which is based on best professional standards, mutual trust and respect, and commitment to our clients."
Dimitry Afanasiev, Chairman of Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners, commented:
"The formation of the LCN is a significant milestone in the legal landscape of the CIS and offers clients a unique opportunity to access leading legal advice across the entire region. We are pleased to have hosted the inaugural meeting of the network and look forward to contributing to its future success and growth."
Enquiries:
CIS LCN / Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners +7 495 935 8010
Olga Frolova, Pelham, Evgeniy Chuikov +44 (0)20 7337 1500
NOTES TO EDITORS
Irina Paliashvili
President, RULG - Ukrainian Legal Group, P.A.
Co-Chair, CIS Local Counsel Forum
Dr. Irina Paliashvili is the founding partner of RULG-Ukrainian Legal Group, P.A., where she serves as the President and Senior Counsel. She is a Member of the Executive Committee and Chair of the Legal Affairs Group of the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council, Vice-Chair of the Russia/Eurasia Committee of the American Bar Association's International Law Section and member of the Advisory Board of Best Lawyers®. Dr. Paliashvili is the founder and Co-Chair of the CIS Local Counsel Forum, the informal network of managing and senior partners of leading business law firms from the CIS economic region. She graduated with high honors from the Kiev State University School of International Law and received a Ph.D. in Private International Law from the same school. She also holds an LL.M. in International and Comparative Law from George Washington University. Dr. Paliashvili is fluent in English, Ukrainian, Russian, Georgian, and Spanish.
LCN Members
ACT
Ashgabat Consulting Team (ACT) is the leading law firm in Turkmenistan. The firm was founded in 1997 and provides advice on legal, financial, business and taxation issues. ACT has substantial transactional and corporate practice with extensive client base. It consistently advises national and multinational corporations, financial institutions and government organizations, and maintains leading clients from a number of industries and business sectors, including banking, insurance, real estate, telecommunications, shipping, oil and construction. More information on ACT can be found at http://www.actltd.ru/
Aequitas Law Firm
Aequitas was founded in January 1993 with offices in Almaty, Astana and Atyrau. This leading Kazakh firm advises some of the biggest international corporations working in Kazakhstan and major national companies and provides a full range of legal services from support on complex new ventures to obtaining licences or representation in the court of any level. Partners of Aequitas directly participated in the development and improvement of the most important acts of civil and economy legislation of Kazakhstan More information on Aequitas can be found at http://www.aequitas.kz
Ameria
Founded in 1998, Ameria is a leading advisory firm in Armenia. It acts as a financial, legal and strategic development counsel and partner to the public and private sectors, as well as to international organizations in Armenia and the South Caucasus. Ameria advises its clients through an effective structure of five advisory units comprising Management Advisory Services, Legal Practice, Assurance and Taxation, and Investment Banking. Ameria Group of Companies includes Ameriabank cjsc and Ameria Invest cjsc More information on Ameria can be found at http://www.ameria.am
Еgorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners
Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners is the leading national law firm in Russia with offices in Moscow, St. Petersburg and an associated office in London. Founded in 1993, the firm combines extensive emerging markets experience with international professional standards. It regularly represents international companies doing business in Russia and Russian companies abroad. The firm regularly acts for the Russian Federation in transactions and litigation matters and serves as Russian counsel to leading international law firms. Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners was named Law Firm of the Year in Russia and CIS by The Lawyer European Awards 2009. Dimitry Afanasiev, Chairman of Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners, is Co-Chair of CIS Local Counsel Forum, an informal network of managing and senior partners of CIS and international law firms, meeting annually in different venues chosen by the Delegates. More information on EPA&P can be found at http://www.epam.ru
FINA LLP
FINA LLP was founded in 2002 in Baku and offers a variety of domestic and international business and commercial legal services in Azerbaijan. This leading Azeri firm seeks to establish long-term relationships with its clients, and to provide effective solutions to their problems based upon a clear understanding of their needs. All attorneys of FINA LLP maintain the same standards of professional responsibility and performance that clients would expect from them practicing in the world's leading commercial centers. More information on FINA can be found at http://www.fina.az/index.shtml
Kalikova & Associates
Founded in 2002, Kalikova & Associates has rapidly grown into one of the leading law firms in Kyrgyzstan specializing in Business Law. The firm has proudly built a strong reputation as a reliable partner to many leading foreign companies, international organizations and diplomatic missions. Kalikova & Associates' strength lies in thorough analysis of current law in combination with economic, political and cultural trends in Kyrgyzstan and a bespoke approach to every client project. More information on Kalikova & Associates can be found at http://www.k-a.kg
RULG - Ukrainian Legal Group
The RULG - Ukrainian Legal Group, P.A. (Washington, D.C.), and its affiliate, the Ukrainian Legal Group, L.L.C. (Kiev, Ukraine), provide comprehensive legal support to large and medium international corporate clients considering or engaged in business and investment activity in Ukraine, Russia, and other CIS countries. RULG is the only Ukrainian law firm with offices in the United States allowing it to deliver effective, timely and practical legal service across a number of jurisdictions. This leading Ukrainian firm also frequently serves as local counsel to international law firms and maintains close professional contacts with local law firms throughout the CIS. More information on RULG can be found at http://www.rulg.com
Turcan & Turcan
Founded in 1999, the Moldovan law firm Turcan & Turcan is widely considered by clients, peers and legal market researchers as the leading legal practice for business and investment in its home jurisdiction. Over the last decade the firm has built an impressive list of predominantly E.U./U.S.-based clients doing business in this country and is the preferred Moldovan counsel for most of global law firms. The firm has permanently been involved in the most complex Moldovan projects on behalf of international financial institutions, agencies of foreign governments, international corporations, regional investors and various global non-profits. The firm is an active member of the Moldovan business community and maintains a permanent involvement in legislative reform. More information on T&T can be found at http://www.turcanlaw.md
Vlasova Mikhel & Partners LLC
Vlasova, Mikhel and Partners was created in 1991. For the last three years the company was recognized as the best law firm of the country by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Belarus. For the five years in a raw Global Chambers recognized law firm Vlasova, Mikhel and Partners as the leading Belarusian consultant in commercial law. Partners of the firm are on the top of the list of best Belarusian lawyers. The company has more than 20 lawyers who ensure legal support of businesses of both national and foreign companies in Belarus. Vlasova, Mikhel and Partners has been selected as local counsel by many international law firms. More details may be found at: http://www.vmp.by