“Latham & Watkins has been involved in capital markets work in Russia for many years, and this experience has yielded terrific insights into the way that market functions. Clients are impressed by the team's up-to-date business knowledge as well as its dedicated client service.”
— Chambers Europe 2013

Moscow

Since 1992, the Moscow office has assisted Russian companies with capital markets and domestic and cross border private/public M&A transactions, and foreign investors with business interests in Russia and the CIS.

With close to 20 lawyers qualified to practice Russian, US and English law, Latham’s Moscow team advises clients doing business in the country on a wide range of transactional matters across all industry sectors. Clients turn to the Moscow office for its experienced counsel on capital markets, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), bank finance and disputes, including international arbitration. 

The office also has wide experience beyond Russia, and has acted on transactions throughout the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), China, Korea, Scandinavia and the UK.

Key Practice Areas

The Moscow office has a leading capital markets team regularly advising issuers, investment banks and other Russian capital markets participants on international and domestic securities offerings.

The firm’s M&A team in Moscow advises Russian and international financial and strategic investors on the structuring, financing and implementation of single country and cross-border inbound and outbound mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic investments, spin-offs, and corporate governance matters.

The finance team in Moscow advises on all types of financing transactions, from regular bilateral loans to complex syndicated financings with extensive security packages. The team also has significant experience acting on financial restructuring transactions and project financings in Russia and the CIS.

The firm’s CIS & Russia dispute resolution team is able to offer clients unique and wide ranging experience working on investigations and disputes involving former USSR states. The team consists of knowledgeable and experienced lawyers qualified to practice Russian, English and US law covering a wide range of matters and industries for clients doing business in the region.

Latham’s Russian team is ideally placed to assist international and local clients with all aspects of their day-to-day operations in Russia. The team can advise companies on the creation of their local presence through branches or subsidiaries, assist with obtaining relevant licenses and approvals, advise on commercial contracts, real estate matters, currency control and other aspects of local regulatory environment.

Awards & Rankings

Latham received a number of commendations for its TMT, Corporate and Finance Practices in Moscow in Chambers Europe 2013 and The Legal 500 EMEA 2013.

The firm’s TMT practice in Moscow was ranked Band 1 by Chambers, with the guide noting: “[t]his firm represents some of the top telecoms companies in the Russian market, and its heavy involvement in private equity work means that it is closely connected to the technology industry.” With respect to the firm’s Corporate and Finance Practices, Chambers stated: “Latham has a fine history in Moscow, and has built a solid reputation for its work in private equity, capital markets and corporate transactions. The firm is particularly adept in public M&A and it serves both Russian and international clients.”

The Legal 500 EMEA 2013 recommended Latham’s Corporate, M&A and Capital Markets Practices in Moscow stating “Latham & Watkins LLP’s capital markets practice is ‘superb in all categories’. It is especially well known for equity work,”  states the guide.

Both guides are based on client and peer feedback as well as the firm’s work during the last 12 months.

Latham & Watkins' Moscow office provides pro bono assistance to a variety of local and international non-profit and charitable organizations, including:

  • AIDS Foundation East-West (AFEW)
  • Dobroe Delo
  • Dobrynya Club
  • Moscow Union Chernobyl
  • NGO Volunteers to Help Orphans

Latham ranks first in the provision of pro bono services in Russia, according to the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s third annual TrustLaw Index of Pro Bono. The 2016 index was “compiled with data collected from over 130 law firms—both large and small—and representing 64,500 lawyers in 75 countries, [and it] provides a snapshot of the resources mobilised by the industry in support of social causes, while also monitoring the growth of the sector globally.”

The office regularly participates in the Public Interest Law Institute’s Moscow Pro Bono Clearinghouse, and sponsors Moscow’s annual United Way Christmas Bazaar.

In 2012, the Moscow office began working with the Centre for Development of Legal Clinics (CDLC), a non-profit organization established in 2011 by legal clinics of such well-known Russian law schools as Moscow State University, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, Moscow State Academy of Law and others. CDLC is focused on the formation and development of legal clinics in Russia.

As part of the firm's collaboration with CDLC, Latham's Moscow-based lawyers are conducting a series of trainings and presentations for students on legal clinics in jurisdictions outside of Russia, basic principles of legal ethics and on representing, interviewing and advising clients.
Survey of Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities

A multi-office team of Latham & Watkins lawyers and professional staff from across the firm’s offices globally conducted extensive research to prepare the 2016 edition of the “Survey of Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities” report. Conducted in conjunction with the Pro Bono Institute (PBI), the unique report is an essential resource for local practitioners, in-house teams and non-profits on pro bono practices around the world.

 
 
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