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Editorial: Mergers & Acquisitions In The CIS

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  • Editorial: Mergers & Acquisitions In The CIS

    EDITORIAL: MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS IN THE CIS

    Who's Who Legal
    Jan 15 2010

    Our research identifies 95 outstanding lawyers in this practice area.

    White & Case receives the most nominations and is particularly strong
    in Moscow. Marc Polonsky is "one of the most experienced lawyers in
    Russia" and has particular expertise in the natural resources sector.

    Igor Ostapets has advised Russian and foreign companies in the metal
    and oil industries. Eric Michailov heads the M&A practice in Moscow and
    regularly represents investment funds and international companies on
    their projects in Russia, particularly in the real estate, consumer
    products and telecommunications sectors. The "brilliantly skilful"
    Hermann Schmitt has represented major foreign investors and Russian
    banks, telecommunications operators and industrial manufacturers. In
    Kazakhstan, Yuriy Maltsev is "first class for M&A" and was previously
    involved in the privatisation and acquisition of Shymkent refinery
    by Hurricane Hydrocarbons (now Petrokazakhstan) for approximately
    US$1 billion. The merged entity was the first vertically integrated
    oil company in Kazakhstan.

    Four lawyers at Baker & McKenzie stood out during our research. Based
    in Kazakhstan, Curtis Masters is "a great lawyer" who advises
    President Nazarbayev twice a year on legal issues pertaining to
    foreign investment into the country. Azamat Kuatbekov practises in
    this area and has recently advised an Israeli investor in connection
    with the bankruptcy acquisition of the mining and chemical facilities
    in Kazakhstan. In Azerbaijan, Natik Mamedov is an associate noted for
    his work in telecommunications transactions, while Aykhan Asadov is
    "the man for M&A".

    Magisters also has four nominees in this chapter. The "marvellous" Anna
    Rusetskaya heads the M&A practice in Belarus while Dennis Turovets is
    a managing partner of the Minsk office and is also recommended. Marta
    Khomyak in Kazakhstan has advised leading CIS-based corporations and
    global investors across a broad range of sectors, as well as acting
    for state authorities. Andrew Mac manages the Kiev office and is also
    on our list.

    Vlasova Mikhel & Partners provides four lawyers for our Belarus list.

    Liliya Vlasova is "a business guru" while Konstantin Mikhel is
    "a high quality and reliable" lawyer. Tatiana Emelianova is also
    seen as a leading lawyer in this jurisdiction and Sveltana Dashuk
    "should definitely be on anyone's list".

    We list three lawyers at Clifford Chance LLP. Marc Bartholomy is "a
    real player in Moscow" while Andrei Dontsov is also highly rated. Alex
    Erasmus's "top quality" practice has also been pointed out to us.

    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP also has three Moscow lawyers
    prominent in our research. Jacky Baudon is a "terrific guy" with a
    broad corporate experience in a range of industries such as energy,
    natural resources, chemicals, engineering and telecommunications.

    Dmitry Surikov is "a top-tier lawyer" who advises leading Russian
    metal, mining companies and Western investors on their projects
    abroad while Igor Gerber also advises on major projects in the energy,
    metals, mining and retail sectors.

    Grata Law Firm has three representatives in our final list. The
    "superior" Zafar Malikov is managing partner and director of the
    Tashkent office and controls the firm's activities in Uzbekistan
    and Turkmenistan. Umid Aripdjanov heads the commercial law group
    and advises international corporations in the oil and gas industry,
    telecommunications and automobile manufacturing. Rashid Gaissin is
    a managing partner in Kazakhstan and advised the UniCredit Group in
    its US$2.3 billion acquisition of ATF Bank.

    Three lawyers at Salans have proved to be prominent in our research.

    Oleg Batyuk "is a true expert in this area" and is managing partner of
    the Kiev office. Aigoul Kenjebayeva is managing partner of the Almaty
    office with a focus on foreign investment in Kazakhstan. James Hogan is
    a managing partner of the Baku office and "has profound experience in
    the region". He has concentrated exclusively on corporate, commercial
    and natural resource matters relating to the CIS and Eastern Europe
    since 1988.

    Russia has a large pool of talent in this area with 18 leading
    lawyers identified by our research. Two lawyers from Egorov Puginsky
    Afanasiev & Partners are in the final list. Managing partner Ilya
    Nikiforov is seen as "top-notch" and in 2004 was given the diploma
    "for successes in commercial law" by the council of the Russian federal
    bar association. Dimitry Afanasiev is also a managing partner of the
    firm and was awarded the order of "fidelity to a lawyer's duty" by
    the same association. Two lawyers at Goltsblat BLP are particularly
    well regarded in this area. Managing partner Andrey Goltsblat is
    "an outstanding lawyer" and "very well known in Moscow". Previously
    the Chief of Staff for the constitutional commission of the Russian
    parliament, he counsels boards of directors and senior management in
    connection with investment projects and deal structuring in Russia
    and the CIS. Anton Sitnikov "should be on anyone's list of the best"
    and works in a number of industries such as oil and gas, mining,
    the food industry, services sector and banking and finance. At
    Linklaters LLP Denis Uvarov is "exceptional" and was involved in the
    acquisition by BP of strategic investments in TNK-BP and Slavneft,
    while John Goodwin is a managing partner of the firm's Moscow office
    and has "first class" counsel. Edwin Tham from Allen & Overy LLP is
    "a rising star" and has been involved in the acquisition of a drinks
    producer in the Ukraine and within the oil and heavy transportation
    sectors. At ALRUD Law Firm, Alexander Zharskiy has been active in
    joint venture projects from Europe expanding into Asia while Vassily
    Rudomino "certainly deserves to be on the list". From Cleary Gottlieb
    Steen & Hamilton LLP, Scott Senecal regularly advises on merger and
    acquisition transactions and joint ventures, representing foreign
    investors (both private equity and corporate) and Russian entities.

    At Debevoise & Plimpton LLP the "highly skilful" Dmitri Nikiforov
    chairs the Moscow office and advises on complex international
    transactions for the Russian government. From Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP,
    the "highly distinguished" Oleg Berger co-chairs the M&A group and
    represents a growing number of Russian clients. Alexei Roudiak at
    Herbert Smith LLP is "incredibly smart" and advised Tata on the
    transfer of Land Rover and Jaguar in Russia from Ford Motor Company.

    Oxana Balayan at Lovells LLP is also well regarded by her peers and
    she advises a variety of major international and Russian clients. Her
    work involves a wide range of industries, including financial services,
    retail, media, pharmaceuticals, automotive and real estate.

    The "highly respected and business minded" Anatoly Andriash at Macleod
    Dixon LLP is a managing partner and advises clients in the spheres
    of natural resources and telecommunications. Ilja Ratschkov of Norrr
    OOO has a "very impressive" practice and advises Russian and foreign
    companies including banks and state authorities. Anton Klyachin of
    Salomons is held with high regard in our research and has extensive
    experience in Russia. He has previously provided legal counsel for the
    corporate restructuring of the largest media holding in Russia. From
    Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP the "highly reputable" Alexey
    Kiyashko co-heads the Moscow office and has advised major Russian
    companies and investment banks in connection with international
    corporate finance transactions. Maxim Sterin at Hannes Snellman LLC
    is a "stellar practitioner".

    Ukraine also has a strong representation in this practice area and
    provides 14 leading lawyers for our list. Asters has two of its lawyers
    included. Armen Khachaturyan is held in high regard for his practice
    in this area. The "highly experienced" Oleksiy Didkovskiy is managing
    partner of the firm and has been involved in a number of acquisitions,
    including the takeover of Poltava Diamond Plant by Element Six from the
    De Beers Group. Two lawyers at Sayenko Kharenko are listed. Vladimir
    Sayenko is "extremely active" in the financial, energy, oil and gas,
    real estate and media sectors and Michael Kharenko has advised a range
    of leading investment banks, multinational financial institutions
    and corporates. At Arzinger & Partners, Timur Bondaryev is seen as
    "outstanding" in the field while Oleh Malskyy of Astapov Lawyers
    heads the firm's M&A practice. From Chadbourne & Parke LLP, Jaroslawa
    Johnson is "a big name" and recently represented the bank of Cyprus
    in its acquisition of a medium-sized Ukrainian bank. Adam Mycyk,
    the managing partner at CMS Cameron McKenna, regularly advises
    multinationals, foreign and domestic companies, banks, investment
    banks and other financial institutions.

    Margarita Karpenko from DLA Piper LLP is "highly recommended" for local
    M&A. At Frishberg & Partners, Scott Brown is held in high regard for
    his work in this area, while at KM Partners Alexander Minin also comes
    highly recommended. At Konnov & Sozanovsky the "very distinguished"
    senior partner Sergei Konnov was granted "The Badge of Honour of the
    Ministry of Justice of Ukraine" by the Ukranian government. Denis
    Lysenko of Vasil Kisil & Partners has wide experience in representing
    interests of foreign investors in cross-border transactions involving
    Ukrainian assets and companies.

    Roman Kolos at Wolf Theiss Rechtsanwälte GmbH has also featured
    strongly in our research.

    In Belarus, we identify 11 prominent lawyers; Sorainen Law Offices
    provides two of these. Maksim Salahub is "a world-class lawyer" and
    co-manages the Minsk office while heading the M&A practice. He has
    significant experience in advising on cross-border M&A transactions in
    the complex Belarusian legal environment, especially in due diligence
    of local enterprises and provides a full array of legal advice to
    foreign investors. Kiryl Apanasevich is also highly rated and provides
    legal support to clients in numerous complex M&A transactions and asset
    deals. Two lawyers from Stepanovski Papakul and Partners Ltd have
    also been nominated. Alexander Stepanovski is "a fantastic lawyer"
    and has extensive experience in Russia and Belarus. Valery Papakul
    is the managing partner and is perceived as "truly one of the best
    in the region". The "exceptional" Dmitry Viltovsky from Arzinger &
    Partners also makes it onto the list. Borovtsov & Salei receives
    two nominations: Vassili Salei is well regarded for his expertise
    in this area, and Alexander Botian is "highly knowledgeable". At
    Businessconsult, Timour Sysouev is known for his "broad experience"
    while Dmitry Bokhan provides "impressive" counsel. Sergei Makarchuk
    is the managing partner of the Belarusian office of Cerha Hempel
    Spiegelfeld Hlawati while at Law Firm Trust Eugene Lazarenkov is also
    a leader in this jurisdiction.

    A further six exceptional lawyers in Kazakhstan are selected in
    our research. Two nominees from Aequitas have been listed. Tatyana
    Suleyeva is "excellent in the field" and has been involved in
    advising major European and US banks in acquiring other banks active
    in Kazakhstan. The "very talented" Olga Chentsova, managing partner
    of the firm, also features. At Denton Wilde Sapte Kazakhstan Limited
    Joel Benjamin is "superb" and represents clients from a range of
    industries such as oil and gas, mining and banking. From Dewey &
    LeBoeuf LLP, Aset Shyngyssov is the managing partner of the Almaty
    office and provides "fantastic counsel". At Macleod Dixon LLP Maxim
    Telemtayev manages the firm's Almaty office and is "a top M&A lawyer",
    with over 10 years of legal practice in the mining, oil and gas,
    uranium and telecommunications industries. Michael Wilson is the
    founder of Michael Wilson & Partners and has been involved in many
    of the largest projects in the region.

    In Azerbaijan, Omni Law Firm has two lawyers on our list. Ismayil
    Zargarli is "one of the best", while Jeyhun Bayramov is "a very fine
    lawyer". At BM Law Firm, Farhad Mirzayev has an "exceptional" practice
    and has represented Lukoil Europe in connection with the acquisition
    of shares of a leading telecommunications company. Nariman Ramazanov,
    the founder and managing partner of Fina LLP, is a "first-rate"
    lawyer. MGB Law Offices' Ismail Askerov is reported to be "the man
    for Azerbaijan" and has previously advised on the acquisition of
    shares in the telecommunications sector.

    In Moldova, Turcan & Turcan has two lawyers in our final list.

    Alexander Turcan is highly regarded for his work in the field and
    Octavian Cazac has an "outstanding practice" in this jurisdiction.

    Victor Burac is perceived as "very good" and is active in this practice
    area while Mihail Buruiana at his own firm, Buruiana & Partners,
    is seen as "great with this kind of work". Managing partner Victor
    Levintsa at Levintsa & Associates is the "main competitor" and is
    rated highly rated.

    Three lawyers based in Armenia are featured here. At Ameria Legal
    Practice David Sargsyan has "brilliant" practice in the field while
    Andrew Lazarian has also received positive mention in our research.

    Thomas Samuelian is a managing partner at Arlex International Ltd
    and is one of the first foreign lawyers admitted to the Armenian bar.

    >>From Kyrgyzstan Gulnara Kalikova is seen as "number one" and is
    managing partner of Kalikova & Associates. Niyaz Aldashev from Lorenz
    is "an extremely good lawyer" and his practice in the past has involved
    a large M&A project in the telecommunications sector. Mirgul Smanalieva
    at Partner Law Firm has also been highly recommended in our research.

    Finally, Ilkhom Azizov heads Azizov & Partners in Uzbekistan and
    provides "highly skilled services" in the field.

    http://www.whoswholegal.com/news/analysis/ article/19727/editorial-mergers-acquisitions-cis/
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