History

EPAM Law (EPAM) has been in existence in various forms of incorporation since 1993.

Founded in 1993, the firm's original strong academic background was established by distinguished Russian legal scholars, Nikolai Egorov and Boris Puginsky, professors at St Petersburg State University and Moscow State University, who during the last years have retired from EPAM to devote themselves to philanthropy.

In the mid-1990s, major western corporations began entering the post-Soviet market. It is no surprise that the Firm's first clients were international investors and foreign law firms representing investors in Russia. These clients needed competent legal advice with respect to Russian law from attorneys knowing the realities of the Russian market and how this emerging market might fit into an international framework.

Since the late 1990s, the Firm has been actively involved in the economic developments taking place in Russia. In particular, we repeatedly defended the rights and interests of various businesses from attempted hostile takeovers and asserted the rights of shareholders against illegal asset-stripping. The Firm's attorneys represented their clients in major corporate conflicts of the time and deservedly earned the title of the "Leading Law Firm in Defense Against Hostile Takeovers and Corporate Raids in the Russian Market" conferred by M&A magazine (Russia).

As Russian companies were gaining momentum in the 2000s, EPAM took an active part in the global expansion of Russian business, representing major Russian companies internationally. We used our unique understanding of the Russian clients, on the one hand, and our international experience, on the other.

In 2008 EPAM became the first Russian law firm to win Chambers Europe Awards for Excellence as The Russian Law Firm of the Year, which paved the way for a series of prestigious international awards later conferred on the Firm, making it the leading law firm in Russia.

In 2011 EPAM announced its merger with international law firm Magisters, making the new entity the largest in terms of its team and practices in Russia and the CIS, with a strong international outreach.

In 2014 EPAM triumphed at The Lawyer European Awards 2014, taking home three awards. For the first time the national giant was recognized the European Law Firm of the Year. The Firm further solidified its leading position with Russian Law Firm of the Year and European Corporate Team of the Year awards.

In 2015 the Firm received the European Energy, Infrastructure and Projects Deal of the Year The Lawyer European Awards award, and was also "highly commended" for work in Russia.

In 2016 and 2018 EPAM was the only CIS law firm among the top-100 leaders of Continental Europe, according to The Lawyer European 100.

The Lawyer European Award has repeatedly recognized EPAM as the leading law firm in Europe: Law Firm of the Year in Russia and the CIS in 2021 and Law Firm of the Year in Russia, Ukraine and the CIS in 2018.

EPAM was the only law firm from Russia, Ukraine and CIS included in the Euro Elite Top 25 by the Legal Business Magazine in 2018, and was among the top three law firms recommended for the region by The Euro Elite 100 in 2019.

Today, the Firm is the largest law firm in Eastern Europe, uniting approximately 500 professionals around its mission to protect the rights and legitimate interests of its clients throughout the world.