Legal 500 has ranked EPAM as a top tier law firm in 4 practice areas in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. The Firm has been also recommended for 13 other key practice areas with 6 lawyers listed in the elite list and 21 lawyers included in the general ranking.
The publication states: Despite the domination of large international law firms, “home-grown law firm” EPAM is “notable for its size and prestige”, and “recently enhanced its status regionally by absorbing the well-regarded Ukrainian firm Magisters”.
In Russia the Firm is the first tier law firm for corporate and M&A and dispute resolution.
EPA&P “has reinforced its corporate and M&A practice, and added various new offices across the CIS region”.
In St Petersburg, EPAM is named as “fast and reliable”. The Firm has been advising Russian and foreign clients on major transactions in the St Petersburg region and north-western Russia. Senior Lawyer Elena Sokolova is “very committed, experienced and pleasant to work with”, and Vladimir Lobastov is “very competent, experienced, hardworking and committed, has a good commercial understanding, and shows excellent communication skills”.
In Moscow Dmitry Stepanov, “who routinely advises the government on new and existing legislation”, co-heads the team with Partner Kirill Ratnikov.
Last year EPAM also strengthened its dispute resolution practice by hiring Ivan Smirnov in Moscow. International arbitration expert Dmitry Dyakin also joined the Firm as a result of the firm’s merger.
The Firm’s “broad” Banking & Finance practice “encompasses all types of transactional work as well as disputes”. Recently, “the team’s workload has been dominated by issues arising from of the economic crisis, exposing it to some of the biggest debt restructurings in Russia and numerous bankruptcy cases”.
In Russia EP&AP is also highly praised for its expertise in intellectual property, public private partnership, real estate, shipping and transport, tax, and TMT.
Legal 500 mentions Anna Ivanova who joined EPA&P to lead it Employment practice.
The Firm’s IP team has been also considerably strengthened, and the guide names Senior Associates Pavel Sadovsky and Irina Stepanova.
Kirill Ratnikov, head of project finance and PPP in the CIS, is known as a person “able to establish warm personal relationships combined with the right portion of determination”.
For real estate EPA&P is recommended for ‘its high professionalism, wide experience, and responsiveness”. St Petersburg’s Sergey Strembelev is mentioned.
EPAM enters the TMT ranking following its merger with Magisters, from which the Firm “inherited a strong TMT practice led by Pavel Sadovsky”.
Legal 500 ranks Igor Schikow, head of tax team at EPA&P “for his experience in tax support on cross-border projects, real estate transactions and due diligence”. He “acts for a wide range of industrial leaders from Germany”.
In Ukraine, EPAM - “the largest law group in the CIS” - is recommended in banking, finance and capital markets, corporate and M&A, intellectual property, real estate and construction, and tax.
Partner Olga Khoroshylova has been listed among the leading banking, finance and capital markets individuals. Her “well-respected team is renowned for acting on some of Ukraine’s largest bond offerings”.
In Dispute Resolution the guide top ranks Kyiv-based Managing Partner Serhii Sviriba and Partner Alexey Reznikov. Both of them are listed “among Ukraine’s most respected disputes lawyers”.
For Tax Legal 500 recommends “Ukraine’s leading tax lawyer” Vladimir Didenko.
The Firm is listed in corporate and M&A. Former Kyiv-based Partner Andrew Mac “has established a reputation acting for large clients”. He is also “known for handling large energy and mining deals”.
The Firm represents “several very high-profile companies in the area of Intellectual Property”. Senior Associate Taras Kyslyy is well regarded.
Following the merger the Firm has strengthened its practice in Belarus. Its local team provides “good legal, financial, corporate and tax advice”, and “always looks after the interest of the client”. The guide highly recommends local Managing Partner Dennis Turovets and Partner Anna Rusetskaya.
