Since it was founded in the early 18th century by the Russian czar Peter the Great, St. Petersburg has always had a distinctly international outlook. This week it will see an influx of international and local lawyers in town for the third CIS Local Counsel Forum. From the booming oil markets of Russia and central Asia to the fast-growing international business community in Ukraine, the conference will cover some of the world’s most rapidly developing economies and legal markets.

Organized by RULG-Ukrainian Legal Group and hosted by Russia's EPAM - the firm was the subject of a Focus Europe profile last December -- the forum brings together lawyers from local and international firms in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan and beyond.

EPAM has become one of a small brood of independent Russian firms with some clout in the Russian market, a standard-bearer alongside Moscow boutiques Pepeliaev, Goltsblat & Partners; Liniya Prava; and Andrey Gorodissky & Partners. As such, the firm is becoming an increasingly prominent fixture on Russia's legal scene.

On Thursday the keynote address will be delivered by the head of Russia's Federal Antimonopoly Service, who should provide insight into Russia's embryonic antitrust laws. The Am Law Daily will be blogging from the event, so check back regularly in the coming days for more on the leading business lawyers in the region.

Richard Lloyd