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Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners Law Firm invites the journalists of the leading business and legal periodicals to participate in a Business Breakfast to be held in its office.

Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners Law Firm invites representatives of the leading business mass-media and editors of the specialized editions to discuss the efficient means of mass-media interaction with legal firms and lawyers, regulation of business interrelations between lawyers and the press and the last amendments to the laws on mass-media.

Topics to be discussed: It is planned to discuss probable amendments to the Law “On mass-media”, in particular, those in connection with protection of rights of the information holders and prohibition to specify the offenders’ nationality. Besides that, the ratings of quotations in mass-media will be touched upon. One of the topics will be the issue of information wars supplied with actual examples.

Conditions of participation: For each journalist to take part in the Business Breakfast, he/she will have to fill in the participant’s form at the website “Legal Business” and the website of Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners Law Firm and send the filled in form at the address: press@rospravo.ru

Anton Malginov and Sergey Zolotoverkhov participated in the Legal Forum 2010, The Moscow Times Conference.

On June 25, 2010 Anton Malginov, a Partner of Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners Law Firm and Senior Lawyer Sergey Zolotoverkhov participated in the annual Legal Forum organized by The Moscow Times Conference.

The Forum addressed recent legislative initiatives in tax, corporate and competition law and liability for violation of the law. Special attention will be given to litigation and possible pre-trial settlements.

Anton Malginov acted as the moderator of the Corporate Law session. He gave a report on class actions. Such issues as the corporate restructuring and specific features of corporate disputes’ consideration were discussed during the session.

Sergey Zolotoverkhov was the speaker of the Competition Law session. Sergey’s speech was dedicated to the role of the Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia in regulation of foreign investments in business entities of strategic significance. The administrative proceedings and liability for violation of the competition law were discussed at the session. A report on the practice of competition law application was also given.

Dmitry Chernyy, a Partner of Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners Law Firm participated in the Fifth CIS Local Counsel Forum.

On June 23-25, 2010 Crowne Plaza Minsk Hotel hosted the jubilee Fifth Forum of the CIS Law Firms.

In terms of the CIS economy, the said Forum is the basic ground for multi-purpose meetings of lawyers specializing in the spheres of business legal support and corporate law being held annually in various countries of the region. Since the first meeting in Kiev in June 2006 organized by the Ukrainian Legal Group, the Forum has become an unofficial club of managing and senior partners of leading law firms from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kirgizia, Moldavia, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

Dmitry Chernyy was the moderator of marketing session of the Forum which enabled the participants to share experience of legal marketing and a law firm promotion in a friendly and warm atmosphere.

On June 24, 2010 Dmitry Davydenko participated in a round table conference organized by the Panel of Mediators in Conciliation Proceedings at the RF CCI and sub-committee on business ethics of the RF CCI Committee on the issues of regulation of entrepreneurial activity.

Dmitry made a report “The Problems of a Mediator’s ethics in foreign practice”.

The purposes of the round table conference were as follows: discussion of the draft code of the mediators’ professional ethics, the tools for introduction of the code and control of the proper implementation of its provisions, proposals regarding the wording of the mediators’ professional ethics code.

On 2 June 2010 Nikolay Stepanov made a speech at the Congress “State regulation of subsoil resources management 2010.”

On 2 June 2010 the “State regulation of subsoil resources management 2010” Congress was held in Moscow. The congress organizer was ASERGROUP company, which was assisted by the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation, the Federal Subsoil Resources Management Agency, the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation.

The Congress program included seminars and round table conferences on the most pressing issues, such as the state policy in the sphere of subsoil resources management, correlation between the laws “On subsoil resources” and “On technical regulation”, working out and adoption of technical regulations for subsoil resources managers, etc. In the course of the Congress different reports were given by the representatives of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Regional Development of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, the Federal Subsoil Resources Management Agency, the Federal Supervisory Natural Resources Management Service, the Supreme Commercial Court of the Russian Federation, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation and the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.

Partner of Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners Law Firm Nikolay Stepanov made a report named: “Troublesome issues of transfer of the underground deposits’ infrastructure facilities at the moment of re-issuance of the licenses permitting to exploit the subsoil resources.”

In his address, Nikolay Stepanov outlined the difficulties arising when one meets the legislation requirements set to the order of transfer of the infrastructure facilities at the moment of re-issuance of licenses; reported about the optimal means of transfer of infrastructure facilities, touched upon the negative practice of taxation bodies in recognition of invalidity of the deals for transfer of the said facilities and charging of additional taxes, gave recommendations for avoidance of the said risks.

On May 28-30, 2010, the International White Nights Legal Forum, organized by LegalStudies.RU, was held in St.Petersburg.

Representatives of regional legal firms, managers of Russian and foreign enterprises, representatives of state and judicial bodies, attorneys, marketers and business mass media journalists gathered in Saint-Petersburg to discuss the urgent issues of law enforcement, recent trends in the legal services market development and the methods for promotion of a legal firm.

Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners Law Firm PR Director Olga Binda took part in “Communication reload: new instruments for legal marketing” session. Among its participants were Alexey Sirenko, the internet-project My Lawyer manager, Kirill Sas’kov, partner of Kachkin and Partners Law Firm, and Natalia Andreeva, Marketing & PR Director of Aktion-media group of legal publishings.

The issue discussed at the session was the prospects of the social media usage in Russia. Olga Binda dwelt on the usage of social networks as a new platform for the legal services promotion. The participants, however, were skeptical about development of the b2b-market of legal services on the social media platforms in Russia. LinkedIn was recognized as the only efficient platform so far, with Twitter being named the sole promising service. The session participants draw a conclusion that at present there are no social media in the business segment.

Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners has been nominated for The Lawyer European Awards 2010.

Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners has been nominated for The Lawyer European Awards 2010 in the category “Law Firm of the Year: Russia & The CIS”.

The Lawyer European Awards 2010 are annual awards organised by The Lawyer Magazine to mark achievements of the Continent’s leading law firms.The Lawyer European Awards notes the achievements of the leading law firms in several categories, among them are Law Firm of the Year in selected national markets, European Law Firm of the Year, European Managing Partner of the Year, etc.

In 2010 Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners has been nominated in the category “Law Firm of the Year: Russia & The CIS”.

The winners will be announced at the Awards ceremony, taking place on Tuesday 23th September in Berlin.

Partners of Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners Law Firm was selected for inclusion in the second edition of the Best Lawyers® list for Russia.

Alexander Muranov and Dmitry Chernyakov, Partners of Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners Law Firm were selected for inclusion in the second edition of the Best Lawyers® list for Russia.

In 2010 Alexander Muranov and Dmitry Chernyakov, Partners of Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners Law Firm were recommended in the field of Litigation, Energy and Natural Resources by Best Lawyers®.

Selection to Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive and rigorous peer-review survey comprising more than three million confidential evaluations by top attorneys.

Because it is not required or allowed to pay a fee to be included, a listing in Best Lawyers® is widely regarded within the legal profession as a signal honor.

Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners Law Firm singled out and recommended by The Legal 500 Europe, Middle East&Africa – 2010

The Legal 500, an international guide to the best law firms, in its annual analytical study of the Russian legal market included Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners Law Firm in 2 categories.

According to the results of the study, Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners Law Firm was recommended in the sphere of dispute resolution and corporate practice. The study puts a special emphasis on efficient work of the Managing Partner Alexander Muranov.

Alexander Muranov is recommended as “one of the best advisors of Russia in terms of resolution of intricate law issues.”

The Legal 500 series have been providing the most objective information about law firms from over 100 countries for more than 20 years. The target audience of the guides are individuals, General and Financial Directors, corporate lawyers, professional advisors and other major players of the international and Russian business-processes.

The certificate of honour was conferred on Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners Law Firm “FOR SCIENTIFIC & EDUCATING ACTIVITY” following the results of the Corporate Lawyer contest.

The Corporate Lawyer journal announced the results of the contest among law firms actively addressing and solving pressing social problems.

In 2010 the certificate of honour in “FOR SCIENTIFIC & EDUCATING ACTIVITY” nomination was conferred on Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners Law Firm.

This nomination is intended to encourage the legal firms’ work. Such areas of activity of a legal firm as the publication of scientific works, holding of conferences and seminars and successful interaction with mass media are given particular attention.

“We would like to thank the Corporate Lawyer and its subscribers, who put their trust in us and recognized our merits in promotion of the rule-of-law state and legal science ideas,» commented on obtaining of the certificate Mr. Alexander Muranov, Managing Partner of Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners Law Firm.

Since 2010 the Infotropic Media Publishing House (www.infotropic.ru), supported by the International Commercial Arbitration Court at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation (www.tpprf-mkac.ru), the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation (www.tpprf.ru) and a number of law firms, including Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners, launches the only Russian journal devoted exclusively to the international commercial arbitration issues.

The publication of the first number of “Bulletin of the International Commercial Arbitration” in Russia is a special and significant event for the legal and business community, as well as for all those involved with international trade, private international law and arbitration proceedings in one or another way.

Members of the editorial board include such well-known experts in the international commercial arbitration (ICA) sphere as A.S. Komarov, S.N. Lebedev, A.L. Makovsky, M.G. Rozenberg, A.A. Kostin and some other prominent Russian legal scholars and practitioners. The Chief Editor of the new journal is the Head of the Private International Law Department of the Private Law Research Centre at the RF President, Ph.D. in Law (candidate of legal sciences), arbitrator of the International Commercial Arbitration Court at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation A.N. Zhiltsov.

The international commercial arbitration has many advantages as compared with the dispute resolution in the state courts, with the procedure flexibility, confidentiality, an option for the parties to select as arbitrators the persons considered by them to be the most competent in particular sphere of international trade. At the same time, there is a global mechanism of foreign arbitral awards enforcement based on the New York Convention (1958). All these features make arbitration a unique tool for settling international commercial disputes in cases where the parties failed to reach agreement during negotiations or other conciliation procedure.

The new journal will inform the readers of events, tendencies and nuances of the ICA modern practice in Russia and foreign countries. Such information will enable the Russian participants of foreign economic activity to take advantage of the international arbitration procedure to a greater extent. The new edition may also help making Russia’s positions in the global competition of arbitration centers stronger.

Russia is known to be one of the first countries where permanent arbitration institutions were established which function up to the present day: in 1930 the Maritime Arbitration Commission at the USSR Chamber of Commerce was founded, and 1932 saw the establishment of the Foreign Trade Arbitration Commission, to be later succeeded by the International Commercial Arbitration Court at the RF Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Meanwhile, the only Russian periodical dedicated specifically to the ICA (“International Commercial Arbitration” journal) was first published in 2004 as a quarterly with a small circulation. Regretfully, it has not been in print since 2009. Therefore, the start of its successor, “Bulletin of the International Commercial Arbitration”, will be one of the key factors contributing to the further development of the international arbitration practice in Russia. This new edition will pursue more serious tasks, including the wider scope of the topics covered and a much larger volume.

“There is an increasingly intense competition between the world ICA centers, and the countries actively involved in international trade are acutely aware of significance of developing the appropriate domestic infrastructure and of active popularization of the same on the national and, particularly, international levels. One of the key factors in strengthening the competitiveness of the ICA national institutions is its information support. The establishment of “Bulletin” will certainly encourage domestic and foreign entrepreneurs to apply to the Russian arbitration centers rather than to the foreign ones”, ― says the Managing Partner of Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners Law Firm Alexander Muranov, who is a member of the journal’s editorial board, in support of his decision to give assistance to and take part in publication of “Bulletin”. “Besides, “Bulletin” may improve the Russian judges’ comprehension of the ICA special nature, which may gradually do away with an occasional disbelief to this method of dispute settlement and form their more adequate and positive attitude to it. Hence, the publication of “Bulletin” may promote the increase of the Russian ICA competitiveness, and, in doing so, the strengthening of Russia’s positions in a complicated globalizing world”, ― adds A. Muranov.

Following the words of A.N. Zhiltsov, the Chief Editor of “Bulletin of the International Commercial Arbitration”, the journal team will make extensive use of all topics, columns, clever ideas and suchlike information which earned readers’ praise during the publication of the “International Commercial Arbitration” journal because it was highly estimated by specialists both in Russia and abroad. At the same time there will be some new trends in the editorial policy. For instance, an important role in the journal concept will be assigned to a more detailed coverage of and commenting on the practice of the leading Russian arbitration institution ― the International Commercial Arbitration Court at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, as well as the most interesting awards of Russian and foreign tribunals on the issues of setting aside and enforcement of the arbitral awards. The editorial board is also planning to publish different materials in English to inform foreign readers of the most significant and interesting events in the commercial arbitration in Russia, taking into account an ever increasing interest abroad in information about the Russian practice on international commercial arbitration.

“Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners” Law Firm wins the British Corporate INTL Magazine Award

“Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners” has won the “The Best Russian Legal Firm”, British Corporate INTL Magazine Award, in dispute resolution sphere of practice.

The award recognizes the Firm’s progress in dispute resolution practice, increased client offering and continual strength of client services.

Corporate INTL Magazine is a reputable monthly informing the reader of the industry events and providing them with the market reviews prepared by experts in domestic and international business. The number of readers of the paper and online version of the magazine per month approximates 70,000 people. The Corporate INTL Magazine readers are the managers of legal and consulting firms, enterprises and business associations.

The panel of judges comprised of the leading world experts, the most authoritative representatives of the international legal market, chooses among hundreds of contenders the best of the best in legal profession.

On 26 January 2010 Nikolay Stepanov speaks at “Some Aspects of Land Tenure Regulation” Conference

25-26 February 2010 organized by Oil Expert, was hosted in Moscow today, where Nikolay Stepanov, Partner of “Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners” gave presentation as a guest speaker.

The Conference agenda was devoted to elaboration of Federal Law “About the alterations and supplements to Land Code of the Russian Federation, “Minerals and Mining” Law and other Federal Laws”. The Conference was supported by The Council of Federation on Natural Resources and Environmental Protection” and Rossotrudnechestvo.

The conference brought together: Chairman of Council of Federation Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, Victor Orlov; Deputy Director of the State Mining and Geology Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation, Darya Vasilevskaya; the Head of Land Litigation Sector of Land and Property Relations Department of Ministry of Economic Development of Russian Federation, Mikhail Bochkarev; Partner of “Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners” and others.

The presentations given by speakers covered a number of views on land tenure regulation in development of virgin and long-fallow lands in Russia, some problems of allocation of lands to geologists, exploration and mining geology and experience of land allocation to land tenure in CIS countries and abroad.

The laureates of the highest legal award “Themis” for 2009 have been named. A solemn award ceremony took place on February 13, 2010 in Novaya Opera Moscow theatre.

Each year representatives of legal profession, public figures and statespersons, people of art, journalists gather at the “Themis” award ceremony to name the persons setting the benchmark of professionalism in their respective spheres.

At the solemn ceremony of the highest legal award “Themis” delivery, hosted by “Novaya Opera” Moscow theatre on February 13, 2010, the highest distinction was conferred on the Public Prosecutor of the city of Moscow Yury Semin in “the Public Prosecutor” nomination, and on the Moscow University of the Ministry of Interior (MVD) in “the Alma Mater” nomination. A prize in the “Special Services” nomination was bestowed on the Head of the MVD Anti-Corruption Department, Police Colonel Alexey Novgorodov. The winner of “the Notariat” nomination was named the Notary Public of Moscow Svetlana Nikiforova. The prize in “the Law and Economy” nomination went to Rushan Khvesiuk, Member of the Board of Directors of Alfa Bank. Viacheslav Lebedev, the Chairman of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, handed the bronze statue of the goddess of justice to the judge of the European Court of Human Rights Anatoly Kovler (“Russia and Europe” nomination). The winner of “the International Cooperation” nomination was announced Stanko Bejatovic (Serbia). The highest distinction was also conferred on the administrative assistant of the RF President State Legal Department Oleg Tarasov (“Public Service” nomination), on the employee of the independent non-profit organization “YURIKS” Anita Soboleva (“Human rights activist” nomination), and, as deservedly as can only be, on the famous Russian scientist, professor Sergey Kapitsa (“Devotion to “Themis” principles” nomination).

The legal department of Ingosstrakh (“Legal Service” nomination) and PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit (“Audit” nomination) have also been on the list of awardees that night.

The Managing Partner of Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners law firm, Professor of the Department of Private International and Civil Law of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University) of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Alexander Muranov was named the winner in “the Bar” nomination.

“It is not just a personal achievement, it is a joint victory of Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners law firm. It would be impossible to achieve such serious results without support, belief and exceptional professionalism of my partners, fellow lawyers and other employees of the law firm”, said Mr. Alexander Muranov. “I would also like to thank my family for support. Apart from that, I cannot but mention the Federal Chamber of Lawyers of the Russian Federation and the Moscow Chamber of Attorneys contribution making it possible to draw attention of the Russian lawyers, attorneys, society, business and state, as well as attention of the international and foreign organizations and lawyers to the legal consequences of Russia’s accession to the WTO, to the urgent issue of setting qualification requirements for persons rendering paid legal services, to the issues of legal business as a whole”, added Mr. Alexander Muranov.

Over fourteen years the “Themis” award has gone beyond the bounds of a dedicated professional arrangement and has become a significant event for the whole society: it not only reveals a creative nature of the lawyers’ professional activity, but also draws the public attention to the ideals of democracy and values of a rule-of-law state.

Global Arbitration Review (GAR), the world’s leading arbitration law journal, published an article “Russia. Stena RoRo case can be momentous for public policy argument”, written by Alexander Muranov and Dmitry Davydenko..

Article in Adobe Acrobat PDF format (2.6 MB)

Russia’s highest court has been making noteworthy statements about foreign arbitral awards by Alexander Muranov, managing partner and Dmitry Davydenko, lawyer of “Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners”.

The premier strategic finance magazine “The Corporate INTL” has published an article “Advancing Arbitration in Russia”. Partners of “Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners” are the main contributors to an article.

Article in Adobe Acrobat PDF format (6.5 MB)

“Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners” Law Firm has joined the International Chamber of Commerce

On January 18, 2010 the «Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners” Law Firm specialists joined the experts of ICC - the World Business Organization. The firm’s entering the ICC expert community will enable the firm specialists to participate in drafting of the basic documents and standards in the course of operations of the Arbitration Committee, Commission on Commercial Law and other ICC and ICC Russia Commissions.

“Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners” Law Firm has joined the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia

In January 2010 the “Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners” Law Firm specialists joined the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia

Since its establishment in 1994, the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia has been one of the largest and influential business organizations in our country.

The Chamber’s mission is to develop the trade relations between the Russian Federation and the international community, in particular, to promote the interests of the American companies operating in the Russian market as well as to contribute to a closer cooperation between the US and Russian companies in various spheres of economy.

Over 500 members of the Chamber include the leading Russian enterprises as well as the foreign companies working in the Russian market.

The first and foremost reason for “Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners” Law Firm’s striving to enter the American Chamber of Commerce was a great possibility of a dialogue and exchange between the AmCham community members.

“Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners” Law Firm has joined the Association of European Businesses in the Russian Federation (AEB)

In December 2010 the “Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners” Law Firm specialists continued the dialogue with the European business elite. The Firm has entered the Association of European Businesses in the Russian Federation (AEB).

The Association of European Businesses was established in 1995 under the Representative Office of the European Union. AEB represents and supports represents and promotes the interests of European companies conducting business in and with the Russian AEB contributing to the further development of the economic cooperation between Russia and EC countries as well.

Having entered the Association of European Businesses, the Firm specialists may now be engaged in a dialogue with the top-management of the largest international business companies and jointly promote the business interests.

On June 23-24 the Fourth Forum of CIS countries’ law firms was held in Kiev which was dedicated to a wide range of problems, with the special emphasis laid on the economic crisis and the ways of coping with its consequences.

Representatives of the leading law firms took part in the forum: Dmitry Afanasiev “Egorov, Puginsky, Afanasiev and partners”, Andrey Goltsblat “Goltsblat BLP”, Albert Evganian “Vegas-Lex”, Alexander Muranov “Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners”, Andrey Dontsov “Clifford Chance CIS Limited” and others. The forum participants addressed the following issues: what lessons the crisis taught and how it is possible in this situation to take clients’ wishes into consideration and develop law practices to the fullest extent, what measures should be taken by law firms to help their clients through difficult times; in what way the new economic reality changed the clients’ interrelationship. The law firms’ actions aimed at preserving and strengthening of their positions on the market and the maximum usage of opportunities arisen due to the crisis influence were also discussed.

Suspension of Russia’s negotiations on joining the WTO and the legal services sector

As it is known, on June 17, 2009, the delegations of Russia, Belorussia and Kazakhstan, acting within the framework of their Customs Union, informed the WTO of suspension of the individual negotiations on joining the said organization in oral form.

This does not imply that Russia abandons its membership in the WTO. There is no doubt that the negotiations will go on. Russia tried to negotiate, as it follows from its authorities’ statement, that the WTO percept Russia, Belorussia and Kazakhstan composing the Customs Union as a sole negotiating party. But representatives of the USA and the other members of the WTO did not agree to admit the Customs Union to the said organization calling this step “impracticable”. The position of Russia is “unprecedented” and only delays the negotiations, said Genry Lock, the Trade Minister of the USA. Eventually, Russia had to change its point of view. The President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev declared that for the RF it would be simpler and more realistic to join the WTO individually, without the Customs Union participation, adding that conditions of the RF’s joining the WTO would be agreed with the other representatives of the Customs Union – Belorussia and Kazakhstan.

From 1999 to 2004, the Russian delegation discussing the project of commitments under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (one of the major agreements of the WTO), being pressed by the US and EU, made absolutely unreasonable concessions which will have negative consequences for the Russian society, economy and state in general.

The lawyers of Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners Law Firm reviewed the RF’s commitments to the WTO regarding the legal services industry and found those commitments to be at a very low level of quality from the legal perspective. If the quality of the RF’s commitments in respect of other professional services industries and goods are on the same level from the legal point of view, the results of the negotiations will be not only deplorable but also dangerous.

It should be noted that suspension of the Russian individual negotiations on joining the WTO took place immediately after the BRIC countries summit in Yekaterinburg.

As it is known, during the negotiations with Russia the positions of Brazil, India and China, which pay much attention to development of the legal services national sector and do not want to depend on the foreign suppliers, were completely ignored. It should be noted that fast-developing Brazil and India did not take any commitments to the WTO in respect of the legal services sector: they understand that to be able to succeed in global competition environment it is very important to ensure development of the national legal system. Under pressure from certain member-countries, China had to take such disadvantageous commitments but with serious limitations. On this background the Russia’s position looks a losing one: it proved to be the only BRIC country demonstrating total indifference to the legal services sector. The example of the excessive commitments to the WTO taken by some of the former USSR republics is a clear evidence of the negative consequences which an unreasonable position may give rise to.

Accordingly, during the new round of negotiations on Russia’s joining the WTO, the commitments being at high level of legal quality and taking consideration of the Russian society, economy and state interests should be striven for. This issue is particularly relevant in the context of the economic crisis.

Development Concept for Moscow as Financial Center and Importance of Legal Services

On 19 May 2009, the Moscow Government adopted the Ruling No. 445-ÏÏ “On Development Concept for Moscow as National and International financial Services Center”. The purpose of this concept is to turn the capital into a large Euro-Asian and further into the world’s financial center. This move will contribute to the whole country’s economic development and will ensure Russia’s leading position on global capital and financial services markets.

It is important that the Concept is the first document of such a high level where the state body touches upon the issues connected with the role of legal services sector as one of the most important part of infrastructure necessary for the successful functioning of national and international financial center. The following moments are reflected by the document:

High rates of economic development of Moscow are accompanied by creation of the legal infrastructure unique both for Russian and CIS countries which is formed by the leading Russian and international law firms and other institutions;

Necessity of providing conditions to form and rationally establish financial centers providing the corresponding services in Moscow, including legal support;

Priorities in the area of education include creation of conditions and motivation for the development of legal education system of international level;

Necessity to create first call services, including the legal one, for the foreign citizens living in Moscow.

Alexander Muranov, Managing Partner of Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners Law Firm, is a member of the Moscow Government Advisory Council, which has been created to develop the concept. Attorneys of the firm proposed a number of amendments to the original text of the Concept, which was adopted by the Moscow Government and became part of the document’s final edition.

At the beginning of July the site dedicated to International Bar Association (IBA) instruments was created under the assistance of Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners law firm. Materials located at the site touch upon various issues of the lawyers’ activity and other persons in the following fields: legal practice and its forms, trade in legal services, rule of law, issues of the lawyer’s professional ethics, human rights, international business, independence of the judiciary.

Information contained at the instruments of International Bar Association has a great value for the Russian legal profession. First of all it informs Russian lawyers on the opinion of the organization acting on behalf of international legal profession members’ majority. Secondly this information provides orienting points for everyday legal practice.

This site is addressed to lawyers who care for the future of their activity sphere and to those who are ready to develop themselves and to raise the profession prestige in the Russian society and at the international level.

The site is based on the edition “IBA – INTERNATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION: Resolutions, principles, standards, statements and other instruments” / Compiled and edited by: A. I. Muranov. – M.: ID “Legal Business”, 2008 – 264 pages).

Dmitry Davydenko, a lawyer at Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners, took part in the international research project in the sphere of international commercial arbitration together with Dr. Eugenia Kurzynsky-Singer the senior research fellow of the leading scientific centre in the field of international private law in Europe ─ Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law (Hamburg, Germany). The subject of the comparative-legal research was the use of the public policy clause when enforcing the judgments of the international commercial arbitration courts by the Russian and German courts. To perform this research Dmitry Davydenko was given a proper grant by that Institute. According to the research results certain materials were prepared to be published in the Russian, German and American journals specializing in the international private law and international commercial arbitration fields.

Concept project on improving the section “Private international law” of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation

The Russian Federation Presidential council for codification and improvement of the civil legislation recommended to publish the project called “The Concept of improving the section VI of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation known as Private International Law” (minutes as of 13th May 2009) for further discussions. This project represents the part of the sole Concept of the Russian Federation civil legislation development, drawn out in accordance with the Presidential decree as of 18th July 2008 No. 1108 “On improving the Civil Code of the Russian Federation”.

The Concept project is prepared by the working group, which is composed of I.S. Zykin (group leader), A.V. Asoskov, A.N. Zhiltsov, V.A. Zhukov, V.P. Zvekov, A.S. Komarov, A.L. Makovsky, N.I. Marysheva, A.I. Muranov, M.G. Rosenberg.

You can find the full text of the concept project at the “Portal of Russian private law” (www.privlaw.ru).

New partners of the Attorneys’ Collegium “Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners”

Attorneys Anton Malginov and Dmitry Chernyy have been appointed new partners of the Collegium. This appointment is the result of long-standing successful work of both attorneys, who lead an extensive practice on corporate issues, Russian and international transactions, client representation in commercial litigation, in particular in cases involving foreign persons.

Attorneys’ Collegium “Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners” is actively developing and appointment of two new partners evidences it. In recent years both partners have been working with the leading Russian and foreign companies, and their experience will be of advantage to clients and will contribute to the Collegium’s further development.

Anton Malginov graduated from the International Law Faculty (Department of Public International Law), Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO University) of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2002. Fluent in English, French and Swedish.

Dmitry Chernyy graduated from the Faculty of History, Political Studies and Law, Russian State Humanitarian University in 2002. Fluent in English.

Publication of the collection “From experience of Maritime Arbitration Commission at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation. 1987—2005” of the “Statute” publishing house

A new book “From the Practical Experience of Maritime Arbitration Commission at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation. 1987—2005” of the “Statute” publishing house came out. The collection contains the most pertinent awards of the Maritime Arbitration Commission for the period of 1987—2005 on disputes connected with cargo transportation, chartering of vessels, maritime insurance, rescue missions and vessel collision at sea, agency, surveyor and other services at harbors, repair of vessels, vessel management, implementation of businesses and various legal relations, which arise in the field of commercial navigation. The book consists of several sections, whose authors are famous specialists in the field of maritime law (I.I.Barinov, O.V. Kulistikov, A.I. Loboda, M.Yu. Sokolov, D.B. Filimonov). Sections “Towage”, “Maritime agency service and maritime mediation” are compiled by the managing partner of the attorneys’ collegium “Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners” A. I. Muranov.

The usage and interpretation of the legal rules in the experience of the Maritime Arbitration Commission at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation are of significant interest for everyone, who is connected with the field of commercial navigation: shipping companies, harbors and their services, foreign trade, agent, broker, insurance and other organizations, and for all those, who engage in the matters of this field of law.

On 20th January 2009 the Presidium of the High Arbitrazh Court of the Russian Federation in the exercise of its supervisory powers considered cases on the recognition and enforcement of two awards of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) rendered on disputes which have arisen out of loan agreements on recovery of the debt equal to 10 million US dollars by CJSC GlobalTel (a subsidiary of OJSC Rostelecom) in favor of Loral Space & Communications Holdings Corporation (USA). The courts had been considering these cases (No. A40-31732/07-30-319 and No. A40-31695/07-13-318) for almost two years and had been refusing to enforce the awards. The Presidium of the High Arbitrazh Court of the Russian Federation repealed acts of the lower courts and issued the following decree: to enforce both awards. From the very beginning the interests of the awards creditor in the Russian courts were represented by lawyers of the attorneys` collegium “Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners”.

The debtor made more than fifteen various arguments while trying to dodge the execution of the LCIA awards. The trial court admitted all of them as inconsistent, except for the argument on inappropriate notification of the respondent. The London Court of International Arbitration informed the parties of the hearing date more than two months beforehand, and then one month beforehand it informed them of the particular address in London, of the place where it would be held, and of the time of the hearing. The trial court regarded such a notification as inappropriate and stated that only the notification where the date, the particular address and time of the hearing are indicated can be regarded as appropriate. The cassation instance arbitrazh court didn`t agree with such a conclusion and presented a case for a new consideration. Upon the new consideration the trial court made the same conclusion as upon the first one, and this time the cassation instance arbitrazh court agreed with it without explaining the reasons of changing its opinion. The Presidium of the High Arbitrazh Court of the Russian Federation admitted such notification of the defendant as inappropriate.

Cases on enforcement of international commercial arbitration awards outside Russia arise quite seldom in the legal practice, and court decisions on them are very important for legal practice formation and for the development of arbitration of international commercial disputes with the participation of Russian parties. The fact, that one finally managed to carry his point on the appropriate notification by the Arbitration, and that the Presidium of the High Arbitrazh Court of the Russian Federation confirmed its propriety, will help prevent further mistakes of Russian courts and facilitate the development of court system in Russia.

At the beginning of December the collection of International Bar Association (IBA) documents came out. This is the first publication in Russia, dedicated to this authoritative international organization. This project was implemented due to joint efforts of IBA, the attorneys` collegium “Muranov, Chernyakov and Partners” (Moscow), the Institute of Private International and Comparative Law (Moscow), the consulting company Legal Studies.RU, the Association of Russian Lawyers, the Federal Chamber of Attorneys of the Russian Federation, the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.

32 International Bar Association documents, informing of the results of this organization`s activity, with regard to those fields, which are of interest for lawyers and members of international business and other relations, are included in the collection. Those fields are as follows:

legal practice and its forms;

trade in legal services;

rule of law;

issues of professional lawyers¡¯ ethics;

human rights;

international business;

independence of courts;

The publication is directed at the integration of Russian lawyers to the international bar, at their understanding of those processes, which take place at the international level.

At the 6th All-Russian trademarks contest “Zolotnik” the logo of the attorneys` collegium “Muranov, Chernyakov and partners” took the first place for Moscow region and the second place for Russia. The solemn ceremony and the awarding took place on 3rd December on the stage of GITIS. The victory in such a prestige contest is an important stage for the development of our brand.

New Office of the attorneys` collegium “Muranov, Chernyakov and partners”

In October 2008 the attorneys` collegium “Muranov, Chernyakov and partners” moved to its own office, located at the historical center of Moscow at: Denisovsky lane, bld. 6.

The three-storey building with the square of more than 900 square meters with comfortable premises and rooms for lawyers, attorneys and the personnel is furnished with state-of-the-art equipment.

The President of the attorneys` collegiums “Muranov, Chernyakov and partners” A.I. Muranov when commenting the cheerful news said the following: “I would like to congratulate all the members of our collegium with their new “home”. The removal is an important event itself, and in this case the new office is a deserving landmark in more than six-year history of the collegium`s development. Successful business development, constant growth of employees and concern for the good of our clients systematically led to it. We are glad that now we can receive our clients and friends of the collegium in a new office”.