We protect our clients’ interests in complex litigation and arbitration proceedings in Russia and internationally.

The advocates and lawyers of our firm represent clients before courts of all instances, including the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, as well as in international arbitration (DIAC, SIAC, LCIA, ICC, VIAC, etc.). We handle disputes relating to commercial contracts, corporate conflicts, debt recovery, construction and energy projects, asset protection, and the recognition and enforcement of foreign court judgments, and also represent private clients in complex legal matters.

Our Services:

• Representation before Russian arbitrazh courts and courts of general jurisdiction (civil, commercial, criminal and administrative proceedings);

• Conduct of cases in international arbitration (DIAC, SIAC, LCIA, ICC, VIAC, ICAC, RSPP Arbitration Centre, RAC, etc.);

• Insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings, including subsidiary liability;

• Asset tracing in Russia and abroad;

• Support in enforcement proceedings;

• Recognition and enforcement of foreign court judgments and arbitral awards;

• Protection of foreign investors’ rights before Russian courts;

• Development of legal strategy and pre-litigation review, including acting as a second opinion;

• Alternative dispute resolution, including negotiations and mediation;

• Preparation of expert legal opinions.

We structure transactions and advise on legal frameworks that ensure business security and predictability.

The firm advises on contract, corporate and international commercial law, drafts and negotiates commercial agreements, agency and distribution arrangements, supports M&A transactions, and ensures compliance in Russia and internationally.

Our Services:

• Drafting and negotiation of commercial agreements (supply, services, distribution, agency, construction, licence agreements, etc.);

• Structuring and support of M&A transactions and joint ventures;

• Legal due diligence;

• Structuring of joint ventures and corporate governance frameworks;

• Review and adaptation of foreign-law contracts to Russian law and vice versa;

• Legal support for foreign trade and export–import operations;

• Legal support in commercial negotiations and transaction execution;

• Development of internal policies and procedures.

We help businesses operate in compliance with the law even in times of volatility and uncertainty.

The UCL | LEGAL team advises on international sanctions (EU, US and UK), export controls, KYC/AML/CFT requirements, and various types of compliance.

Our Services:

• Analysis of the application of sanctions regimes (EU, US, UK, Russia), including identification and mitigation of sanctions risks;

• Resolution of sanctions-related disputes, including proceedings under Articles 248.1 and 248.2 of the Russian Arbitrazh Procedure Code;

• Challenging inclusion in EU and US sanctions lists;

• Asset unfreezing in the EU and the US and obtaining export licences;

• Support of transactions involving sanctions risk, including payment structuring;

• Audit of KYC/AML processes and interaction with financial institutions and regulators;

• Development and implementation of internal compliance policies and procedures;

• Compliance hotlines and media monitoring;

• Conducting internal investigations to identify legal violations within a company’s activities;

• Preparation of expert opinions and legal memoranda;

• Advice on cross-border restrictions, export control and re-export issues;

• Criminal law compliance (identification and mitigation of criminal law risks);

• Personal sanctions compliance, including for private individuals and family offices.

We protect clients in complex business-related criminal cases.

The advocates of UCL | LEGAL have extensive experience in defending cases involving economic and financial offences, corporate conflicts, insolvency, tax crimes and offences committed by officers and executives.

Our Services:

• Defence in criminal cases involving economic, financial and official offences;

• Legal support at all stages of criminal proceedings, including pre-investigation checks and the stages of preliminary investigation or inquiry;

• Defence in anti-corruption proceedings;

• Internal investigations and legal audits aimed at identifying criminal law risks;

• Protection of the interests of company executives and business owners;

• Representation in criminal liability cases arising in the context of insolvency and bankruptcy;

• Interaction with law enforcement authorities in Russia and abroad.

We protect the interests of athletes, clubs and agents in Russia and internationally, ensuring legal certainty and fairness in professional sport.

The advocates of UCL | LEGAL have extensive experience in proceedings before international sports arbitration bodies (CAS, FIFA DRC, UEFA, FIVB, etc.), as well as in the legal support of athlete transfers, contractual matters and the resolution of disputes in professional sport. We combine in-depth knowledge of sports regulations with international legal practice and a thorough understanding of the specifics of the sports industry.

Our Services:

• Representation of athletes, clubs and agents before sports arbitration bodies (CAS, FIFA DRC, UEFA, FIVB, ITA, etc.);

• Legal support for athlete transfers and the conclusion of contracts, including international transfers and loans;

• Advice on the status and registration of players, agents and coaches;

• Drafting and review of athlete contracts, sponsorship and image rights agreements;

• Defence in disciplinary and anti-doping proceedings (WADA, RUSADA, ITA);

• Legal review of sports regulations, federation statutes and club charters;

• Protection of rights in cases of breach of contractual obligations and unlawful sanctions;

• Support in tax and visa/immigration matters related to athletes’ activities;

• Resolution of disputes between clubs, agents and athletes concerning commissions and contractual obligations;

• Legal support in matters relating to changes of sporting nationality and eligibility.

We provide private clients with support in a wide range of sensitive legal matters that require a high level of trust and effective international coordination.

Our practice covers family and inheritance matters, including those involving a foreign element, migration law, land and urban planning law, bespoke family office projects, private wealth management and asset structuring.

Our Services:

• Divorce proceedings, including cases with a foreign element (in particular involving the EU, the US, the UAE and the MENA region);

• Division of matrimonial property and business assets, maintenance obligations and child-related disputes;

• Drafting and negotiation of prenuptial and postnuptial agreements;

• Recognition and enforcement of foreign court judgments;

• Cases concerning international child abduction (Hague Convention);

• Estate planning, administration of inheritance matters and trust management of assets;

• Cross-border family office projects (second citizenship, residence permits, change of tax or legal residency);

• Establishment of private foundations and trusts in Russia and abroad (UAE, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, the EU and the US);

• Legal support for real estate transactions and advice on real estate management;

• Advice on other private law and sensitive matters.

We combine Russian and German legal expertise to provide comprehensive support to clients operating at the intersection of two legal systems.

The German Desk team consists of lawyers qualified in both Russia and Germany, with professional experience at leading German law firms. We advise on cross-border transactions, litigation and arbitration, compliance projects, and matters of corporate and energy law. We also protect the interests of companies and private clients from the DACH region, as well as Russian private individuals (excluding sanctioned persons) in the EU. In addition, we represent clients on matters of Russian and international law before courts in Germany and engage in expert and academic advisory work.

Our Services:

• Legal support for companies from the DACH region operating on the Russian market;

• Advice to Russian clients on German and European Union law;

• Cross-border structuring of businesses and transactions (M&A, joint ventures, holding structures);

• Representation in international arbitration in cases involving German and/or European law, including proceedings conducted in German;

• Support with the enforcement of foreign court judgments in Russia and Russian judgments in the EU;

• Drafting of contracts governed by German and Russian law;

• Compliance, sanctions, export control and AML procedures in the EU;

• Legal support for private clients in the German–Russian legal context (inheritance, family matters, assets abroad);

• Energy and ESG law (green transition and sustainable development);

• Pre-litigation dispute resolution and mediation in cross-border matters.