Maria Blagovolina, Partner and Head of the white-collar practice at Rybalkin, Gortsunyan, Dyakin and Partners (RGD), was appointed Managing Partner and took office on October 1, 2023, replacing the firm's co-founder Suren Gortsunyan, who has served as Managing Partner for five years.

Maria Blagovolina joined the RGD team in December 2021, taking charge of the newly created white-collar practice. She has many years of experience and considerable expertise in corporate law, employment and inheritance disputes, and family law matters. Before joining the RGD team, Maria represented the interests of Russian businessmen in several major lawsuits.

The reshuffle is a logical step in line with RGD's development strategy, which is guided by international standards for ensuring the company’s sustainability and the continuity of its business processes.

Suren Gortsunyan, who has held the position of Managing Partner since RGD's founding, will focus on client work and further development of the firm’s corporate practice, which he oversees.

"Over the past five years, we've become one of our industry's leading and most recognizable firms. One of the critical indicators of high demand for our expertise and services is that the company's team has grown tenfold, from 13 to 130 professionals of the highest class, best in what they do.

Every business needs timely job rotation, and I am glad that I can now fully commit myself to business development in the areas that are closest to my interests. I am delighted to give way to a new, eager colleague. Maria is an integral part of our team, and a very important part. I am confident that the new appointment will contribute to the company's development and help us score some triumphs in the near future," Suren Gortsunyan said.