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Associate
Sergei Smirnov

Sergei Smirnov is an associate with RGD’s Dispute Resolution practice. Sergei focuses on dispute resolution, including cross-border litigation and international arbitration, and advises clients on regulatory compliance, corporate, restructuring and insolvency matters.


Background


Prior to joining RGD, Sergei worked at major domestic law firms and at the Moscow office of Hérès where he advised French investors on corporate, commercial and regulatory issues.


Expertise


Primary Practice Focus: Dispute Resolution


Secondary Practice Focus: Sanctions, Compliance, Corporate


Industry Sectors: Pharmaceutical Companies and Healthcare Industry, Energy & Natural Resources, Retail and Real Estate, Industry & Transportation


Languages: Russian, English, French


Landmark engagement experience


Dispute Resolution


  • Representing a former senior governmental official in a number of disputes with the municipal administration of the Kirov Region over the joint ownership of public infrastructure units.

  • Representing one of the largest Russian investment companies in a dispute over the transfer of rights to administrating a domain name.

  • Representing a major Russian oil company in connection with challenging a shareholders’ resolution to decrease the authorised capital.

Regulatory Compliance


  • Advising French investors on suspension and termination of business activities in Russia, inter alia, on the applicability of Russian “special economic measures” (transactions, currency control regulations, cross-border payments, etc.).

  • Representing one of the biggest liquor companies in the course of obtaining clearance from Russian regulators for the distribution of dividends and sale of equity interest in its Russian subsidiary.

Commercial


  • Advising a French company specialising in the production of infrastructure facilities for ski resorts in connection with the performance of a public contract for the supply of an artificial snow generation system for the Veduchi resort (Chechen Republic).

  • Advising a major Russian oil company in connection with termination of construction contracts with a Dubai-based international luxury hotel chain.

  • Advising a leading Turkish clothing manufacturer on commercial, employment, and data protection issues.

  • Advising a Swiss energy trader on the EFET General Agreement’s applicability in Russia.

Restructuring and Insolvency


  • Advising a French investor on corporate restructuring and redomiciliation of the group’s headquarters from Cyprus to a Russian special administrative region (“Russian offshore zone”).

  • Representing a Russian beverage company in the course of bankruptcy proceedings (inter alia, an unprecedented removal of a trustee due to conflict of interests).

  • Representing the ex-wife of a Russian billionaire in the course of bankruptcy proceedings against a well-known Russian interior designer (inter alia, holding the fence against fabricated claims of the debtor’s affiliated creditors, which resulted in the client remaining the sole creditor in the register).


Education


  • Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), 2016


Admitted to practice


  • Russia, 2016


International Experience
Sergei Smirnov
Associate
VCard