Insights

A New Instrument for Protection and Encouragement of Investments in Russia | Oleg Ushakov, Dmitry Kabanov and Victor Radnaev for IBA Securities Law Committee publications

In March 2018, the Russian President instructed the government and the Bank of Russia to develop an action plan to accelerate growth of investments and their share in gross domestic product. Shortly afterwards, the Russian Ministry of Finance developed a draft law ‘On Protection and Promotion of Investment in Russia’, which was announced in October 2018. It was assumed that the adoption of this law would improve the investment climate and give impetus to the development of the country's economy.

Video Alert: Options of Registering Foreign Vessels Under Russian Flag

Alexey Karchiomov, Head of Maritime Shipping / Transport Law Practice, speaks about the options for registering a vessel in Russia.

GCR Insight - Merger Remedies Guide - Russia сhapter | by Natalia Korosteleva, Anna Numerova, Denis Gavrilov and Maria Kobanenko

Partner, Head of Competition Law Practice Natalia Korosteleva, Partner Anna Numerova, and Counsels Denis Gavrilov and Maria Kobanenko became the authors of Russia chapter for Merger Remedies Guide - Third Edition by Global Competition Review (GCR).

Intra-Departmental Appeal at the FAS Russia: Key Decisions | Alexey Rodionov co-authors practical commentary book

In August 2020, the third edition of the book which details the legal views of the FAS Russia collective bodies was released. The book is a joint effort of the Antimonopoly Service and the Competition Experts Association with contributions from the HSE Institute for the Study of Competition Policy and Market Regulation experts. Alexey Rodionov, Counsel in the Competition Law Practice of EPAM, co-authored the book as a member of the Competition Experts Association task force.

Lawyers Question Russian Media Watchdog Head's Data Remarks | Pavel Sadovsky for Vedomosti

Roskomnadzor Proposes Stronger Protection of Personal Data. Such Mechanisms Already Partly Exist, Lawyers Say.

The Law "On Digital Financial Assets"

On July 31, 2020, the Federal Law dd. July 31, 2020 No. 259-FZ "On Digital Financial Assets, Digital Currency and on Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation" (hereinafter - the Law) was published on the official web portal of legal information http://www.pravo.gov.ru. The Law regulates relations arising from the turnover of digital currency in the Russian Federation, as well as relations arising from issuance, accounting and circulation of digital financial assets, certain aspects of activities of information system operators and operators of exchange of digital financial assets. The Law comes into force on January 1, 2021, except for certain provisions.

Challenges of FCPA Compliance During Covid-19

On June 25, 2020, pharma giant Novartis AG and two of its subsidiaries agreed to pay the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) $346.7 million in penalties and disgorgement to resolve FCPA offenses in Greece, Vietnam and South Korea. This settlement highlights that, irrespective of economic downturns various countries are experiencing or a pandemic gripping the world, the FCPA will continue to be enforced by the relevant authorities.

Foreign Investment Screening in Russia | Vladimir Talanov for the YSEC Yearbook of Socio-Economic Constitutions

The chapter reviews the mechanism of foreign direct investment controls as implemented in Russia under the auspices of the Federal Law “On Foreign Investments in Russia” No. 160-FZ and Federal Law No. 57-FZ “On the procedure for making foreign investments in companies which are of strategic importance for ensuring the country’s defence and state security”.

GAR Know-How: Commercial Arbitration 2020 – Russia | by Evgeny Raschevsky, Victor Radnaev, Andrew Lomas, Veronika Lakhno and Veronika Burachevskaya

An extract from the 2020 edition of GAR’s Commercial Arbitration Know-how, first published in June 2020.

Occupational Regulation in Russia | Pavel Baryshnikov co-authored an article for ProQuest

The past several years has witnessed a growing concern expressed by some economists and policymakers over the scope and strictness of occupational regulation— especially licensing. But so far studies of occupational regulation and its effects have focused on only a few countries, generally market economies such as the U.S. and the EU.

New Procedure for Foreign Disputes Involving Persons Under Anti-Russia Sanctions

On 08 June 2020, the President of the Russian Federation signed the Federal law “On amendments to the Arbitrazh Procedure Code of the Russian Federation in order to protect the rights of individuals and legal entities in connection with restrictive measures imposed by a foreign state, state association and (or) union and (or) state (interstate) institution of a foreign state or state association and (or) union” (hereinafter – the Law). The Law comes into effect on 19 June 2020.

Bankruptcy Moratorium: It’s Been Launched Now

On April 6, 2020, the Russian Government introduced a moratorium on bankruptcy of debtors, companies and sole traders, who are most hit by the coronavirus pandemic: lenders shall be prohibited from filing bankruptcy claims against such debtor.

Correlation Between Private and Public Interests in Antitrust Regulation (as Demonstrated by the Pharmaceutical Market) | Anna Numerova, Olga Denchenkova

The article addresses the conflict of private and public interests on the pharmaceutical market arising in the antitrust regulation. The authors suggest assessing antitrust interventions in establishment of rights and enforcement of laws in terms of potential errors known in economics as type I and type II errors, and negative implications of type I errors, where the innocent are punished.

Bankruptcy Moratorium

Against the backdrop of COVID-19 pandemic, Federal Law No. 127-FZ “On Insolvency (Bankruptcy)” dated 26 October 2002 was amended to include rules governing the introduction of a moratorium on bankruptcy proceedings in respect of certain categories of enterprises and (or) specific companies. On 31 March 2020 both the State Duma and the Federation Council passed such amendments; they are expected to be shortly signed by the President of the Russian Federation.

Labour Law: Non Working Days

On March 26, 2020, the Ministry of Labour published recommendations to workers and employers in connection with the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated March 25, 2020 No. 206 "On the Announcement of Non-Working Days in the Russian Federation."