Intellectual Property / TMT - PRACTICE AREAS

The practice

Our Intellectual Property/TMT practice enjoys a strong reputation in the market, built on extensive experience and deep sector expertise. The team advises leading Russian and international clients, including major technology companies, across the full spectrum of relevant legal matters.

Our key strength lies in combining a comprehensive, full-service approach with highly specialised expertise. This enables us to handle matters of any complexity – from conducting legal due diligence and structuring transactions involving intellectual property assets, including all required registration procedures, to representing clients before patent offices, customs and law enforcement authorities, courts and international commercial arbitration tribunals.

Our lawyers are widely recognised for their expertise in intellectual property disputes. They regularly represent leading national and international companies, including Forbes Global 100 clients, before administrative bodies – such as the Chamber for Patent Disputes and competition authorities – as well as in commercial courts, including the Intellectual Property Court, and courts of general jurisdiction. Members of the team also act as arbitrators at leading arbitral institutions.

The practice includes certified Russian patent attorneys across all technical disciplines, enabling us to represent both domestic and foreign applicants before Rospatent in connection with the registration and protection of intellectual property rights and related transactions. Several of our lawyers are also qualified Eurasian patent attorneys in respect of inventions and industrial designs.

We provide end-to-end legal support in obtaining well-known trademark status in Russia. This status enhances brand recognition and strengthens the legal association between a mark and its owner, offering broader protection against third-party use of similar designations. Well-known trademarks benefit from unlimited protection in terms of duration and scope, as well as the possibility of retrospective enforcement. Our team has successfully secured such status for a number of prominent brands.

The practice also includes specialists in the digital economy, offering comprehensive support in adapting business models to the evolving technological landscape and mitigating legal risks associated with blockchain, smart contracts, the internet of things, cryptocurrencies and artificial intelligence. We advise on the development and implementation of complex digital products, IT solutions and online platforms, assist clients in designing legal frameworks for innovative technologies, and support engagement with regulators while ensuring compliance in areas such as big data, AI and digital services.

We closely monitor regulatory developments in IT, media, telecommunications and the internet, and actively contribute to the development of sector-specific legislation. Our lawyers participate in relevant committees of the Association of Lawyers of Russia, Russian and international business associations, as well as the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Commission on Intellectual Property.

The firm was among the founders of the IT Lawyers Discussion Club, which has been operating for over 20 years and is widely recognised as a leading professional platform for knowledge sharing within the industry.

The practice’s high level of expertise is consistently recognised by leading Russian and international legal directories, including Pravo-300, Kommersant, Managing IP, Chambers Global, Chambers Europe, The Legal 500, World Trademark Review 1000 and Best Lawyers.

Services

Our services include:

representing clients in complex, high-stakes disputes involving the protection of intellectual property rights;
representing clients before Rospatent, the Chamber for Patent Disputes, as well as customs and competition authorities in all matters relating to intellectual property;
combating the manufacture and import of counterfeit goods, including the development and implementation of effective enforcement strategies at both national and international levels;
advising on and supporting the registration of industrial property rights before Rospatent and the Eurasian Patent Office;
providing full support in obtaining well-known trademark status in Russia;
advising on the transfer and licensing of intellectual property rights, including under licence, franchise and other commercial agreements;
advising on transactions involving intellectual property assets, including mergers and acquisitions and the establishment of joint ventures;
supporting pharmaceutical and pharmacy businesses on intellectual property matters, including patent protection, registration of trademarks and other means of individualisation, regulatory compliance, and enforcement before the Chamber for Patent Disputes, competition authorities and courts;
advising on legal issues related to doing business online, including e-commerce, domain name protection, and combating cybersquatting and other online infringements;
advising on the development, commercialisation and certification of software, licensing of cryptographic activities, and associated criminal and regulatory risks;
representing clients before law enforcement authorities in criminal matters involving intellectual property infringements, confidentiality matters and breaches of regulations governing cryptographic services;
advising on innovative technologies, including biotechnology;
advising on the licensing and registration of television channels, telecommunications operators and media outlets.

Reputation

“…ability to foresee risks and suggest options to minimise them. They also suggest legal solutions which are pragmatic from a business point of view”. (Chambers Europe)

“They were very good at guiding us through the law and giving us a clear risk assessment”. (Chambers Europe)

“They are very practical, they fight for the client and the result and do not give up”. (The Legal 500)

“A strong, responsive team, with a good grasp of not just the letter of the law but also how it is applied in practice”. (The Legal 500)

“With its expertise in the field of both extrajudicial and (especially) judicial work, the practice successfully carries out large complex projects”. (The Legal 500)

“… particularly recognised for its strength in patent litigation and trade mark portfolio management for large global brands”. (The Legal 500)