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The comprehensive guide to the world's leading tax firms

Baker & McKenzie's tax practice in Russia is led by Alexander Chmelev. He is one of the country's longest-serving tax practitioners and has been widely praised by competitors for his tax planning and structuring work.Based in the firm's St Petersburg ... [more]

Baker & McKenzie's tax practice in Russia is led by Alexander Chmelev. He is one of the country's longest-serving tax practitioners and has been widely praised by competitors for his tax planning and structuring work.

Based in the firm's St Petersburg office, Ivan Smirnov has been kept busy with one of the firm's key clients, Peter-Service. Smirnov, alongside Leida Lukianova represented Peter-Service, developers of innovative billing solutions for the telecom sector in Russia, in court with regard to a Tax Inspectorate decision to bring it to account following the field audit of major taxpayers of the city of St. Petersburg. As a result, claims of the Tax Inspectorate for several million roubles were invalidated by the arbitrage court of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region.

In the three years since Gennady Kamyshnikov has been Deloitte's CIS tax practice leader, the firm has been involved in some large-scale transactions. Andrey Panin and Andrey Silantiev have been working on a number of large multi-billion dollar transactions ... [more]

In the three years since Gennady Kamyshnikov has been Deloitte's CIS tax practice leader, the firm has been involved in some large-scale transactions. Andrey Panin and Andrey Silantiev have been working on a number of large multi-billion dollar transactions and have been providing tax advice across multiple jurisdictions, including Russia, Switzerland and France.

Following the tax authorities aggressive approach to taxation, Sergei Voropaev has found himself busier than ever leading the firm's tax dispute resolution practice.

The firm is also recognised as providing tax outsourcing and compliance work and regularly called upon by the Russian government to provide legal and tax advice.

Thanks to managing partner, Sergey Pepeliaev, Pepeliaev Goltsblat & Partners - Taxand has established a reputation as one of the country's top tax firms. Pepeliaev is often lauded as the "leading tax authority in Russia" and "knowing everything there ... [more]

Thanks to managing partner, Sergey Pepeliaev, Pepeliaev Goltsblat & Partners - Taxand has established a reputation as one of the country's top tax firms. Pepeliaev is often lauded as the "leading tax authority in Russia" and "knowing everything there is to know about tax".

Six employees were promoted to partner at the firm in 2009. Of note was the promotion of Andrey Tereschenko. He will be handling all aspects of international taxation including double tax treaties and permanent establishments. Sergey Savseris, Anton Nikiforov, Marina Ivlieva, Maria Andreeva and Valentina Akimova have also been promoted.

The firm is well-known within the tax community for its dispute work, and it regularly represent clients in court following audits. Senior partner Ivan Khamenushko advised and represented Tagmet, a Russian metallurgical factory, when it challenged a tax audit decision. The dispute was worth around $5 million.

The firm also represented VimpelCom (Beeline), an international telecommunications company, in challenging a decision to impose tax liability taken by the tax authorities following an audit. Roustem Ahmetshin successfully proved that the claims were unlawful.

Other key clients include Gazprom, Shell, Ford and Volkswagen.

PricewaterhouseCoopers managed to buck the trend of making redundancies by appointing a handful of new partners in the past 12 months, taking the total to 27. Bill Henry leads the tax and legal practice and is widely-respected within the community as ... [more]

PricewaterhouseCoopers managed to buck the trend of making redundancies by appointing a handful of new partners in the past 12 months, taking the total to 27. Bill Henry leads the tax and legal practice and is widely-respected within the community as a leading M&A specialist.

Svetlana Stroykova is acknowledged as a stand-out transfer pricing specialist and is part of the seven-strong transfer pricing department. She regularly advises on large-scale projects and is actively involved in teaching Russian journalists about transfer pricing. Yana Proskurina leads the firm's tax litigation team and is constantly busy as "there is always litigation work in Russia". Partner Ekaterina Lazorina is highlighted as a financial services specialist, while peers have recommended Cherie Ford for her M&A work.

Ernst & Young operates with one of the largest tax departments in the country, boasting around 450 tax professionals. The Petr Medvedev-led practice employs 100 international tax specialists and a large dedicated transfer pricing team led by Henrik Hansen. ... [more]

Ernst & Young operates with one of the largest tax departments in the country, boasting around 450 tax professionals. The Petr Medvedev-led practice employs 100 international tax specialists and a large dedicated transfer pricing team led by Henrik Hansen. Hansen, who has been described by a competitor as "Russia's leading transfer pricing authority", has a team of seven to handle the steady flow of audits and disputes from the increasingly-aggressive authorities. Reece Jenkins heads the M&A practice and is noted for by clients his "attention to detail".

Vladimir Murzin joined the firm's financial services group after he left his position as head of tax at HSBC Russia and is joined by two managers from PricewaterhouseCoopers, making the group a real focus for the firm.

A year into his job as head of tax at KMPG, Bob Wallingford now oversees a team that offers a full range of tax services. The firm was commended by peers for its tax controversy work. Konstantin Yurchenko is one of the firm's better known transfer pricing ... [more]

A year into his job as head of tax at KMPG, Bob Wallingford now oversees a team that offers a full range of tax services. The firm was commended by peers for its tax controversy work. Konstantin Yurchenko is one of the firm's better known transfer pricing specialists.

Salans' tax practice is led by Evgeny Timofeev and Alexei Panich and contains four associates. Salans is active in all areas of tax work ranging from international tax structuring and domestic law advice to tax due diligence and tax litigation.After ... [more]

Salans' tax practice is led by Evgeny Timofeev and Alexei Panich and contains four associates. Salans is active in all areas of tax work ranging from international tax structuring and domestic law advice to tax due diligence and tax litigation.

After gaining an MBA and running his own business, Timofeev believes his "real world" experience of business is a great benefit as he understands how businesses operate and so has a key understanding of business needs.

Timofeev and Panich worked together in the firm's successful representation of Japan Tobacco International in a three-and-a-half year tax litigation case. The tax authorities had argued that the company had hidden half of its turnover for the 2000 tax year. This case was worth an estimated $250 million to the taxpayer.

Timofeev also assisted Fortum, a leading European power and heat company, in its $2 billion tax structuring of its investments. Other clients have included Dibold, Russian Alcogole and Chanel.

Herbert Smith is quickly establishing itself as a leading tax firm within the Russian community, with clients including Unilin, Velti and Japan Tobacco International. The firm's only dedicated tax partner, Oleg Konnov, leads the practice and is widely ... [more]

Herbert Smith is quickly establishing itself as a leading tax firm within the Russian community, with clients including Unilin, Velti and Japan Tobacco International. The firm's only dedicated tax partner, Oleg Konnov, leads the practice and is widely known for his cross-border and M&A work.

Konnov and Daniil Ruderman provided tax advice on Tata Motors' $2.3 billion acquisition of Land Rover from Ford Motors. The pair also advised a Japanese quasi-governmental institution in connection with the joint venture for exploration and development of natural resources in Russia.

The tax team at Hogan & Hartson spent the past year advising some of the world's largest multinational corporations on pre-acquisition tax planning and post-transaction reorganisation, including the tax structuring of a number of Russia-related cross-border ... [more]

The tax team at Hogan & Hartson spent the past year advising some of the world's largest multinational corporations on pre-acquisition tax planning and post-transaction reorganisation, including the tax structuring of a number of Russia-related cross-border transactions.

Known for his cross-border work, partner Ilya Rybalkin, was involved in some of the firm's biggest pieces of work. He advised Eldorado Group on Russian and international tax aspects in connection with a series of debt-to-equity conversion transactions resulting in the establishment of a joint venture with PPF Group, the Czech Republic's largest international financial and investment group. Rybalkin advised on the tax structuring of the transaction, which included the acquisition of a significant stake in Eldorado by PPF Group for $300 million by swapping part of the credit earlier provided to Eldorado.

Linklaters' tax practice is closely linked to the firm's corporate and finance practice areas. It also has experience in advising international investors on taxation issues relating to the setting up and structuring of operations in Russia, taxation ... [more]

Linklaters' tax practice is closely linked to the firm's corporate and finance practice areas. It also has experience in advising international investors on taxation issues relating to the setting up and structuring of operations in Russia, taxation of transactions with government securities, corporate shares, bonds and derivatives, as well as other financial products.

Victor Matchekhin is one of the firm's most recognisable names and is well-known for his capital markets work. Matchekhin, with Daniel Tyrer, advised Total on its proposed participation in the Shtokman gas field and Shtokman LNG project in Russia. The deal is estimated to be worth between $20 billion to 30 billion.

Matchekhin is also advising Troika Dialog on its $250 million sale of a 10% stake in Kamaz, Russia's largest truck manufacturer, to Daimler AG.

Nörr Stiefenhofer Lutz has received praise from competitors for its international tax work. The tax department is led by partner Sergei Schelkalin, who specialises in cross-border structuring and due diligence.

White & Case is quickly establishing themselves as a leading tax practice in the area of cross-border M&A and private equity projects with a particular focus on the banking and natural resources sectors.Six international tax professionals work in the ... [more]

White & Case is quickly establishing themselves as a leading tax practice in the area of cross-border M&A and private equity projects with a particular focus on the banking and natural resources sectors.

Six international tax professionals work in the department which is led by partner Irina Dmitrieva.

Dmitrieva and Victor Biryukov advised MDM Bank and URSA Bank as joint clients on Russian and international tax aspects of their merger to create the leading private bank in Russia. The pair also advised in the tax aspects of the pre-merger restructuring of the shareholders' structure.

The firm was also involved in the first acquisition deal in the Russian real estate market since the downturn began in 2008. Kvartstroy were advised by Dmitrieva and Artem Toropov on the tax structuring and implementation aspects of a private placement of 30.5% of their shares in their Russian Development Fund. The placement was preceded by the restructuring of the client's various operating and investment companies in Russia and Kazakhstan.

Standing out as a strong litigation law firm, Clifford Chance regularly utilises its network within Russia and the CIS to offer clients a wide range of tax services. Thanks to its international network, competitors have commented on its ever-increasing ... [more]

Standing out as a strong litigation law firm, Clifford Chance regularly utilises its network within Russia and the CIS to offer clients a wide range of tax services. Thanks to its international network, competitors have commented on its ever-increasing amount of international work.

Working with the UK and German branches, CMS Cameron McKenna and CMS Hasche Sigle, CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre has enhanced its reputation for servicing a wide variety of industries. The team regularly advises on a whole range of issues including structuring ... [more]

Working with the UK and German branches, CMS Cameron McKenna and CMS Hasche Sigle, CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre has enhanced its reputation for servicing a wide variety of industries. The team regularly advises on a whole range of issues including structuring cross-border transactions, designing international tax schemes for investment purposes and optimising Russian operations from a tax and customs perspective.

DLA Piper is often instructed by a broad range of global clients on both Russian and international planning matters. The team includes two partners, Ruslan Vasutin and Igor Venediktov, who co-lead the practice. Vasutin is a recognised expert in tax and ... [more]

DLA Piper is often instructed by a broad range of global clients on both Russian and international planning matters. The team includes two partners, Ruslan Vasutin and Igor Venediktov, who co-lead the practice. Vasutin is a recognised expert in tax and commercial law and has particular experience in industrial investment matters, as well as IP-related tax planning. Venediktov is a recognised authority in real estate taxation and headed the real estate tax practice within Ernst & Young before joining DLA Piper. Venediktov is acting for a client, a global healthcare company, on the restructuring of its business in Russia in relation to its merger with a multinational global health care major.

The tax team is strengthened by a nationally-recognised academic in tax legislation, Oksana Nogina, who joined from the St Petersburg State University. Nogina regularly gives her opinions to the High Arbitration and Constitution Court.

YUST is a law firm that operates with only one tax partner, Alexey Popov. The firm has a wide range of clients but with a special emphasis on the natural resource sectors. The team was boosted by the appointment of associate Oksana Parshina.