Pepeliaev Group - Taxand is highly rated for its corporate and contentious tax practices and is led by the respected Sergey Pepeliaev, who is identified for his ability in a number of tax areas, with one competitor even commenting that the firm is known ...
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Pepeliaev Group - Taxand is highly rated for its corporate and contentious tax practices and is led by the respected Sergey Pepeliaev, who is identified for his ability in a number of tax areas, with one competitor even commenting that the firm is known across the market just because of him. The firm dealt with several significant contentious matters last year, representing one of the world's largest oil companies in a dispute over the production sharing agreement (PSA) in the Kharyaga oil field in north-west Russia. Rustem Akhmetshin led the team who dealt with 10 separate court cases where the tax authorities refused to refund VAT paid by the company due to their interpretation of the PSA. The firm were successful in securing a refund for the company in all cases, including one before the Russian Supreme Arbitration Court. The practice also advised a well known European car manufacturer to enable reimbursement of dealers' expenses on warranty claims in a tax efficient manner for both dealers and distributors. The firm is best known for its tax controversy and litigation work, though and this is the area has been most fruitful for them this year. One competitor commented that they are "historically the leader in that area". However, some competitors suggest that its expertise is somewhat limited outside of this area. Even so, their strength in indirect tax is noted by practitioners as another stand out feature, with Alexander Kosov having a good reputation for his ability and thorough approach.
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