Maxim Kulkov

Managing partner

For over 26 years, Maxim has represented clients in Russian state courts of all levels, including the  Russian Supreme Court and the Russian Constitutional Court, and in international arbitration centres such as the ICAC, the SCC, the ICC and the LCIA. He has extensive experience giving evidence in foreign courts and arbitral proceedings as a Russian law expert. Independent legal ratings agencies,The GAR 100, The Legal 500, Chambers & Partners, Best Lawyers and Who’s Who Legal, all recommend Maxim.

‘… Maxim Kulkov is a formidable trial lawyer who has very persuasive advocacy skills.’
The Legal 500 EMEA, 2021 (read other reviews)

Examples of some of Maxim’s projects are given below.

Projects:

In detail

Preparing an expert opinion and giving evidence before the High Court of England and Wales in PJSC Tatneft v Bogolyubov & Ors on over a hundred issues of Russian law. After a 12-week trial, the High Court agreed with the testimony of Maxim Kulkov. As a result, the firm’s efforts helped the defendants defeat a US$300m claim.


In detail
Representing a claimant in a dispute involving two oilfield services companies – NewTech Services vs Halliburton – in arbitration under ICAC Rules on compensation for restoring the hermetic seal of an ultradeep oil well after defective cementing works by the defendant. The firm won over 90% of the claim.

In detail
Preparing an expert opinion and giving evidence before the High Court of England and Wales on a number of Russian law issues, including recovering damages in connection with the alleged rigging of an auction in the Yukos bankruptcy case. Maxim Kulkov’s expert evidence helped to defeat a US$40m claim against the defendants.


In detail
Defending Metallimpress (a general contractor) in the ICAC against a claim worth over US$65 million filed by Zhoukovsky (a customer) in connection with complaints regarding the quality of work on the construction of a shopping centre. The firm successfully defended the client from 75% of the claim.

Maxim Kulkov was Tribunal Chair in an SCC arbitration between Caspian Energy Projects and Siemens concerning the recovery of US$12 million under a services agreement in connection with gas turbine generators supplied for the development of an oil field in the Caspian Sea.

Representing Ukraine in the case of Tatneft’s application for recognition and enforcement of an investment arbitral award worth approximately US$150 million (the first case to be heard in Russia on the recognition and enforcement of decisions of an international investment arbitration against a foreign state).


Successfully defending T Plus, a major Russian company operating in the field of electricity and heat generation, in connection with Volga Paper Company’s claim for damages of US$11.5m arising out of the sale and purchase contract for a thermal power plant.

Representing Orion – a defendant in a corporate dispute (worth over US$13m) relating to the invalidation of an issue of shares in a Russian IT company and the challenging of the SPA . The claimant alleged that she was a beneficiary of the company and that the shares were disposed of without her consent. The claim was dropped.

In detail
Representing a co-owner of a supermarket chain in the process of applying for interim measures in support of an LCIA arbitration initiated in England and a dispute in Cyprus in connection with the violation of a shareholders’ agreement (SHA) regarding management of large shopping centres in Moscow and the Moscow Region.

Preparing an expert report in an SCC case with regard to the statute of limitations for a contractor agreement. The client was a contractor for a leading Russian producer of nickel under an agreement governed by Russian law.