About the practice:

We represent clients in court and out-of-court proceedings arising out of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). The pandemic has provoked a huge number of defaults and, as a result, local and international disputes in various areas of business. Our services cover the following categories of dispute:

  • breach of obligations and related losses (delivery, work contracts, leasing, services agreements, etc.)
  • tenant and landlord lease relations (reduction of lease rates, early termination of lease agreements, reduction of rented space)
  • disputes caused by the bankruptcy moratorium (contesting transactions made during the moratorium period, avoiding fulfilment of obligations and withdrawal of assets using the pretext of the moratorium; non-obvious practical nuances of the moratorium, including those applicable to companies that are not covered by the moratorium)
  • insurance indemnities (full or partial termination of activity, non-fulfilment of obligations)
  • labour disputes (staff cuts, business optimisation)
  • business partnerships (corporate disputes, including those relating to exits, and forced “exits” from joint projects)
  • antitrust proceedings (overstating prices for goods and services in high demand)
  • disputes with regulators (customs regulations, energy, securities, financial markets, etc.).

Projects:

In detail

Representing a US company engaged in servicing facilities for the oil, gas and mining sectors worldwide in negotiations over the potential termination of a service contract due to the additional costs caused by regional laws creating a financial burden for the client related to the two-week quarantine period for shift workers.

Advising an international financial organisation operating within the CIS on reducing labour costs in connection with the consequences of the spread of COVID-19. We have analysed the Client’s model of cost reduction and proposed several amendments to corporate documents to bring them into compliance with Russian law.

In detail

Representing the client in the pre-trial proceedings regarding a dispute over recovering the damages arising out of unilateral termination of a coworking contract.

Representing a restaurant based in central Moscow in negotiations with the lessor to reduce the rent under lockdown due to COVID-19. As a result of the negotiations, the parties concluded an additional agreement reducing the rental payments.