Russian Commercial Disputes Lawyer
Contract and commercial disputes involving Russian companies, Russian counterparties or matters governed by Russian law, where the first task is to understand the evidence, risks and practical value of the next legal step before filing a claim or responding to one.
A commercial dispute rarely begins when a company receives a court notice. By that point there is usually already a contract, correspondence, acceptance certificates and other performance documents, missed deadlines, demand letters, disagreement over the quality of goods or work and several months of hoping that the counterparty will eventually resolve the problem. Sometimes they do. Sometimes they send a claim instead.
A commercial dispute rarely begins when a company receives a court notice. By that point there is usually already a contract, correspondence, acceptance certificates and other performance documents, missed deadlines, demand letters, disagreement over the quality of goods or work and several months of hoping that the counterparty will eventually resolve the problem. Sometimes they do. Sometimes they send a claim instead.
A Russian commercial disputes lawyer is not only needed for court hearings. At the beginning, the more important questions are what the documents actually prove, what each party will have to establish, where the company’s real exposure lies and which position makes sense before procedural steps are taken that may later be difficult to correct.
I work with contractual and other commercial disputes involving businesses under Russian law. I review the documents, the other party’s claims, the position already taken and the available options for what to do next. The initial review, development of the legal position and preparation of most documents can be handled remotely.
For international clients, one terminology point matters: Russian arbitrazh courts are state commercial courts, not private arbitration tribunals.
I work with contractual and other commercial disputes involving businesses under Russian law. I review the documents, the other party’s claims, the position already taken and the available options for what to do next. The initial review, development of the legal position and preparation of most documents can be handled remotely.
For international clients, one terminology point matters: Russian arbitrazh courts are state commercial courts, not private arbitration tribunals.
What types of commercial disputes do I handle?
These are primarily contract and business disputes involving supply agreements, construction and other works contracts, leases, services, missed deadlines, defective performance, contractual penalties, damages, termination and other situations in which a dispute has already arisen or one party is preparing to bring a claim before a Russian commercial court. For cross-border matters, one of the first things I check is the contract’s governing-law clause and dispute-resolution provision. A Russian counterparty does not automatically mean that Russian law applies or that the dispute belongs before a Russian court. The contract may choose foreign governing law and separately designate a foreign court or arbitration, although mandatory and exclusive-jurisdiction rules may still affect the available route.
In sanctions-related disputes, Russian commercial courts may in some circumstances accept jurisdiction despite an agreed foreign court or arbitration clause, particularly where sanctions are considered to impede a party’s access to the chosen foreign forum.
I can become involved for either side: a company preparing to bring a claim or a business that has already received a demand letter or court claim. If proceedings have already started, the work begins with the procedural position: what has been claimed, what has already been filed with the court, which deadlines now matter, what evidence is missing and what can realistically affect the outcome.
Debt recovery, corporate conflicts and the personal liability risks of owners or directors are treated as separate areas of work. Although these matters may also be heard by Russian commercial courts, the legal framework, evidence and strategy are different.
In sanctions-related disputes, Russian commercial courts may in some circumstances accept jurisdiction despite an agreed foreign court or arbitration clause, particularly where sanctions are considered to impede a party’s access to the chosen foreign forum.
I can become involved for either side: a company preparing to bring a claim or a business that has already received a demand letter or court claim. If proceedings have already started, the work begins with the procedural position: what has been claimed, what has already been filed with the court, which deadlines now matter, what evidence is missing and what can realistically affect the outcome.
Debt recovery, corporate conflicts and the personal liability risks of owners or directors are treated as separate areas of work. Although these matters may also be heard by Russian commercial courts, the legal framework, evidence and strategy are different.
If your company has received a claim
A common first reaction is to prepare a very long response and answer every paragraph of the claimant’s case. But the length of a document has never protected anyone by itself.
I first look at what the claimant is actually asking for, the legal basis of the claim, which facts the claimant must prove and what evidence the company already has. Sometimes the real issue is not where the parties think it is. They may spend months arguing about who acted unfairly, while the case ultimately turns on whether an acceptance certificate was signed, whether the contractual acceptance procedure was followed, whether the volume of work can be proved or whether there is evidence linking the alleged breach to the claimed loss.
Only then does it become clear whether the next step should be a response to the claim, a counterclaim, a procedural application, additional evidence, settlement discussions or something else entirely. Receiving a claim does not automatically mean that the company should immediately begin full-scale litigation. It does mean that procedural deadlines should no longer be ignored.
I first look at what the claimant is actually asking for, the legal basis of the claim, which facts the claimant must prove and what evidence the company already has. Sometimes the real issue is not where the parties think it is. They may spend months arguing about who acted unfairly, while the case ultimately turns on whether an acceptance certificate was signed, whether the contractual acceptance procedure was followed, whether the volume of work can be proved or whether there is evidence linking the alleged breach to the claimed loss.
Only then does it become clear whether the next step should be a response to the claim, a counterclaim, a procedural application, additional evidence, settlement discussions or something else entirely. Receiving a claim does not automatically mean that the company should immediately begin full-scale litigation. It does mean that procedural deadlines should no longer be ignored.
If the dispute has not reached court yet
When a contract has already been breached and the counterparty is not performing, the question often sounds simple: go to court now or wait a little longer. Before filing, however, it is worth checking not only who appears to be right, but what can actually be proved, whether any mandatory pre-action procedure has been followed, how the claim should be framed, what objections the other side is likely to raise and whether the proposed remedy makes commercial sense.
Sometimes the review shows that litigation is justified. Sometimes the better first step is to collect missing documents, reformulate the claim or try to resolve the dispute without proceedings. Litigation is a way of resolving a commercial dispute, not a compulsory ritual after every failed exchange with a counterparty.
If the main issue is simply an unpaid debt, debt recovery from a counterparty is a separate task. In that situation, it is important to assess not only whether the debt can be proved, but also the debtor’s position and the realistic prospects of enforcing any future court decision.
Sometimes the review shows that litigation is justified. Sometimes the better first step is to collect missing documents, reformulate the claim or try to resolve the dispute without proceedings. Litigation is a way of resolving a commercial dispute, not a compulsory ritual after every failed exchange with a counterparty.
If the main issue is simply an unpaid debt, debt recovery from a counterparty is a separate task. In that situation, it is important to assess not only whether the debt can be proved, but also the debtor’s position and the realistic prospects of enforcing any future court decision.
If a court decision has already been issued
An unfavourable court decision does not by itself answer the question of whether it should be appealed. An appeal makes sense because there are specific findings that can realistically be challenged in light of the case file and procedural stage, not simply because the result is disappointing.
The appeal deadline must be checked first. As a general rule, an appeal against a first-instance Russian commercial court decision must be filed within one month unless a different period applies. In simplified proceedings, the appeal period is shorter and may not exceed 15 days.
I review the court decision together with the parties’ positions, the evidence and what happened in the first-instance proceedings. Only then does it become clear whether there are reasonable grounds for appeal or further review and what the appeal should actually achieve. Sometimes the conclusion is that a further appeal is legally weak or makes little commercial sense. Sometimes the problem only becomes clear when the court decision is compared carefully with the case materials.
An appeal should begin not with drafting the appeal itself, but with identifying exactly what in the court decision can and should be challenged.
If another lawyer is already handling the matter and you want an independent assessment of the strategy, you can obtain a Second Legal Opinion without automatically changing the existing representative.
The appeal deadline must be checked first. As a general rule, an appeal against a first-instance Russian commercial court decision must be filed within one month unless a different period applies. In simplified proceedings, the appeal period is shorter and may not exceed 15 days.
I review the court decision together with the parties’ positions, the evidence and what happened in the first-instance proceedings. Only then does it become clear whether there are reasonable grounds for appeal or further review and what the appeal should actually achieve. Sometimes the conclusion is that a further appeal is legally weak or makes little commercial sense. Sometimes the problem only becomes clear when the court decision is compared carefully with the case materials.
An appeal should begin not with drafting the appeal itself, but with identifying exactly what in the court decision can and should be challenged.
If another lawyer is already handling the matter and you want an independent assessment of the strategy, you can obtain a Second Legal Opinion without automatically changing the existing representative.
What I review before recommending a strategy
At the beginning, I will usually need the contract and its schedules, acceptance certificates and other performance documents, demand letters and responses, relevant correspondence and, if proceedings have already started, the claim, response to the claim, procedural orders and court decisions already issued.
I look not only at the formal arguments of each side, but also at which facts are supported by documents, what evidence is missing, which procedural steps have already been taken and what can still be done at the current stage.
After reviewing the materials, I can explain which facts genuinely matter, where the risks lie in the current position and which next step makes sense.
The initial review, consultations, development of the legal position and preparation of most documents can be handled remotely. If the matter requires a representative to attend court hearings in person, the scope and format of that representation are agreed separately after the materials have been reviewed.
I look not only at the formal arguments of each side, but also at which facts are supported by documents, what evidence is missing, which procedural steps have already been taken and what can still be done at the current stage.
After reviewing the materials, I can explain which facts genuinely matter, where the risks lie in the current position and which next step makes sense.
The initial review, consultations, development of the legal position and preparation of most documents can be handled remotely. If the matter requires a representative to attend court hearings in person, the scope and format of that representation are agreed separately after the materials have been reviewed.
Fees
Consultation on a commercial dispute: from RUB 15,000
Suitable when you need to understand a specific situation, the main legal and procedural risks under Russian law and the available next steps.
Strategic review: from RUB 50,000
I review the contract, correspondence, demand letters, court documents and evidence, and assess the legal position, risks and possible strategies. The strategic review can be a standalone service.
Further legal work: from RUB 100,000
Suitable when the initial review shows that further work is required: preparation of the legal position and procedural documents, analysis of evidence and the opposing party’s arguments, work with new materials and recommendations on subsequent steps.
Representation at court hearings is not automatically included in this fee and, where required, is agreed separately.
Frequently asked questions
Can I contact you after proceedings have already started?
Yes. The first step is to check the procedural deadlines, the claims already made, the evidence already filed and what needs to be done at the current stage of the case.
Do you work only for claimants?
No. I work both with companies preparing to bring claims and with defendants that have already received a demand letter or court claim.
Can I order only a case review?
Yes. A strategic review can be a standalone service. After receiving it, the company can decide whether it needs document preparation, representation or any further legal work.
Can the work be handled remotely?
Yes. Document review, consultations, development of the legal position and preparation of most documents can be handled remotely. If personal attendance by a representative at court hearings is required, that format is agreed separately.
What if the contract is governed by foreign law or contains an arbitration clause?
That should be checked before deciding on a Russian court strategy. Governing law and dispute resolution are separate questions, and mandatory or exclusive-jurisdiction rules may also affect the available route. In sanctions-related disputes, a Russian commercial court may in some circumstances accept jurisdiction despite an agreed foreign court or arbitration clause.
Can I contact you about a corporate dispute or director liability?
Yes, but these are separate areas of work. Corporate conflicts and questions concerning the personal liability of an owner, director or controlling person require a different legal framework and strategy.
Need help with a commercial dispute in Russia?
Briefly describe what has happened, the current stage of the dispute and whether there is already a demand letter, court claim or court decision. If convenient, include the main documents you already have. I will review the situation and explain where it makes sense to start, what risks I see and what scope of legal work is actually needed at this stage.
This page provides general information only and is not individual legal advice. The appropriate strategy, procedural deadlines and available remedies depend on the circumstances of the particular matter and the documents provided.