Sergei Alimirzoev

Sergei is an expert in Russian corporate law including M&A, real estate, international business transactions and Russian and US tax law.

Prior to founding our Russian affiliate, he worked as an attorney for Steptoe & Johnson Co., an international law firm based in Washington, D.C., and Moscow, and for Allen & Overy in the UK.

Sergei specializes in representing Western and Russian corporate clients in cross-border corporate, securities and commercial transactions in Russia and in the former Soviet Union. In that capacity he and his team cover all aspects of company labor and employment law, including advising on set ups, contracts, cross-border assignments, social security and regulatory matters, terminations and all other critical issues in employing expatriate and local labor forces in Russia.

Sergei has also developed a recognized tax expertise representing clients in various Russian tax matters. He also worked as a tax consultant in 1993 and 1994 with Ernst & Young in Moscow, where he prepared opinions on market entry strategy and international tax planning, rendered taxation advice on finance and privatization issues and researched business and tax legislation of the N.I.S. He also provided legal advice on double tax treaties, corporate and payroll taxes, VAT, customs duties and export and import transactions.

Sergei has represented large Western multi-nationals in Russia and the CIS in complex transactions including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate restructuring and financing, as well as in state enterprise privatization and auctions. Sergei managed due diligence projects on major real estate transactions. Industry sectors have included Oil & Gas Exploration, Real Estate, Manufacturing and Retail, Banking, Service & Technology Industries, Mining, Telecommunications, and Financial Services.

Sergei also served as General Counsel for a major Russian Investment Bank "ATON", a major participant in the Russian securities market. He managed and supervised a legal department of four lawyers and provided comprehensive legal support to the Corporate Finance, Operations, Accounting, Sales and Trading Departments with responsibility for dealings in equities, fixed income securities, notes and derivatives.

Sergei is a graduate of Moscow State University of M.V. Lomonosov, Law Department and holds an LL.M from Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio. Sergei is a frequent speaker at international tax conferences and seminars.