Legal Services
There are no business challenges that we cannot solve
Two full-fledged teams in Moscow and Dubai, advising major corporate and private clients on the law of England and Wales, the UAE, Russia, and the USA.
With over 20 years of experience, we have developed a deep understanding of major industries and a unique international network of high-profile contacts.
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more than 30 lawyers in offices in Moscow and Dubai
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wide range of legal services
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industry best practices and market knowledge
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extensive global network
of business partners
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tailored approach to each project
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leading positions in Pravo-300, Kommersant, mergers.ru, Russian Gazette rankings, and RAA Legal Guide
Services
corporate and M&A
We provide a full range of legal services on corporate governance and business issues, in particular, we support mergers and acquisitions (M&A), structuring and reorganisation of companies, as well as drafting constituent documents and shareholder agreements.
- cross-border and Russian M&A deals
- joint ventures
- venture capital
- buyback and tender offers
- corporate restructuring and redomiciliations
sanctions and counter-sanctions
We provide comprehensive legal support with regard to sanctions regulation and specialize in challenging restrictions, obtaining individual licences, negotiating transactions with Russian government agencies, and developing effective compliance strategies.
- challenging sanctions and obtaining individual licences
- assets’ unfreeze
- obtaining Russian governmental approvals as part of countermeasures regulation
- developing and assessing compliance policies under existing sanctions and counter-sanctions measures
- adjustment of information in various KYC databases
finance
We provide advice on financing matters, including raising and providing funds, as well as debt restructuring. Our team has extensive experience in supporting syndicated lending, trade and export finance, project finance, and debt optimization transactions.
- corporate finance (syndicated and bilateral loans)
- trade and export finance
- project finance
- restructuring
regulatory
We assist in navigating complex regulatory issues, provide legal support for economic concentration transactions, and advise on antitrust requirements, currency control, and the regulation of financial institutions.
- obtaining governmental approvals for economic concentration transactions, transactions involving strategic entities, and transactions with the participation of foreign sovereign investors
- antitrust regulations
- counter-sanctions regulations
- banking and financial regulations
- currency regulations
capital markets
Our team provides support with public and private capital markets, assists with IPOs, SPOs, listings, and bond issuance, and helps with structuring investment products, information disclosure, and corporate compliance.
- pre-IPO / IPO / SPO / listing
- structured products
- bonds
- restructuring
- disclosures
- corporate governance
- insider compliance
disputes
We protect clients' interests in international arbitration, foreign and Russian courts, handle sanctions and corporate disputes, represent clients in negotiations, mediation, and pre-trial investigations, and prepare legal opinions.
- sanctions disputes, including delisting and assets’ unfreeze
- international arbitration
- litigation in Russian and UAE courts
- corporate disputes
- pre-trial investigations, negotiations, and mediation
- Russian & UAE law governed legal opinions
- work related to KYC databases and challenges thereof
real estate
We provide legal support for real estate transactions at all stages – from investment and construction to sale, lease, and mortgage financing.
- structuring agreements at the pre-construction stage
- real estate sale and purchase agreements
- lease agreements
- registration of property rights
- support for mortgage financing
trade law
We develop legal mechanisms for effective trade operations and provide support in structuring commercial transactions and concluding business-related contracts.
- structuring and support of trade activities
- agency agreements
- distribution agreements
- supply agreement
- other commercial contracts
intellectual property
We handle the registration of intellectual property rights (copyrights, trademarks, patents, etc.) and ensure their protection (litigation, FAS, FСS, CPD) as well as advise on the turnover and acquisition of intellectual property rights.
- comprehensive IP transactions
- IP aspects of M&A deals, IP assets due diligence
- IP compliance
- IP/IT assets management across different jurisdictions
- advising on international IP matters (CIS, UAE, and others)
- IP agreements
private clients
We conduct comprehensive legal analysis of asset ownership structures, develop private capital protection strategies, handle family and inheritance matters, and advise on transactions with digital assets in Russia and abroad.
- marriage agreements
- marital property settlement agreements
- wills
- inheritance agreements
- establishment of inheritance and private foundations
- option agreements and shareholder agreements for asset structuring
- transactions involving cryptocurrency and digital assets
personal data
We assist with personal data protection, conduct audits, and perform the function of a Data Protection Officer (DPO):
- personal data processing audit
- preparation of documentation related to personal data processing
- performing the function of a DPO
- providing support during inspections by Roskomnadzor
tax
We advise on Russian and international taxation, tax planning, and risk management, specializing in complex projects related to tax structuring for businesses, transactions, and private assets, including the use of such instruments as Сlosed-end Unit Investment Funds, Investment Partnership Agreements, structured financial obligations, and private foundations.
- M&A transactions tax structuring
- ownership structures tax optimization
- tax due diligence before investment and pre-IPO phases
- foreign economic activity (FEA) and international structures
- CFC (Controlled Foreign Companies) filings
maritime law
White Square team offers a full range of legal services to various client in maritime and transport industry, including ports, owners of transport infrastructure and vessels, charterers, agents, maintenance organisations, insurers, and banks.
- support of shipping, sale and purchase, insurance, chartering, leasing, and shipbuilding transactions
- registration and reflagation of vessels
- tax issues
- litigation, arbitration and resolution of cross-border disputes (including seizure of vessels)
- financing transactions
- advice on collisions, general accidents
- legal advice on import and export issues
crypto regulation and digital assets
We advise clients on all aspects of legal regulation concerning cryptocurrencies, tokens, and other digital assets in various jurisdictions. We assist in building legally compliant and efficient business models, obtaining necessary licenses, and ensuring regulatory compliance.
- selection of jurisdictions for launching cryptocurrency projects
- advising on transactions involving digital assets, including ICOs, STOs, and IDOs
- legal audit and structuring of crypto projects
- obtaining licenses for cryptocurrency-related activities
- protecting clients' interests in disputes and during regulatory audits
reputation management
We provide comprehensive legal services to correct and challenge information contained in international and local compliance databases. We liaise with banks, financial institutions and government agencies to ensure successful compliance and also work to improve clients' media profiles.
- correcting records in compliance databases (such as World-Check, Dow Jones, Accuity and others), including correcting inaccurate or outdated information
- сhallenging various statuses in compliance databases, including PEP, SIP, SOE classifications, links to sanctioned persons and other adverse records
- liaising with banks, financial institutions and corporate compliance departments to pass KYC-procedures for the purposes of account opening, bank transactions’ and deals’ execution
- managing media presence, including removing or correcting outdated and erroneous data and creating a positive information environment
- preparing legal opinions for compliance reviews by financial institutions, state agencies and counterparties, including opinions on the absence of links to sanctioned persons, state entities, regarding no criminal record, as well as legal opinions confirming legality of financial transactions and deals
complex corporate structures
We offer a comprehensive range of services for the development and implementation of optimal models for complex corporate structures, as well as legal support for the creation, formation, and operation of regulated funds and transactions involving such funds. Our team effectively integrates regulated and personal funds into corporate structures, ensuring maximum confidentiality, robust asset protection, and the retention of actual control over assets, while also optimizing tax conditions for reinvestment.
- advising on the selection and establishment of appropriate structures (regulated funds, personal funds, business entities, etc.)
- providing legal support for the management and ongoing operation of regulated funds, and supporting transactions involving their assets
- developing and implementing efficient corporate governance systems for assets held within regulated funds
- drafting asset management rules and unitholders’ agreements for regulated funds
- supporting M&A transactions involving regulated funds
- advising on obtaining licenses for investment fund management companies
- assisting with obtaining approval from the Bank of Russia for changes of beneficiaries in non-banking financial institutions