Comprehensive Legal Services for Corporate Clients, Including Contract Drafting, Dispute Resolution, and Compliance Support

With over 20 years of experience, we have developed a deep understanding of major industries and a unique international network of high-profile contacts.

more than 40 lawyers in offices in Moscow

wide range of legal services

team of lawyers who have worked at international law firms (Cleary Gottlieb, Akin Gump, A&O Shearman, Clifford Chance, Freshfields, White & Case, DLA Piper, Dechert, Squire Patton Boggs, CMS, and others) with over 20 years of advisory experience

we are one of the largest teams of lawyers on the Russian market with qualifications from the United States, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates

leading positions in Pravo-300, Kommersant, mergers.ru, Russian Gazette rankings, and RAA Legal Guide

we are not afraid of high-profile projects and are always ready to tackle the most complex challenges, operating with confidence in any jurisdiction

industry best practices and market knowledge

tailored approach to each project

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