GRATA International

GRATA International's M&A and Corporate Law practice is one of the largest in the CIS. We have received awards from leading international rankings such as Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners.

Our lawyers have extensive experience in advising on the current and problematic matters of corporate law in the countries where GRATA International is present. 

The firm's portfolio includes over a hundred successful mergers and acquisitions, including landmark cross-border deals. Our M&A assistance includes a full range of services, from due diligence to registration of rights to acquired shares / shares and assets. We would especially like to note the strongest expertise of GRATA International on obtaining regulatory approvals required for M&A transactions.

Another key specialisation of our lawyers is the establishment of joint ventures with foreign investments: in this area we represent interests of the largest corporations in the world.

Experience of GRATA International in the area of corporate governance deserves special attention. We successfully advise our clients on protection of shareholders’ rights, structure and function of management boards, accountability and liability of top managers and controlling shareholders, information disclosure, corporate governance in family owned business and SOEs etc.

Services:

• Advising on corporate law matters and M&A;
• Structuring and support of M&A;
• Drafting Share Purchase Agreements;
• Obtaining regulatory approvals forM&A;
• Structuring and support of MBO transactions, drafting transfer documentation;
• Obtaining regulatory approvals for MBO transactions;
• Establishment of Joint Ventures, drafting Shareholders’ Agreements;
• Legal Due Diligence, Background Checks;
• Corporate dispute resolution;
• Incorporation of companies, opening of branches and representative offices;
• Reorganisation, transformation, and liquidation of companies branches and representative offices;
• Changing CEOs, charter capital increase/decrease, registered address change, and other corporate procedures;
• Drafting Statutory Documents, Regulations, Rules, and other internal documents;
• Preparing trust agreements in relation to stocks/shares;
• Advising on Corporate Governance; Corporate Secretary Service;
• Legal advice on the issues of implementation of option programs, drafting of option agreements;
• Obtaining Business Identification Numbers, Individual Identification Numbers;
• Opening bank accounts, obtaining Digital Signature.

Dispute resolution practice of GRATA International is represented by a team of professionals with a profound knowledge of the wide range of disputes and an impressive experience in its resolution throughout all countries of the law  firm’s presence.

Our lawyers are top-ranked experts in various areas of law, recognized by international rankings. The team includes lawyers with judicial experience, acting arbitrators of international commercial arbitration institutions. GRATA International is among the best law firms according to Chambers Europe, Legal 500 and Pravo-300.

Our clients are both local and multinational companies that appreciate  our creative and non-standard approach, understanding of clients’ needs and positive outcomes.

Our main success factor is the safe and successful business of our clients. Therefore, regardless of the size of your project, you will receive legal services of high quality.

Services:

• Commercial disputes;
• Corporate disputes;
• Collection of receivables;
• Pre-trial dispute settlement;
• Representation in courts of law and arbitration (state commercial) courts, in arbitration proceedings;
• Representation in the antimonopoly body in resolving disputes related to unfair competition;
• Representation in the tax disputes;
• Legal support in the course of enforcement;
• Bankruptcy, restructuring and transactions with "bad" assets;
• Asset tracing of debtors;
• Recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards;
• Taking interim measures in connection with arbitration proceedings taking place abroad;
• Legal support during inspections of state bodies;
• Disputes with governmental authorities;
• Mediation;
• Defending clients' interests in criminal cases.

The employment practice of GRATA International covers a full range of services in the area of labour law, including advice on topical issues of labour law, development of employment agreements and policies/local regulatory acts, support in keeping HR records, labour audit, complex dismissals, etc.

Our employment attorneys are also renowned for their success in labour disputes. We have won dozens of court cases and our clients include the largest transnational corporations.

The expertise of our employment specialists on the creation and implementation of employee stock ownership plans deserves special attention.

A significant number of our clients in the area of employment law are represented by subsoil users, and we have accumulated extensive practical experience in important employment aspects of production activities such as rotation-based work, industrial injuries, negotiations with trade unions, etc.

Moreover, we are pleased to offer you our services in optimising work processes in your company in the current economic reality. Reasonable staff downsizing, payroll optimisation, changes to the employees' work function, remote work organisation, managing staff holidays, prevention of labour conflicts and strikes - these are just some of the examples of how a company can adjust work processes and adapt them to the current economic situation. Using a tailored approach, we will determine the optimisation methods that are best suited for your company.

Services:

• Advising on any issues of labour law, including recruiting, transfers, dismissals, labour remuneration, disciplinary penalties, labour health and safety, employees outsourcing, engagement of foreign labour, etc.;
• Development of templates for HR documentation, employer's regulatory acts governing labour relations (code of conduct, regulations on remuneration and bonuses, regulations on the employees' personal data processing, etc.);
• Development of documentation required for employment;
• Development of a collective agreement, interaction with employees' representatives, government agencies during the development and registration of the agreement;
• Legal support for changing the conditions of employment agreements (drafting all necessary documents for transfers, changing the working regime, changing salary amount, etc.);
• Audit of HR documentation and subsequent report on identified violations, potential risks and recommendations;
• Legal due diligence of the labour aspects of the acquired company under M&A;
• Legal support for transfer of employees under an M&A;
• Legal support for the employment termination on all grounds provided for by the Labour Code (drafting dismissal documents, interaction with government agencies, employees, and their representatives);
• Participation in internal investigations related to employees’ violations and other issues of labour relations;
• Creation of a conciliation committee (drafting all necessary documents, training of the committee members);
• Representation of an employer in the conciliation committee, court;
• Representation of an employer in collective labour negotiations, disputes;
• Representation of an employer in the investigation of industrial injuries;
• Representation of an employer during state labour inspections;
• Creation and implementation of employee stock ownership plans, as well as other incentive programs for employees.

Intellectual property (IP) is one of the most valuable assets of any firm. Nevertheless, in a world of widespread piracy and strong tendencies for the unlawful use of intellectual property, the registration and protection of IP are strategically crucial to reducing unfair competition.

Our IP experts combine both the theory and the practice-based expertise to protect the rights of our clients. We have significant experience in IP rights protection, including assistance with national and international registration of trademarks (brands, trade names) on behalf of local and foreign companies; advising on license and franchise agreements, and drafting of IP rights contracts. Moreover, we have extensive experience in patenting inventions, utility models and industrial designs. Furthermore, our services also cover patent researches, protection of IP rights through the pre-trial process and representing international companies at the courts of various instances and state agencies.

Services:

• Trademarks;
• Well-known Trademarks;
• International and National Trademark Registration;
• Trademarks Search;
• Inventions and Utility Models;
• Industrial Designs;
• Patent Obtaining Abroad;
• Patent Researches and Test for Novelty;
• License Agreement;
• Franchising;
• Assignment Agreement;
• Pledge Agreement for Exclusive Rights;
• Copyright and Related Rights;
• Company Names;
• Trade Secrets and Know-How;
• Internet and E-Commerce;
• Domain Names and Websites;
• Due Diligence and Audit of IP Rights;
• Preventive/Complaint Measures to Protect IP;
• Protection of IP Rights and Fight Against Counterfeit Products;
• Inclusion of IP Objects into the Customs Register;
• Unfair Competition and False Advertising;
• Parallel Import;
• IP Litigation and Disputes.

Real estate is one of the most popular  commercial assets in modern business. Each year real estate transactions become more and more complex and complicated. They often require elaborate  structuring and involvement  of different legal risk mitigation instruments.  

GRATA International is happy to offer its international network of lawyers, who focus on  real estate transactions. Our clients trust us because we can combine the knowledge of laws and understanding of the clients' interests with vast practical experience. Many of our experts have sound experience in construction, development and financial entities.

We advise clients in the area of construction, sale, rental and property management, land relations, development of complex commercial contracts related to the process of construction, management and transfer of rights to real estate; financing real estate transactions, and many other areas. We routinely represent our clients in courts in connection with construction and real estate disputes. Our clients include construction and development companies, banks, real estate funds, management companies, retailers, hotels, industrial, commercial and transport companies, etc.

Our real estate practice has been acknowledged by a number of rankings, including The Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal.

Services:

• Structuring and support of real estate transactions;
• Checking the legal status of real estate objects and their owners;
• Checking the existence of prohibitions, arrests and other restrictions and encumbrances in relation to real estate objects;
• Analysis of tax implications in real estate transactions;
• Legal advice on issues arising from the ownership and implementation of real estate transactions;
• Representation and protection of interests and rights in relations related to real estate;
• Preparation of documents and assistance in organising real estate transactions;
• Organisation and advising on easement issues;
• Legal support for the organisation of real estate pledge and the imposition of bans, arrests and encumbrances;
• Search for real estate objects owned by legal entities and individuals;
• Any other types of legal assistance in relation to the ownership, use and execution of transactions with real estate.