Russian client work will be transferred to a newly launched independent firm
Clifford Chance has announced that it will be ceasing operations in Russia with effect from 31 May. Subject to receiving client agreements, the firm will be transferring existing Russian client work to a new, independent law firm called Bortkevicha & Partners, which will be based in Moscow and headed up by Vika Bortkevicha – currently the office managing partner of the existing Moscow Office. The new firm is expected to be operational from 1 May. Subject to receiving client agreements, the firm anticipates transferring Russian work to this newly created independent law firm during May, after which period the operations of the existing Clifford Chance Moscow Office will cease.
In a statement Clifford Chance announced that Torsten Syrbe, one of the partners from the former Moscow Office, will move to Dusseldorf, along with a small team of lawyers from the Moscow Office. This team will continue their anti-trust and pharmaceutical practices and become integrated into the Clifford Chance global network.
The firm havs also been exploring a number of opportunities to relocate team members from the Moscow team to Clifford Chance Offices across Europe.
A small number of the existing Moscow team will be made redundant as a result of these changes.
“While we have been considering future options with our colleagues in Moscow, our priority has been to focus on the safety and wellbeing of our colleagues during this difficult time and on ensuring the winding down of our services is consistent with our legal and professional responsibilities to our clients and our responsible business principles and values,” said Clifford Chance in a statement.
