Typically on the receiving end of partner moves, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan has lost Moscow-based arbitration partners Ivan Marisin and Vasily Kuznetsov to US rival Baker Botts, leaving Quinn’s ten-lawyer Russia outpost with one full-time partner.
Marisin headed Quinn’s Moscow office, and has represented Russian and foreign clients on corporate, banking and foreign investment disputes. Before joining Quinn, he led Dechert’s disputes team in Russia, the CIS, and Eastern Europe, and was previously head of disputes practice of Clifford Chance’s Moscow office, which he joined in 1992, acting as senior and managing partner from 2000 through 2010. Kuznetsov is also formerly of Dechert and Clifford Chance, and has been representing domestic and international clients in litigations and arbitrations since 2002.
Key roles for the pair include defending the Russian Chess Federation in a dispute over participation of the Russian women’s national team, successfully concluding the case before the Court of Arbitration for Sport and allowing full team participation.
Marisin will play a ‘key role’ in managing the firm’s Russian disputes offering while Kuznetsov is set to co-chair Baker Botts’ international disputes practice.
‘They have a deep seated understanding of the Russian legal system,’ said Andrew Baker, managing partner of Baker Botts. ‘They will both add significant value for our Russian and international clients and their arrival also speaks to the commitment that we have made to continue to grow our international network.’
Maxim Levinson, partner-in-charge of the Moscow office, added: ‘Ivan and Vasily’s expertise will enable us to build upon the services we offer our clients in areas such as energy, technology, banking and finance, real estate and construction, and aviation.’
To soften the blow, Quinn has brought over Russian counsel Kirill Parinov, as managing partner of its Moscow office from mining firm Norilsk Nickel where he served as group general counsel. The office is also served by partner Nick Marsh who splits his time between London and Moscow.
Parinov acts on cross-border litigation, international arbitration, complex financial disputes, disputes arising from M&A transactions, and FCPA and global anti-corruption disputes.
Quinn continues its lateral hiring spree however, as last week it emerged the firm is in talks to hire a team from Shearman & Sterling’s Brussels arm, including office head Stephen Mavroghenis and competition partner Trevor Soames.
sarah.downey@legalease.co.uk