Natural resources (the sub-soil, land, forests, water and wildlife) and associated energy resources (oil, gas, coal, electricity, nuclear resources) are the foundation of Russia’s national prosperity, play a key role in the economic progress of other countries and dominate the material development of mankind as a whole. Russia has impressive reserves of mineral resources that are concentrated on its territory, within its exclusive economic zone and on the continental shelf, uses non-renewable energy sources extensively and plays an active role in bilateral and multilateral cooperation in natural resources and energy globally.

Our professionals provide legal services to Russian, foreign and multinational companies operating in this sector. They feel at home in this industry, have a thorough understanding of its specifics and extensive experience of legal relations pertaining to the exploration, extraction, servicing, transportation, processing, sale and use of energy and natural resources.

Our team has one key differentiator on the market: our ability to provide a full range of legal services to our clients, our systemic approach, analysis and elaboration of practical recommendations simultaneously from the perspective of corporate, land, mining, forest, water, environmental, antimonopoly, commercial, tax, customs, employment and other branches of law. It should be stressed here that our lawyers are regularly invited to participate as experts in the development of draft laws and other regulations in the energy and natural resources sector.

Some of the legal services we offer in the energy and natural resources sector include:

• Legal assistance in building relations with state and municipal authorities, public organisations and the public with project preparation and implementation in the energy and natural resources sector
• Analysis and recommendations on the selection of corporate and other legal forms for preparing and implementing projects involving the exploration and use of natural and energy resources, the development of core documents (foundation agreements, charters, shareholder and other agreements) and the state registration of relevant entities
• Advice on the elaboration of the legal framework for the financing of investments in the energy and natural resources sector
• Comprehensive legal support for the restructuring, acquisition and disposal of participatory interests, shares and property of companies in the fuel and energy sector, with due account for antimonopoly law, legislation on natural monopolies and the participation of foreign capital in the strategic industries of the Russian economy
• Legal support to clients that receive sub-soil user licences and other permits and registration of the relevant rights on behalf of our clients
• Legal assistance for the joint exploration, development and operation of natural and energy resources and on a comprehensive range of issues associated with production-sharing agreements
• Legal support for the daily operations of entities operating in the energy and natural resources sector (corporate, operational, environmental, commercial, tax, employment and other aspects)
• Legal advice on the construction, modernisation and maintenance of energy and natural resources facilities, as well as on energy saving and energy efficiency issues
• Cross-border transactions, legal support for multi-jurisdictional operations, application of international law in project implementation in the energy and natural resources sector
• Administrative, judicial and arbitration protection of rights and dispute resolution, involved in energy and natural resources projects and facilities
• Drafting of legislation and other standard-setting work in the energy and natural resources sector