What is an attorney (advokat), and how do they differ from a lawyer?

An attorney is a lawyer who has passed the bar examination and holds a special status with special rights and duties: attorney–client privilege, the warrant of attorney, formal attorney enquiries — and the exclusive right to act as defence counsel in criminal cases. Everyone at this bar association is an attorney; their status can be verified in the Moscow register of attorneys, and for the Mariupol office in the register of attorneys of the Donetsk People’s Republic.

How is the agreement concluded and the fee paid?

The legal-assistance agreement is concluded directly between you and the attorney. The fee is paid into the bar association’s cash office or bank account (art. 25(1), (6) of Federal Law No. 63-FZ). Terms are discussed at the consultation — we do not quote figures sight unseen.

What is attorney–client privilege?

Any information you give your attorney in connection with legal assistance is protected by law (art. 8 of Federal Law No. 63-FZ): an attorney cannot be questioned about it, and demands to disclose it are unlawful. It is a legal regime, not a promise.

Do you work only in Moscow?

The bar association works in Moscow and, since 2026, has an official representative office in the DPR — in Mariupol. Attorneys also handle cases in other regions: our practice includes proceedings in commercial (arbitrazh) courts — Russia’s state courts for business disputes — outside Moscow.

Can you help with tax, valuation or ongoing business support that does not need attorney status?

Such work — tax disputes, insolvency support, corporate law, valuation and audit — is handled by the lawyers of Kovalev & Partners LLC, a law firm with which the bar association has a cooperation agreement: kovalev.moscow. The bar association remains an independent organisation responsible for the attorney side of the work.

Do you advise in English?

Yes — written advice and court documents are prepared in Russian (the language of proceedings), and we correspond and explain the case to you in English. This page is a courtesy translation: where the two versions differ, the Russian version prevails.

OUR CASES

Our cases

Most of an attorney’s work is protected by privilege. Here are the cases our clients allowed us to show — with the court case numbers.

Call: +7 499 460-64-27

The result in one case neither guarantees nor implies a similar result in another. Bankruptcy is declared by the commercial court, not by the attorney.

Criminal cases2022 — present

2.3billion ₽ charged, 1,134 victims

The Gosstroy case in Ufa: defence under art. 159(4) of the Criminal Code

One of the largest shared-construction cases in Bashkortostan: Kirill Badikov, former Ufa city council deputy and beneficiary of the Gosstroy group, is accused of embezzling RUB 2.3 billion from 1,134 buyers in the Moskovsky residential complex. Attorney Dmitry Malyutov of the bar association is part of the defence team. The case continues: the verdict is being challenged, and subsidiary-liability disputes run in parallel.

Case study

Art. 159(4) of the Criminal CodeOktyabrsky District Court of Ufa, Supreme Court of Bashkortostan, 6th Cassation CourtOngoing

Criminal cases2022–2026

−2years each: Moscow City Court reduced the sentences

The Tushite Svet case: defence under art. 163 of the Criminal Code

Attorneys Dmitry Malyutov and Kristina Tsypkalo defended Arian Romanovsky and Tamerlan Bigaev in the case of extorting RUB 11 million from Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov. The Moscow City Court cut two years off each sentence, a cassation appeal has been filed, Romanovsky was released in May 2026.

Case study

Art. 163(3)(b) of the Criminal CodeKhamovnichesky District Court, Moscow City CourtTogether with the lawyers of Kovalev & Partners LLC

Personal bankruptcy2020

1.9million ₽ of debt discharged

Personal bankruptcy of Ms Kh.: bank debts discharged

Ms Kh. could no longer service her bank loans. Attorney Dmitry Malyutov ran a financial analysis and filed a bankruptcy petition; the Commercial (Arbitrazh) Court of the Ulyanovsk Region — a state commercial court — declared her bankrupt. Debt of 1.9 million roubles was discharged.

Case study

Case No. А72-3325/2020Commercial Court of the Ulyanovsk Region26 June 2020

Civil disputes2020–2022

54million ₽ recovered for the client

A 65-million-rouble loan dispute: recovery and defence against a 270-million counterclaim

Two borrowers took loans of 65 million roubles from our client Ms F. and refused to repay them. The courts awarded her 54 million and 17.1 million roubles and foreclosed on the pledged assets, while a 270-million-rouble counterclaim against her was dismissed in full.

Case study

Cases No. 2-862/2020, No. 2-0570/2020, No. 02-0730/2020Jointly with lawyers of Kovalev & Partners LLC

Insurance disputes2024

1million ₽ and more recovered from the insurer

Insurance pay-out refused — recovered through a court-ordered expert examination

An insurer refused Ms A.’s claim, arguing that the damage to her car did not match the accident. Attorney Elizbar Margiev obtained a court-ordered expert examination that confirmed the accident was real — the claim was granted and over 1 million roubles recovered.

Case study

Insurance indemnityCourt-ordered expert examination

Commercial disputes2021–2022

2million ₽ of principal debt recovered

Recovering a supply debt with unsigned delivery documents

Many of the supplier’s delivery documents lacked the buyer’s signature. Attorney Elizbar Margiev proved the deliveries through sales and purchase ledgers obtained from the tax authority — the debt was recovered in two commercial court cases.

Case study

Cases No. А40-152926/2021, No. А11-11793/2021Commercial courts of Moscow and the Vladimir Region

Civil disputes2019–2020

3court judgments in the client’s favour

A debtor tried to put his car beyond reach — the sale was declared void

Lawyer K. took money for services he never provided, then sold his car after losing in court so as not to pay. Attorney Dmitry Malyutov defeated the attempt to lift the attachment and had the sale contract declared invalid.

Case study

Cases No. 02-3758/2019, No. 02-4027/2020, No. 02-4936/2020Simonovsky District Court of Moscow

Personal bankruptcy2020

41million ₽ of a guarantor’s debt — discharged through bankruptcy

A guarantor of someone else’s 41-million-rouble loan declared bankrupt

Persuaded by his former employer, Mr Sh. guaranteed a business loan — and ended up owing more than 41 million roubles. On a petition prepared by lawyers of the partner firm, the Moscow Commercial Court declared him bankrupt and opened asset realisation.

Case study

Case No. А40-148257/2020Commercial Court of MoscowHandled by lawyers of Kovalev & Partners LLC

Personal bankruptcy2020

6months — the realisation procedure opened by the court

Bankruptcy of a sole proprietor after a pandemic-era loan

During the pandemic a sole proprietor took a subsidised loan to keep his business running and pay staff, but falling income made it unserviceable. Acting within the law, he went through bankruptcy: the court declared him insolvent and opened asset realisation.

Case study

Case No. А40-176655/2020Commercial Court of MoscowHandled by lawyers of Kovalev & Partners LLC

NEXT STEP

A similar situation?

Tell us about your case — we will assess the prospects and say plainly what is worth fighting for.

Call: +7 499 460-64-27