The Law Office “Padva & Partners” is one of the oldest attorneys’ offices in Russia.
History
The Law Office was established by leading Russian attorneys at law pursuant to the decision of a Founding Meeting on 21 August 1995.
The founder and head of the Law Office Genrikh Padva is one of the most respected attorneys in the law community (Chambers Europe 2011). Genrikh Padva was awarded the F.N. Plevako Gold Medal for his contribution to the development of Russian attorney practice. Genrikh Padva has also been honoured with a “Public Recognition” medal for his personal contribution to the development of legislative system and long legal practice in defending civil rights and freedoms. In addition, in 2001 Genrikh Padva was recognised “Man of the Year” in the nomination “Law” according to Rambler search engine.
Attorneys practicing in the Law Office have been recognised the best by various Russian and international rating agencies. In particular, they have been included into “Best Lawyers” (USA), “Who’s Who of Professionals”, and best lawyers list published by the leading Russian business newspaper “Vedomosti”. In 2012 the Law Office was rated “Legal Advisor of the Year” by Spear’s Russia.
Unique expertise
Immediately after establishment, the Law Office “Padva & Partners” became widely known due to the unique expertise of its team acting in civil and criminal cases.
Attorneys of the Law Office have acted in the interests of both small companies and Russian and transnational majors. The Law Office’s private clients list can boast many successful businessmen, as well as people renowned in various walks of life. At various times, clients of the Law Office were the musician Mstislav Rostropovich, writer Olga Ivinskaya, former head of the Presidential Administration Pavel Borodin, political analyst Gleb Pavlovsky, former head of YUKOS Mikhail Khodorkovsky and other illustrious personalities.
Many clients who received the Law Office’s services while still promoting their business, later became members of the Forbеs list.
In addition to representing clients before Russian courts of law and arbitrazh courts, attorneys of the Law Office have successfully acted for their clients before regulatory bodies on matters of joint stock companies law, securities regulations, banking, antimonopoly, tax and other matters. Attorneys of the Law Office have gained large experience in arbitration tribunals, including the International Commercial Arbitration Court.
Attorneys of the Law Office have repeatedly been invited as Russian law experts in court of law and arbitration proceedings in London, Zurich, New York, the Bermudas and several other jurisdictions.
In defending the rights and lawful interests of their clients, attorneys of the Law Office have acted before the highest judicial instances: the Constitutional Court of Russia, the Supreme Court and the Higher Arbitrazh Court of Russia, as well as the European Court for Human Rights. They have succeeded in achieving changes in Russian court practices and amendments to Russian law.
Attorneys of the Law Office have played a significant role in the de-facto elimination of the death penalty in Russia. On 2 February 1999, upon review of the application from Genrikh Padva and others, the Constitutional Court of Russia issued its famous Ruling 3-P, judging unconstitutional the issue of death penalty until trial by jury is established in all Russian regions.
Ten years later, on 19 November 2009, based on Ruling 3-P, the Constitutional Court of Russia issued its Decree № 1344-О-R where it ruled that death penalty cannot be issued and, in the words of the Press Secretary of the Supreme Court Pavel Odintsov, “put a full stop in the dispute on the further fate of death penalty as a punishment”.
Attorneys of the Law Office have also achieved important changes in the Civil Code of Russia that facilitated the development of stock exchange transactions.
Representing the bank Societe Generale, attorneys Andrei Rakhmilovich and Eleonora Sergeeva contested before the Constitutional Court of Russia the constitutionality of article 1062 of the Civil Code of Russia. That article provided that claims arising from the organisation of games and wagers shall not be eligible for court remedies. That rule was also used to deprive parties to stock exchange forward deals of their right to apply for court remedies.
Upon review of the attorneys’ arguments, the Constitutional Court of Russia in its Ruling №282-О from 16 December 2002 ruled that this article prevents provision of remedies by courts for claims arising from forward contracts. Moreover, the court required that the market of such contracts must be regulated.
This requirement was complied with, and by the law from 26.01.2007 N5-FZ amendments were introduced to the Civil Code of Russia which afforded market participants with the necessary legal protection when using this efficient stock exchange vehicle.
The Law Office “Padva & Partners” unites a highly efficient team of professionals who have substantial experience in representing their clients on virtually all legal issues, both in Russia and abroad.