With the appointment of new partners Ivan Semenkin and Roman Belenkov, who bring with them an experienced team of six lawyers, Asari Legal is pleased to announce the opening of a new Capital Markets Practice, to be led by Mr Semenkin. Asari Legal’s new partners add further significant strength to one of the leading corporate and finance teams in the legal market, forming a unique centre of competence in terms of expertise and resources.
Ivan Semenkin has more than 20 years of experience in advising on complex Russian and international M&A projects, joint ventures, preparations for major IPOs, SPOs, and bond issues, as well as private equity investments. Many of his projects have been recognised by the most respected rankings, including such recent highlights as the creation of a new stock market instrument (replacement bonds); conducting Eurobond replacements for the Russian Ministry of Finance (the largest debt instrument deal in Russian history, worth over USD 30 billion) and Russian Railways; development of the Moscow Exchange’s current IPO standards; and advising issuers and arranging banks for the most significant transactions on Russian exchanges, including the IPOs of Henderson, Delimobil, AllInstruments.ru, Whoosh, UGK, Renaissance Insurance, and others. Ivan has also advised companies and their shareholders in major M&A and JV transactions, including the creation of leading entities in the oil and gas, coal, mining, TMT, and EdTech sectors.
Prior to joining Asari Legal, Ivan was a partner at a leading Russian law firm and worked for over 15 years at major international law firms Winston & Strawn, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, and Linklaters.
Roman Belenkov has extensive experience in advising major Russian companies on all types of securities transactions. He has advised on the IPOs and SPOs of such companies as SPB Exchange, Polyus, AvtoVAZ, Polymetal, Hals-Development, and others. Key international and Russian ratings have recommended Roman among best experts in capital markets and corporate law.
Prior to joining Asari Legal, Roman was a partner at leading Russian capital markets law firms specialising for more than 20 years.
The opening of the new practice and the joining of an experienced team of lawyers with in-depth knowledge of M&A, capital markets, and IP transactions will strengthen Asari Legal's competences in corporate projects, IPO and SPO transactions, and complex restructuring arrangements, adding competences in private equity and venture capital investments. Reinforced by outstanding professionals of the Russian legal services market, Asari Legal's corporate and finance team of more than 25 specialists will be able to offer its clients the most comprehensive and reliable solutions.
Ilya Rybalkin, Partner, Co-head of the Dispute Resolution Practice:
“We launched the transformation of the firm, established in 2018, in December last year. In January and February, leading arbitration lawyers joined the firm, including counsel from the London office of a major US law firm. We are consistently and deliberately building up the competences that our clients demand. The opening of the new practice and the arrival to the firm of Ivan, Roman, and their team is yet another clear confirmation of our goal to achieve market leadership.”
Ivan Semenkin, Partner, Head of Capital Markets:
“I am very pleased to become a part of the Asari Legal team and to lead the Capital Markets Practice. Developing the practice and expanding its current competences will significantly broaden the range of our capability to provide comprehensive professional assistance to clients in various sectors of the Russian economy. I am confident that the experience and expertise of our team members, catalysed by Asari Legal’s commitment to the very highest standards, will create beneficial synergies and the foundation for long-term leadership in the legal industry, based on universal values and professionalism.”
Ivan Semenkin has more than 20 years of experience in advising on complex Russian and international M&A projects, joint ventures, preparations for major IPOs, SPOs, and bond issues, as well as private equity investments. Many of his projects have been recognised by the most respected rankings, including such recent highlights as the creation of a new stock market instrument (replacement bonds); conducting Eurobond replacements for the Russian Ministry of Finance (the largest debt instrument deal in Russian history, worth over USD 30 billion) and Russian Railways; development of the Moscow Exchange’s current IPO standards; and advising issuers and arranging banks for the most significant transactions on Russian exchanges, including the IPOs of Henderson, Delimobil, AllInstruments.ru, Whoosh, UGK, Renaissance Insurance, and others. Ivan has also advised companies and their shareholders in major M&A and JV transactions, including the creation of leading entities in the oil and gas, coal, mining, TMT, and EdTech sectors.
Prior to joining Asari Legal, Ivan was a partner at a leading Russian law firm and worked for over 15 years at major international law firms Winston & Strawn, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, and Linklaters.
Roman Belenkov has extensive experience in advising major Russian companies on all types of securities transactions. He has advised on the IPOs and SPOs of such companies as SPB Exchange, Polyus, AvtoVAZ, Polymetal, Hals-Development, and others. Key international and Russian ratings have recommended Roman among best experts in capital markets and corporate law.
Prior to joining Asari Legal, Roman was a partner at leading Russian capital markets law firms specialising for more than 20 years.
The opening of the new practice and the joining of an experienced team of lawyers with in-depth knowledge of M&A, capital markets, and IP transactions will strengthen Asari Legal's competences in corporate projects, IPO and SPO transactions, and complex restructuring arrangements, adding competences in private equity and venture capital investments. Reinforced by outstanding professionals of the Russian legal services market, Asari Legal's corporate and finance team of more than 25 specialists will be able to offer its clients the most comprehensive and reliable solutions.
Ilya Rybalkin, Partner, Co-head of the Dispute Resolution Practice:
“We launched the transformation of the firm, established in 2018, in December last year. In January and February, leading arbitration lawyers joined the firm, including counsel from the London office of a major US law firm. We are consistently and deliberately building up the competences that our clients demand. The opening of the new practice and the arrival to the firm of Ivan, Roman, and their team is yet another clear confirmation of our goal to achieve market leadership.”
Ivan Semenkin, Partner, Head of Capital Markets:
“I am very pleased to become a part of the Asari Legal team and to lead the Capital Markets Practice. Developing the practice and expanding its current competences will significantly broaden the range of our capability to provide comprehensive professional assistance to clients in various sectors of the Russian economy. I am confident that the experience and expertise of our team members, catalysed by Asari Legal’s commitment to the very highest standards, will create beneficial synergies and the foundation for long-term leadership in the legal industry, based on universal values and professionalism.”