Foreign law firms, collection agencies, creditors in Russian bankruptcy proceedings, and companies exiting the Russian market regularly need something done inside Russia that they cannot do from abroad: serve a document, get a foreign court decision recognised, find a debtor’s assets, or file a claim in an insolvency register before the deadline passes. These tasks depend on access to Russian registers, courts, notaries and bailiffs, and the procedural clock does not stop while a foreign firm looks for local counsel in Russia.
What we do
- Service of process: service of documents on Russian parties and assistance obtaining evidence located in Russia, through the applicable procedure.
- Enforce a foreign judgment in Russia: bringing recognition and enforcement proceedings for foreign court and arbitral awards before Russian courts, and following through with the bailiff service once the award is recognised.
- Asset tracing in Russia: locating a debtor’s real estate, bank accounts, corporate holdings and other assets through the registers and channels available to Russian counsel.
- Russian bankruptcy creditor claims: filing and defending claims in the creditors’ register in Russian insolvency proceedings, monitoring the case, and attending creditors’ meetings on your behalf.
- Trademark and IP protection: protecting marks and brands in Russia in partnership with a registered Russian patent attorney, including customs recordal and action against online counterfeit listings.
- Exit and divestment support: assistance with the government commission clearance required for certain transactions involving parties from “unfriendly” jurisdictions, and related filings.
How it works
- You describe the matter and send the underlying documents — judgment, arbitral award, claim, debtor details or mark registration.
- We confirm which procedure applies and what is realistically achievable, and give you a scope and estimate.
- We act under a power of attorney, filing and following the matter through the Russian court, registry or bailiff service.
- We report progress at agreed intervals and flag decisions that need your instruction.
What we don’t do
We do not guarantee outcomes in court or before a state commission — no lawyer can, and we say so from the outset rather than after the fact. We do not act without a valid power of attorney or engagement letter, and every client is screened against applicable sanctions lists before engagement.
Who this is for
- Foreign law firms that need local counsel in Russia for a specific procedural step, on a correspondent basis;
- Collection agencies and creditors seeking to enforce a foreign judgment or trace assets in Russia;
- Creditors in Russian bankruptcy proceedings who need a claim filed and monitored;
- Brand owners needing IP protection or action against counterfeits in the Russian market;
- Companies exiting Russia that need divestment or government commission filings handled locally.
If what you need is ongoing visibility into new claims rather than a specific enforcement matter, see Russia litigation watch.
FAQ
Can you enforce a foreign judgment in Russia given the current sanctions environment?
Recognition and enforcement proceedings remain available before Russian courts for most foreign judgments and arbitral awards; the sanctions environment can affect timelines and practical steps but does not by itself close this route. We assess your specific award before giving a view.
How does service of process in Russia actually work for a foreign law firm?
It depends on the applicable procedure and whether the matter is judicial or extrajudicial. We confirm the correct channel for your case and handle the service itself.
What can realistically be found through asset tracing in Russia?
Real estate, corporate shareholdings and, in some cases, bank accounts can be identified through Russian registers and channels available to local counsel; the scope depends on what identifying details you can provide about the debtor.
We are a creditor in a Russian bankruptcy — what happens if we miss the filing deadline?
Missing the deadline can bar or subordinate the claim depending on the stage of proceedings, so we prioritise urgent filings and confirm the deadline as a first step.
Do you work as correspondent counsel for a single matter, or only on a retainer?
Both — a single matter is common, and firms with recurring Russian matters can set up a standing correspondent arrangement.
Get started
Pricing is on request, scoped to the specific matter. Send the matter documents to law@vfs.consulting or use the contact form. We confirm scope, procedure and estimate before any billable work begins.
