The Lawyer handed out its European Awards on February 20th in London, and Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners came away as one of the region's big winners.
The CIS powerhouse won awards both for Russian Firm of the year and European Corporate Team of the year (for its work on behalf of UC Rusal in the acquisition by Roman Abramovich of a minority stake – worth USD 1.5 billion – in Norilsk Nickel, which is partially owned by Rusal), and was identified by judges as a "clear standout" in the Russian market. The firm was also shortlisted for Ukraine & CIS Law Firm of the Year – a somewhat confusing category, it must be said – and Managing Partner of the Year.
Wolf Theiss also had a big night, winning awards both for Austrian Law Firm of the Year and Central European Law Firm of the Year, and being lauded by the judges as becoming “close to becoming the dominant regional player.”
Other winners included Asters, which beat out Egorov Puginsky for Ukraine & CIS Firm of the Year, Herbert Smith Freehills for European Projects Team of the Year (for advising the government of St. Petersburg on the world’s largest PPP toll road project), and Goltsblat BLP – the Russian arm of Berwin Leighton Paisner – for International Firm of the Year. Mehmet Gun & Partners won the award for Turkey, Sorainen for the Baltics, Karanovic & Nikolic for Eastern Europe & the Balkans, Magnusson for Poland, and Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii for Romania.
