Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners has provided pro bono legal consulting to Big Brothers Big Sisters in Russia.
According to EPAM, "Big Brothers Big Sisters of Russia supports children in state care, children without parents, adopted children, children from single-parent, large, and underprivileged households, and children with disabilities through an individual mentorship program." According to the firm, its lawyers developed a set of guidelines addressing legal issues and types of government assistance available to orphaned children and children whose parents are unable to care for them. The guidelines help both volunteer mentors and children supported by the program in Saint Petersburg navigate state benefits system and address legal issues as they arise.
The document EPAM created contains guidelines related to available government support in education, healthcare, employment opportunities, and housing, as well as financial support. The document also addresses questions on transfer of property rights, military service, custody and guardianship, and civil and criminal liability.
EPAM's St. Petersburg team was led by Counsel Olga Mischenko and Associates Ays Lidzhanova, Yuri Nefedov, and Yulia Sevostyanova.
