Seminar in Yekaterinburg: Application of English Law on Shareholders’ Rights in Russia

On 12 April 2011 the British Consulate General in Ekaterinburg and the British-Russian Law Association conduct a seminar “Application of English Law in Russia: Shareholder Rights (and related issues)”.

According to the organizers, shareholder agreements have a significant impact in Russia. Under Russian corporate law a number of imperative norms exist which cannot be changed by agreement of the parties. As a result Russian corporate law is sometimes unable to meet the needs of the Russian shareholders.

In 2009 changes to Russian corporate law were effected which recognised the validity of shareholder agreements for the first time. These changes mean that shareholders in Russian companies are now able to enter into agreements about their management that are governed by foreign laws.

Therefore, an important legal right recognised in many international jurisdictions is now available in Russia as well. English law is by far the most popular choice of foreign law for shareholder agreements (both in Russia and globally). Why is this the case? What is it about English law that makes it such a favoured choice for shareholder agreements?

Representatives of leading international and Russian legal practices will address these and other questions on shareholder rights under English law and the opportunities for their application in Russia, in particular – basic shareholder rights, resolving shareholder disputes and enforcing foreign judgments under English and Russian law (see detailedprogramme).

The seminar will take place on Tuesday 12 April 2011, 13:30, at Park Inn, First Floor, 98 Mamina-Sibiryaka Street.

Participation in the seminar is free of charge. Deadline for registration is 6 April 2011. Please register to Yulya Alekseyeva, Senior Trade & Investment Adviser, British Consulate General, Ekaterinburg: yulya.alekseyeva@fconet.fco.gov.uk / t. +7 (343) 253 5604 / m. +7 912 6565 147.