Korelskiy, Ischuk, Astafiev and Partners to Establish an Investment Practice

Korelskiy, Ischuk, Astafiev and Partners, Attorneys at Law announce the establishment of a new area – Investment Practice.

The new practice area will be headed by James Friedlander, a US lawyer with more than 45 years of international experience in advising on investment projects, on the investment climate for Governments and on financial transactions globally. Mr. Friedlander became a partner in 2010.

His experience includes advising private sector clients on all aspects of the investment and regulatory process on investments in Russia, Central Europe and Asia, sub-Sahara Africa in the agriculture, airline, automobile assembly, banking, financial, hotel, industrial, mining, oil and gas, and satellite/telecommunications sectors. He has also advised the Governments of Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Ukraine, Zaire, Zambia and Zanzibar in sub-Saharan Africa and Armenia, Belarus, Romania, Serbia, the Russian Federation, Turkey and Yemen on the drafting and implementation of their respective Investment Laws.

Over the years, James’ clients have included such companies as ALICO, Arkel International, BHP, Citibank, Conoco, Core Carbon Group, Gecamines (DRC), Globalstar, IFC, Jeep, LUKOIL, Mitsui, Mt. Kenya Safari Club, National Bank of Liberia, Nord Anglia, Santa Fe Mining, SIDANCO, Stanbic Bank, USAID and the World Bank.

James Friedlander received his B.A from the University of Wisconsin in Political Science and Psychology and his J.D. from the Harvard Law School.

Managing partner Andrey Korelskiy commented: “Expanding our Investment Practice is a response to market demands from Russian and international companies being interested in receiving professional legal advice on investment projects from experienced lawyers at the highest standards. In addition, Russia's accession to the WTO gives new impetus to the development of the investment climate in Russia, which we hope soon will attract a substantial inflow of foreign investments to our country, which will require highly professional legal support".

“I am happy to be the new practice’s leader and hope that my international experience will become a good foundation for the development of this practice area.  We expect that this will enable the Law Firm not only to provide even better support to our clients carrying out investment projects, but also to use an integrated approach to perform new tasks, forecast possible risks and find the most efficient and effective legal solutions for investors”, summed up James Friedlander.