KIAP, Attorneys at law, is a modern law firm with a socially oriented mission. We want to make our Russian legal world a better place: we strive to make our contribution to the development of philanthropy in the Russian legal market, as well as to support its unification to work together for the benefit of the country's legal system. KIAP lawyers are successfully engaged in teaching activities at the law departments of the country’s leading universities. We also support major educational programs and competitions. Our lawyers write books that become bestsellers.
Legal Run is the first international charitable initiative that unites members of the global legal community in support of the “Podari Zhizn” charity foundation and several regional foundations.
Since its inception in 2014, over 30,000 lawyers from 150 cities and 35 countries have taken part in this noble cause. Over the years, the project has raised more than RUB 45.5 million, helping 128 children.
In 2025, Legal Run took place for the twelfth time. Official runs were held over two and a half months, from April 12 to June 28, in more than 25 cities across different countries. A total of RUB 10.5 million was raised and allocated to seventeen beneficiaries of the “Podari Zhizn” foundation, all of whom are undergoing treatment for various oncological diseases.
The KIAP team has been the permanent organizer of the runs in Moscow and coordinator of all regional and international runs and flash mobs. Moreover, nearly all of the firm’s employees take part in the Moscow Legal Run every year as volunteers, helping to organize the event.
For more details about the project, please visit the Legal Run website.
Run. Smile. Help
Legal Chess is a unique charity chess tournament that unites lawyers, their colleagues, children, and friends. First held in 2018 to celebrate International Chess Day, the tournament quickly gained popularity within the legal community and took place in Moscow in 2019, 2021, and 2024. The tournament is organized by KIAP Law Firm and the Pedagogical Chess Union.
About 600 chess players have taken part in the tournaments, competing for the title of the best in their categories. Since its inception, the project has raised over 2.5 million rubles, which were directed for the treatment of seriously ill children supported by the Podari Zhizn charity foundation.
The main goals of Legal Chess are to help children, unite legal professionals, and promote chess as a mind sport. We believe that together we can achieve more and make the world a little better.
For more details about the event, please visit the Legal Chess website.
During the Legal Business Forum: Leaders and the New Reality, held in September 2025, an awards ceremony took place to honor the laureates and winners of the Sustainable Legal Business Award. There were established more than 12 important and socially significant categories aimed at sustainable development and responsible business practices.
KIAP Law Firm became the winner in the “Support for Sports and Healthy Lifestyles Among Employees” category. KIAP views investment in employee well-being and healthy lifestyles as a key element for long-term and sustainable business development, and the Sustainable Legal Business Award inspires companies to develop and implement best practices in the field of ESG and corporate responsibility.
“A healthy and happy employee is the foundation of a sustainable and efficient business. Over 15 years, we have become convinced of this”, noted Andrey Korelskiy, Managing Partner.
For more details about the Award, please read the press release on the KIAP website.
LegalCharity is Russia’s first platform for the provision of pro bono legal services. The project unites members of the legal community to provide services on a pro bono basis, fosters mutual respect and the reputation of its partners, and draws the attention of the legal community to crucial social issues.
KIAP is among the project’s partners, which include law firms and bar associations.
For more details about the project, please visit the LegalCharity website.
KIAP Law Firm launched the ”Lawyers for kids” charitable program. The essence of the program is to donate court-awarded legal fees (received by attorneys/legal representatives) to charitable foundations supporting children with serious illnesses, many of whom require expensive treatment or complex surgeries.
The project has received support from numerous law firms and their clients in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and various Russian regions. Our clients and partners transfer recovered legal costs to charities such as the Podari ZhiznFoundation, the Life Line Foundation, and several others.
For more details about the project, please visit the “Lawyers for Kids” website.
For many years, KIAP lawyers have been successfully engaged in teaching at the law faculties of the country's leading universities, as well as supporting key educational programs and competitions. Our lawyers write books that become bestsellers.
HSE University
The Higher School of Economics has been a long-standing partner of KIAP. For instance, Managing Partner Andrey Korelskiy has been a speaker and co-organizer of the HSE Summer Law School and conducts masterclasses within the Master's program “Legal Management” at the HSE Faculty of Law. Senior Associate Roman Suslov is a lecturer at the Department of Civil and Business Law. Additionally, KIAP supported a project by the HSE Faculty of Law to equip a classroom (hall) for moot court sessions.
In 2025, Stepan Sultanov, Partner and Head of International Commercial Arbitration practice at KIAP, and a current member of the Board of the Russian Arbitration Association (elected in November 2024), delivered a lecture titled “Arbitral Award: Setting Aside and Enforcement of an Arbitral Award” as part of the “Corporate Lawyer” track within the Master's program “Lawyer in Business” at the HSE Faculty of Law.
Kutafin Moscow State Law University (MSAL)
In 2025, KIAP Law Firm and the “PRO.Education” Center of Kutafin Moscow State Law University (MSAL) held a series of masterclasses on “M&A Transactions under Russian Law”. The masterclass program was designed for 2nd-year Bachelor's and Master's students interested in developing competencies in corporate law. The speakers were the corporate practice team members of KIAP: Senior Associate Ekaterina Spakhova and Associate Aleksandr Varchuk. Upon completion of the masterclasses, participants were given a practical case study, and the author of the best solution was awarded an internship opportunity at KIAP, Attorneys at Law.
RIMA Winter Academy on International Arbitration
From January 20 to February 1, 2025, the Russian Institute of Modern Arbitration (RIMA) held its fifth anniversary Winter Academy on International Arbitration, which brought together 42 participants from over 20 countries. Stepan Sultanov, Head of International Commercial Arbitration practice at KIAP, conducted a workshop for students on Hybrid ADR as part of the Academy. During the workshop, Stepan delivered a lecture on the specifics of hybrid dispute resolution methods and then organized a mock co-med-arb proceeding, where Academy participants had the opportunity to act as a mediator, arbitrator, or party representative based on the presented case scenario.
VI RIMA Summer Academy х Young IMA
Stepan Sultanov, Partner and Head of International Commercial Arbitration practice at KIAP Law Firm, spoke at the opening of the VI RIMA x Young IMA Summer Academy, held from August 18 to 22, 2025, for young arbitration professionals. Stepan delivered a lecture to the Academy participants on the topic “Arbitration and Other ADR Methods. Institutional and Ad Hoc Arbitration”. The attendees learned about the main types of ADR, their combinations, and also took part in a mock mediation session.
RIMA Academy for Arbitrators 2026
On January 24, 2026, the 2026 Academy for Arbitrators, organized by the Russian Institute of Modern Arbitration (RIMA), commenced. This is an intensive practice-oriented course designed for professionals seeking future appointments as arbitrators, as well as for experienced arbitrators wishing to enhance their knowledge and skills in arbitration. KIAP Partner Maria Krasnova will be a speaker at the Academy as part of Block No. 4 “Arbitral Award”. Participants will learn methods of drafting arbitral awards: the structure of an arbitral award, issues of its enforcement and setting aside, as well as the specifics of working within a panel of arbitrators.
KIAP, Attorneys at Law, annually supports student competitions, and the Firm's lawyers regularly serve as arbitrators and team coaches at various competitions and conferences.
In 2026, KIAP is acting as the General Partner of the XI International Student Competition “The Model of International Commercial Arbitration”, organized by the Department of Legal Modeling of Kutafin Moscow State Law University (MSAL) with the support of the Arbitration Center at the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP).
Maria Krasnova, Partner and Head of Insurance and Maritime Law Practices at KIAP, will join the Competition's Organizing Committee and serve as an arbitrator (jury member) in the Competition's final rounds.
In 2025, Maria Krasnova also participated as an arbitrator (jury member) in the X International Student Competition “The Model of International Commercial Arbitration” (MICA).
KIAP's International Arbitration Practice traditionally provides active support to student arbitration competitions. In 2025, the capital of Serbia hosted Arbitration Days timed to coincide with one of the largest pre-moots for the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot. Anastasia Ryabova, Associate of the Practice, acted as an arbitrator at the in-person pre-moot in Belgrade.
In 2025, KIAP Law Firm supported the X Arbitration Association (RAA) Online Arbitration Competition. The awards ceremony for the winners was held with the participation of a KIAP representative, who presented an internship diploma to one of the Competition's best speakers – Alyona Fuks. Stepan Sultanov, Partner and Head of International Arbitration Practice at KIAP, served as an arbitrator at the oral hearings of the X RAA Competition, and Anastasia Ryabova, Associate of the Practice, coached a team from the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation.
In 2025, KIAP, Attorneys at Law, supported the IX All-Russian Student Competition on Arbitration of Corporate Disputes named after V.P. Mozolin, organized by the Russian Institute of Modern Arbitration (RIMA). Alexander Kartashov, Lead Associate at KIAP, PhD in Law, served as an arbitrator for the in-person rounds. Also, Anastasia Ryabova, Associate of KIAP's International Commercial Arbitration Practice, coached Team No. 325 from the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, which advanced to the competition's quarterfinals.
In 2024, KIAP Law Firm was a partner of the IX Arbitration Association Online Arbitration Competition. Lawyers from KIAP Law Firm participated in organizing the Competition. The awards ceremony for the Competition winners was held with the participation of Andrey Korelsky, Managing Partner and Founder of KIAP, Attorneys at Law.
Anastasia Ryabova, Associate of the International Commercial Arbitration Practice, coached Team No. 11 from Kutafin Moscow State Law University (MSAL), which won III place in the “Best Statement of Defense” nomination.
In the “Best Statement of Claim” nomination, Artyom Gritsuk, Junior Associate at KIAP, took 1st place as part of the “HSE University No. 13” team. Following the Competition's final day, the team advanced to the finals and won III place.
KIAP, Attorneys at Law, also supported the publication of e-books in the #Glossa series edited by A.G. Karapetov: “General Provisions on the Deal: Commentary on Articles 153–165.1, 181.1–181.5 and 190–194 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation”, the book “A void contract: Commentary on Articles 166–181 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation”, the e-book “Transactions, Representation, Statute of Limitations: Article-by-Article Commentary on Articles 153-208 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation”, and the e-book “Inheritance Law: Article-by-Article Commentary on Articles 1110-1185, 1224 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation” edited by E.Y. Petrov.
Stepan Sultanov, Head of International Commercial Arbitration Practice at KIAP, and Anastasia Ryabova, Associate of the Practice, co-authored paragraph 16.6 of the student's book “International Commercial Arbitration”.
KIAP, Attorneys at Law, has also supported the unique educational project “Lawyers Read Classics”. For the first time, leading Russian lawyers agreed to have their voices recorded and cloned to narrate fundamental works on jurisprudence. Among the participants are Artem Karapetov, Roman Bevzenko, Yuliy Tay, and Andrey Korelsky, Managing Partner of KIAP, Attorneys at Law. Their voices brought to life the text of one of the key works of Russian legal scholarship – “The Principle of Good Faith in the Draft Law of Obligations” by Ivan Borisovich Novitsky. The AI-generated voice of Andrey Korelskiy can be heard via the link in Episode 8.
KIAP traditionally invites applications for its summer internship, which includes a scholarship and the opportunity to continue working within the Firm's team of lawyers. During the internship selected candidates can attend masterclasses led by senior colleagues from various practices, gain experience working on diverse projects, and find out more about their future career. To learn more about the internship, please write to us at: info@kiaplaw.ru
KIAP lawyers provide pro bono support to a number of charitable organizations, including “Starost v Radost”, “Podsolnukh”, and “Podari Zhizn”.
For over 6 years, Andrey Korelskiy, Managing Partner of KIAP, has been a member of the Commission on Determining the Amount of Moral Harm Compensation at the Association of Lawyers of Russia. The Commission was established by an initiative group of lawyers and attorneys with the aim of changing the current system of extremely low valuation of human life and health and the absence of standards and methodology for assessing the amount of moral harm compensation. The Commission's services are provided on a pro bono basis.
Additionally, in 2024 Andrey Korelskiy was awarded the silver medal “For Assistance” by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation for providing free legal aid from 2018 to 2024 to victims of the 2018 fire at the Zimnyaya Vishnya shopping mall in Kemerovo.
The philosophy of social engagement extends to our approach to gifts that we give to our clients and partners on the occasion of holidays. We strive to infuse our gifts with special social meaning.
For us, gifts with meaning are the ones which were created and produced by disabled but kind-hearted people, as well as young talented designers and creative workshops in the regions, whom we support through our orders.
Of particular importance to us are “long-lasting” gifts, which are created with care for the Planet and use eco-friendly, high-quality materials capable of serving for many years and remaining useful and applicable even after the holidays have passed. For instance, our clients and partners have been growing a live spruce for over ten years – we gave them a tree in a pot, and later on they planted into the ground at their dacha, in the park or by their house in the city. Among our gifts are designer wooden bird feeders, nutcrackers made from natural walnut; and this year we realized our most ambitious idea and made real wooden sleds! Our gifts are part of KIAP Law Firm's cultural code and part of our history, which all employees carefully cherish in their hearts. Moreover, all colleagues annually participate in developing the new concept and personally assist in wrapping the gifts.
Among the realised projects is the following: For International Women's Day (March 8), the budget reserved for International Women’s day was spent on a creative floristry master class for girls from orphanages. The event was held jointly with the charitable foundation “In Your Hands” (V tvoikh rukakh), which focuses on the social adaptation of orphanage children. We congratulated our clients and the entire legal community with a greeting card, in which we told them about the event and thanked them for their participation and contribution to a great good cause.