Frequently Asked Questions

Below are short answers to the questions foreign clients ask most often before hiring a Russian attorney. In brief: Elena Petrova is a registered Moscow advokat (No. 77/13551), she works in English and Russian, accepts clients from any country, and every engagement starts with a written agreement. The details follow.

What Is an "Advokat" in Russia?

Russia has two kinds of legal professionals. Anyone with a law degree can call themselves a lawyer and give advice. An advokat is different: the status is granted by a regional bar after an exam, and the holder is listed in an official register.

Only an advokat can act as defence counsel in a criminal case. An advokat is also bound by professional ethics and by the duty of secrecy, and can be disciplined by the bar.

How Can I Verify an Attorney and Their Status?

Search the register of attorneys on the Ministry of Justice website by surname and region. Compare the number with the one in the agreement and on the attorney's certificate.

For Elena Petrova, the entry shows the Moscow register and number 77/13551. The Credentials page gives a full checklist.

Do You Work in English, and Can Foreigners Hire You?

Yes to both. Correspondence, memos and reports are prepared in English. Filings to Russian courts are in Russian, with English summaries.

Foreign citizens and foreign companies can hire a Russian advokat on the same terms as Russian clients. A power of attorney signed abroad needs an apostille and a certified translation.

How Are Fees Structured and What Is the Agreement?

The written agreement on legal assistance is called a "soglashenie" in the law, though many clients use the everyday word "dogovor". It names the attorney, the scope of work, the fee and how expenses are paid.

Russian law does not allow a success fee in criminal cases. Court fees and translation costs are separate from the attorney's fee.

What Is Attorney-Client Privilege in Russia?

The Federal Law on Advocacy protects as advokat secrecy any information linked to legal help. The attorney cannot be questioned as a witness about it.

Searches of an attorney's office require a court order. Privilege does not attach to advice from someone who is not an advokat.

Which Courts, and How Long Do Disputes Take?

An advokat may appear in courts of general jurisdiction, in arbitrazh courts for commercial disputes, and before investigators in criminal cases.

The Civil Procedure Code sets a general term of two months for a first-instance case, and the Arbitrazh Procedure Code three months. In practice, postponements and expert examinations often stretch a first-instance case to several months or longer. Appeals and enforcement add time, and cross-border service of documents can delay a case further.

How Do I Start Working With You?

Send an email with a short description and copies of documents. You will get an initial view and a list of missing papers. Once terms are agreed, the agreement and power of attorney are signed, and work begins. If a court deadline is close, mention the date in the first line of your message.

The main channel of communication with the attorney is email: attorneypetrova1@gmail.com.