Russia is perhaps unique among Big Law markets in that it is almost completely unregulated. While there is a Russian bar and a form of licensed attorneys—the advokatura—there is no requirement for lawyers to be registered in order to practice, other than to litigate in court on criminal disputes.
The overwhelming majority of attorneys at international firms in Russia are not licensed advokats, instead effectively operating as legal consultants. But could this long-established status quo be under threat?
