29 January 2025 saw the premier of Pravo.ru’s documentary “The Legal Industry: 35 Years Down the Road”. The film documents the key events and developments in the domestic legal market over the past 35 years. The Partners of Orion recall how the legal industry in Russia has evolved and grown.

Konstantin Olefir discusses his outlook and work in the legal industry since 2020. In particular, he addresses the exit by international law firms from the Russian market. 

“There is a long-term trend indicating that these resources will be channeled into a large number of interesting projects. Another trend is that these resources cannot be contained within Russia indefinitely. It is obvious today that Russian companies are continuing to invest abroad and penetrate foreign markets despite all the restrictions, whether or not related to sanctions. We are definitely witnessing a rise in venture capital and private equity as Russia and Russian investors focus more on domestic opportunities, having come to see the Russian market as the primary one. We expect to see more interest from the capital market, too”, said Konstantin.

Evgeny Zelensky discusses how the current geopolitical challenges have affected the legal industry and the new opportunities that have emerged.

“There is the West, there is the global majority or the Global South. We fall within the Global South category and continue to serve our clients. Currently, we are not only working from Moscow but are also focusing more on unfamiliar new jurisdictions, primarily Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. We are hoping to develop deeper ties with Chinese companies, law firms and clients. Lawyers are playing an increasingly critical role in business, which is why we are seeking stronger bonds with our clients”, said Evgeny.

Watch the full film: The Russian Legal Industry: 35 Years Down the Road

Read the text version: The Legal Market Celebrates its 35-Year Anniversary