The group, led by partners Grigory Marinichev and Konstantin Kochetkov, includes six assistants and boosts the firm’s Moscow practice which was set up a year ago with a team from the now defunct New York firm Dewey & LeBouef. Mr Marinichev is a specialist in banking and finance whilst Mr Kochetkov is a project finance lawyer.

Dubai launch

The news is another move in the strengthening of the firm’s international operations – it recently announced  the planned opening of its 25th office worldwide in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The billion-dollar revenue law firm has hired three partners from Texas law firm Vinson & Elkins to head the new office. 

Relocation

The trio comprises structured finance and debt capital markets specialist Ayman A. Khaleq, corporate and transactional lawyer Jim Knight and energy specialist Lewis Jones, based in London. Mr Khaleq and Mr Knight will relocate to Dubai, and Mr Jones will be based in London but travel often to the new office in Dubai. 'The scale of deal, project, development, and investment opportunities that our clients entertain in the Middle East is vast - and we've done well to meet those needs, utilizing our global network of support,' said Morgan Lewis Chair Francis Milone.