A legal practice on dispute resolution:
arbitration & litigation

Mikhail Samoylov, LL.M. (MIDS)

Litigation Lawyer with 20+ years of experience in civil, commercial litigation, and arbitration. Strong expertise in trial advocacy, drafting pleadings, motions, and legal briefs, as well as case law research and evidence preparation. Proven track record of leading high-stakes litigation cases and managing complex legal processes.

Strong expertise in trial advocacy, drafting pleadings, motions, and legal briefs, as well as case law research and evidence preparation.
Former Head of Litigation at a leading Russian bank, where I directed and mentored a litigation department of 40+ in-house lawyers, achieving favorable outcomes in civil disputes.

Represented leading international clients, including BASF, METRO Cash & Carry, and UBS Switzerland AG, before Russian courts at various levels in contract disputes, employment litigation, administrative proceedings, and enforcement cases.

Acted as counsel for RTK in a landmark case concerning a unilateral arbitration clause (RTK v. Sony Ericsson, Case No. 1831/12). Represented the Central Bank in judicial enforcement proceedings before the Russian Federal Bailiff Service.

·Skilled in international commercial (ICC) and investment arbitration (ICSID AF), having acted as both counsel and presiding arbitrator. Listed as an arbitrator with the Tashkent International Arbitration Centre (TIAC).

Contributed to several publications in English and Russian on arbitration and litigation issues, including the ICCA Yearbook on Commercial Arbitration.

Co-head of the Russian Arbitration Association's group on monitoring court practice in arbitration.

Experience (over the past 10 years)

Independent Legal Counsel

Arbitrator

May 2023 - Present.

Responsibilities:

Provide legal services to corporate and private clients in areas of dispute resolution, litigation, and arbitration.
Represent clients in civil and commercial disputes before Russian courts.
Draft and negotiate commercial agreements, settlement contracts, and cross-border transactions.

Key Achievements:

Served as arbitrator and presiding arbitrator in arbitration proceedings conducted under the TIAC Arbitration Rules (seat: Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan).

Moscow Industrial Bank, JSC

Head of the Litigation Department and Legal Support for Regional Operations

February 2020 – May 2023.

Responsibilities:

Led the Litigation Department: defined goals, strategies, and policies; delegated and monitored tasks; developed legal reports; organized remote work during COVID-19.
Managed a team of 40+ in-house lawyers: assessed strengths and weaknesses, set objectives, allocated resources, and evaluated performance.
Coordinated with the Legal Department of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation and internal departments including Accounting, HR, Risk Management, and Security.
Monitored and ensured execution of tasks from the Head of Legal.
Represented the bank in high-value litigations in the Supreme Court, courts of general jurisdiction, and arbitrazh courts.

Key Achievements:

Represented the bank in multiple Supreme Court cases on employer liability for employee misconduct, with potential exposure of RUB 1.5–2 billion.
Successfully litigated before the Russian Supreme Court to recover debt under a loan agreement with a municipality that had accepted escheated property.
Recovered RUB 198 billion from former beneficiaries through litigation.
Managed appellate proceedings for inclusion of RUB 7.5 billion in the bank’s claims in the creditors’ register.
Oversaw cassation litigation concerning the transfer of a historic property in Saint Petersburg to the bank, valued at over RUB 1.4 billion.

Mansors - Law Firm

Counsel

June 2019 – February 2020.

Responsibilities:

Advised clients on various litigation and ICC arbitration matters.
Represented clients in commercial litigation before Russian courts.
Led and managed a legal team.

Key Achievements:

Served as counsel for Swiss-based companies in appellate litigation, including cases on piercing the corporate veil and recovering over RUB 87 billion in damages.
Represented a leading Swiss bank in multiple disputes involving private aircraft before Russian courts.

Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners

- Leading Law Firm

Associate

November 2016 – February 2019.

Responsibilities:

Advised clients and drafted documents for investment arbitration proceedings.
Provided legal counsel on a range of litigation and arbitration matters.
Coordinated and managed external counsel and in-house legal teams to achieve objectives.
Represented clients in commercial litigation in Russian courts and before the International Commercial Arbitration Court (Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation).

Achievements:

Acted as counsel for a Russian investor in an investment arbitration under ICSID Additional Facilities Rules.

Education

The State Tretyakov Gallery.
The course on Legal support for museum activities (2025).
The Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration.
The distance learning on corporate procurement (2024).
The Hague Academy of International Law.
The winter course on International Law (2020).
The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies and the University of Geneva Law School.
Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Dispute Resolution (2016).
The Russian Academy of Advocacy and Notaries.
Specialist in Law (2007).

Languages

Russian (Native);

English (Full Professional Proficiency);

French (Elementary Proficiency).

Skills

Trial Advocacy, Court Representation, Appeals & Appellate Practice, Drafting Pleadings & Legal Opinions, Legal Research & Analysis, Case Management, Enforcement Proceedings, Litigation Project & Crisis Management, Risk Assessment, Decision-Making, Team Leadership & Delegation, Goal Setting, Time Management, Negotiation, Public Speaking, Written & Verbal Communication, Collaboration.