Russian law firm looks to China to serve investors

Pepeliaev Group LLC, one the largest law firms in Russia announced in Shanghai on Monday that it is to launch offices in China to meet expanding demands from clients investing in Russia.

Sergey Pepeliaev, managing partner, said legal professionals have noticed that increasing numbers of investors in China have been eyeing opportunities of setting up joint ventures in Russia or operating facilities in the country. Trade and investment activities between the countries have been rising in recent years.

According to a report on China-Russia investment activities by the Ministry of Commerce People's Republic of China, China's investors focus mainly on the energy, telecommunications and information technologies sectors.

Real estate, fast-moving consumer goods and agricultural products are also potential fields in which investors will see significant market demands, according to Pepeliaev's research note.

Russia's environment for business has been improving in recent years as its position in the latest Doing Business ranking rose from the previous year's 92nd to 62nd place, according to a World Bank report.