Monday, April 9

DEBT RECOVERY

Gazprombank vs Vyborg Shipyard

Moscow Commercial Court

Gazprombank seeks to recover from Vyborg Shipyard, one of the largest shipbuilding companies in Russia, debt under a credit contract, including $123.99 million in primary debt. Earlier, the defendant requested the court to postpone the case, as the parties were holding talks on its peaceful settlement.

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW

National Reserve Bank (NRB) vs Transport Watchdog

Moscow Commercial Court

National Reserve Bank (NRB) has filed an application to quash the watchdog's decision to revoke Kavminvodyavia's (KVM) operator license.

The largest air carrier in the North Caucasus, Kavminvodavia was set to wind up work as part of its reorganization and assets transfer to Aeroflot in October 2011, but its operator certificate was revoked as the airline no longer met its financial and economic standards.

Tuesday, April 10

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW

Gazpromneft Moscow Refinery vs Environmental Watchdog

Ninth Commercial Court of Appeals

Gazpromneft Moscow Refinery filed an appeal against upholding the environmental watchdog's refusal to grant permission to emit noxious pollutants.

The service refused to grant permission in September, arguing that the refinery failed to execute its obligations to substantially reduce the pollutants in its discharges in 2010-2011.

According to the service, the refinery failed to stop two sources of pollution near residential area.

Wednesday, April 11

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW

Domodedovo Airport Aviation Security et al. vs Transport Watchdog

Tenth Commercial Court of Appeals

A terrorist bomb went off in Domodedovo airport in January 2011 killing 37 people and injuring over 100. Serious breaches to the airport security system were revealed in the aftermath. The transport watchdog (Rostransnadzor) obliged the airport to enhance security. Domodedovo was ordered to inspect all people entering the airport, assess the vulnerability level of the airport facilities and transport means as well as to develop a transport security plan.

The court later reversed the watchdog’s order upon request filed by several Domodedovo companies.

Rostransnadzor appealed against the decision revoking its order.

CIVIL LAW

Rusal vs RusHydro

Moscow District Federal Commercial Court

Rusal, the world's leading aluminum manufacturer, filed a lawsuit against RusHydro claiming it sustained a 25 million ruble ($806,700) loss as a result of an accident at the Sayano-Shushenskaya Hydropower Plant in August 2009.

The lawsuit was satisfied, but RusHydro filed an appeal.

CIVIL LAW

Vesta investment company vs Yukos Capital S.a.r.l.

Moscow Commercial Court

Vesta investment company, Rosneft shareholder, is seeking to invalidate four loan contracts worth $377.03 million between Luxemburg's Yukos Capital S.a.r.l and Yuganskneftegaz.

According to Vesta, the loans in dispute were issued to Yuganskneftegaz, former YUKOS subsidiary taken over by Rosneft, in breach of law.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Microsoft vs Dmitry Shapovalov

Moscow Commercial Court

Microsoft seeks to prohibit Russian businessman Dmitry Shapovalov from further using the windows.ru domain due to trademark infringement.
The windows.ru website is currently blocked.

Thursday, April 12

INSURANCE

Management Company Ingosstrakh Investments vs BNP Paribas, Russian Machines

Moscow District Federal Commercial Court

Ingosstrakh Investments seeks to invalidate the guarantee contract that Russian Machines, Oleg Deripaska's Basic Element subsidiary, issued to BNP Paribas in October 2008. The contract was signed to partially secure the $1.2 billion loan that BNP Paribas granted Russian Machines' subsidiary Veleron Holding B.V. in 2007 to acquire a 20-percent stake in Magna, Canadian automotive supplier.

The claim was earlier rejected, Ingosstrakh Investments filed a cassation appeal.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Heineken Ceska republika vs Elitvoda.Ru

Moscow District Federal Commercial Court

The court held that Elitvoda.Ru imported into Russia a shipment of beer without obtaining the trademark owner's consent. Heineken Ceska republika brewery was awarded 200,000 rubles ($6,700) for the breach of its rights. The defendant filed a cassation appeal.

CIVIL LAW

Central Bank vs Severnaya Verf (Northern Shipyard) plant's shareholders

Ninth Commercial Court of Appeals

The Central Bank filed a lawsuit against the Severnaya Verf (Northern Shipyard) shipbuilding plant's shareholders, whose shares were pledged under loans totaling 32 billion ruble ($1 billion) to the now insolvent Mezhprombank.

The court ordered earlier an expert appraisal of the pledged shares. Deloitte & Touche CIS was appointed by the court to conduct the appraisal which was sealed.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Parfumeria XXI Veka (XXI Century Perfume) vs Patent Service 

Moscow Commercial Court

The Russian perfume producer is trying to register the AVATAR perfume brand. The company filed a lawsuit disputing the decision of the patent service, which refused to register the trademark.

The reason for the refusal was the fact that it displays the name of the famous movie directed by James Cameron.

Friday, April 13

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

Novolipetsk Iron & Steel Corporation (NLMK) vs Nikolai Maximov

Moscow Commercial Court

NLMK seeks to cancel a shares-purchase contract, according to which NLMK purchased a controlling stake in Maxi-Group. The plaintiff also claims back 7.3 billion rubles ($233 million) that it paid to Maximov for a stake in Maxi-Group.

CORPORATE LAW

Navalny vs Rosneft

Moscow Commercial Court

A renowned whistleblower and a minority shareholder in several major Russian state-owned companies Alexei Navalny requests from Rosneft to show a number of corporate documents. Earlier two lawsuits filed by Navalny were consolidated.

The plaintiff asked for the copies of contracts, concluded as part of an oil supply deal with China and minutes of the Rosneft 2009 board meetings.