Vladislav Zabrodin is the founder and Managing Partner of Capital Legal Services. Vladislav is one of the leading lawyers in Russia.

Working in Russian and foreign companies in the 1990s gave Vladislav vast experience in understanding business from the inside, the principles and systems of operation of both private Russian firms and major international corporations. At the beginning of his career, Vladislav worked as CEO at a Russian subsidiary of a major Finnish public company, as a member of the board of directors of foreign companies with a presence in the Russian Federation, and in an international law firm. Then, he traveled to the US for studies, at the end of which he was awarded a degree from Northwestern University Law School in Chicago. Having returned to Russia, he worked in major international corporations and law firms (Otis Elevator Company, McDermott, Will & Emery).

In 1999, Vladislav founded Capital Legal Services, which became one of the first Russian law firms to fully comply with international standards of expertise, range and quality of services, as well as with principles of professional conduct and client-oriented attitude, including such key principles as professionalism, dynamism, pragmatism and positive approach.

During the first 10 years of business, the company provided support only for foreign investors’ transactions and operations in Russia, but gradually it began to attract more and more Russian clients who shared the principles of civilized business.

Originally, the company specialized in corporate and real estate transactions. Among Vladislav’s first clients were OTIS, where he had previously worked, IKEA, which with the support of the CLS team built 12 out of its 14 shopping centers in Russia, and a Finnish company, a subsidiary of which Vladislav created in the early 1990s.

For over 12 years, Vladislav has been actively practicing in public-private partnership (PPP). During this period, the company participated in over 130 projects throughout Russia from Kaliningrad to Sakhalin, including the very first successful PPP projects in Russia, i.e. Pulkovo Airport and Western High-Speed Diameter in St. Petersburg.

Vladislav’s broad network of contacts in different countries of the world formed the framework for providing assistance to Russian businesses in their efforts to enter international markets. Capital Legal Services was the first Russian law firm to open a permanent representative office in Finland. In 2020, for the first time on the Russian market, the Russian offices of Castren & Snellman, one of the oldest Finnish law firms, joined the company.

Vladislav believes that the most dynamically developing practice areas are matters related to Russian businesses and their owners entering international markets, international investment projects and, of course, international compliance, without which it is impossible not only to develop business, but even to travel abroad for some individuals. 

Vladislav is recognized by leading international rating agencies, such as The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners Europe, in key legal areas. In addition, he holds a position of Vice-Chair of the IBA Committee and is a co-founder of the JuRuss Association of Russian-speaking lawyers, representing both Russia and the UK in it.

In over 30 years of practicing law and providing support for business, Vladislav has become not just an advisor for his clients, but more importantly their colleague, partner and often friend.

Areas of Law:

• Real Estate
• Corporate Law / Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
• Asset Management
• Project Financing
• Investment Management
• Antitrust Law

Education:

• St. Petersburg State University, Law School (1991), degree with highest honors
• PhD studies in International Law, St. Petersburg State University
• Northwestern University, Chicago, USA, Law School, L.L.M. (1995)
• Turku University, Turku, Finland, Law School, course in international trade law (1992) 

Languages:  

• English
• Russian