Ekaterina Sokolova

• National Research University Higher School of Economics, associate with the degree in international business law
• The Chamber of Tax Advisers of Russia, certificate of conferment of qualification Taxes and duties adviser.

Identification and mitigation of legal and tax risks arising from clients’ business operations across various industries (retail, wholesale, manufacturing, real estate and construction, B2B);
Structuring of existing and newly established businesses in Russia and cross-border contexts, including corporate governance models, tax planning systems, contractual frameworks, ownership structures, and investment models;
Implementation of legal structures on a turnkey basis, including drafting of complex legal documentation;
Optimisation of HR policies and payroll taxes;
Representation of clients in tax audits and disputes, including defence during tax control procedures;
Advisory on complex legal matters, including tax and customs law.

Experience Overview
Ekaterina has led and participated in projects for major companies and corporate groups across multiple sectors, including:

• Retail: Sportmaster, Jamilco, Ralf Ringer, Zenden, Lacoste, Kenguru, BAON
• Trade and manufacturing: Upeco, Aqualife, Estima, Euro Decor, Union
• Industrial production: OKAN, Europlast, Albes
• Services and IT: Glavdostavka, Breffi, UTS Travel, Art. Lebedev Studio
• Construction and real estate: ABZ-Dorstroy, Barkli, We Know

Selected Experience

• Legal and tax diagnostics of a transport and logistics company, identifying and mitigating risks exceeding RUB 600 million, and developing a new sustainable corporate structure;
• Development and implementation of a franchise model for a major retailer operating in 50+ regions of Russia;
• Restructuring of a trade and manufacturing holding comprising two plants and a retail network across 20 regions, resulting in improved governance and operational efficiency;
• Advising on HR and payroll tax optimisation for a retail chain with 1,500+ employees across 30 regions, achieving annual savings exceeding RUB 40 million;
• Supporting projects involving relocation to preferential jurisdictions (Skolkovo, Kaliningrad SEZ) for IT holdings, logistics, and tourism companies;
• Turnkey implementation of complex corporate structures, including full legal documentation.

Ekaterina is an author of numerous publications on business structuring and taxation and regularly выступает as a speaker and moderator at industry conferences, webinars, and business events.

She is recognised in the Pravo-300 individual ranking as a “Recommended Lawyer” and ranked among the best lawyers in 2025 in Digital Assets and Their Management (Band 2).