Practice · 01
Criminal
defence
I defend clients at every stage of criminal proceedings: from the pre-investigation check and the first questioning to trial and an appeal against the verdict and sentence. My clients include entrepreneurs, company executives and private individuals.
What defence
work covers
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01Check
Pre-investigation check
I attend when statements are given, help respond to requests for documents and challenge unlawful actions by those conducting the check. The aim is for the decision on opening a case to be based on complete and verified material.
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02Investigation
Preliminary investigation
I defend clients during questioning and confrontations, file motions, review expert examinations and the case file, and challenge the pre-trial restraint measure and the investigator’s decisions.
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03Court
Court of first instance
I build the defence position on the evidence, take part in the questioning of witnesses and experts, and present closing arguments. Where there are grounds, I move for the case to be discontinued or for a more lenient sentence.
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04Appeals
Appeals
I prepare appeals and cassation appeals, examine the record of the court hearing and the judgment for violations, and represent clients in higher courts.
When people come to me
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01
You are summoned to give a statement or be questioned
You may attend with a lawyer. Before the interview, we will work out your status and what is worth saying and what is not.
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02
Officers have arrived to carry out a search
Ask to see the search order and call a lawyer. Your lawyer is entitled to be present during the search, and all comments are entered in the record (Article 182 of the Russian Code of Criminal Procedure).
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03
Someone close to you has been arrested
A detained person is entitled to the assistance of a defence lawyer from the moment of actual arrest and to meet the lawyer in private before being questioned for the first time. We will find out where they are and what their status is.
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04
You have been charged
We will study the decision to charge, determine the position on each count and file motions for the investigative actions that are needed.
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05
The case has been sent to court
We prepare the position for the hearings: we work with the prosecution evidence, question witnesses and experts, and present the defence evidence.
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06
Judgment has already been delivered
An appeal is lodged within 15 days of the day the judgment is pronounced, or, for a convicted person in custody, of the day they are handed a copy (Article 389.4 of the Russian Code of Criminal Procedure).
If this is
happening
now
- 01
Do not give statements or testimony without a lawyer: the right not to testify against yourself is enshrined in Article 51 of the Russian Constitution.
- 02
Ask them to identify themselves and show their documents: an official ID, an order or a summons.
- 03
Read records in full and add your comments before signing.
- 04
Do not sign blank forms or pages with lines left empty.
- 05
Call a lawyer: +7 999 085-85-99.
How the work is organised
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01Call
Tell me briefly what has happened. I will clarify the details and tell you which documents to gather for the meeting.
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02Consultation
We go through the documents and discuss the options and the risks of each.
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03Agreement
We set out the scope of work, timescales and fees in a legal services agreement.
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04Defence
I take part in investigative actions and hearings, and keep you informed at every step.
FAQ
Can I bring in my own lawyer if I already have a court-appointed defence lawyer?
Yes. A privately retained defence lawyer can be brought in at any stage of the proceedings (Article 50 of the Russian Code of Criminal Procedure). We will discuss how to arrange this without losing time.
How much does a defence cost?
The fee depends on the stage, the volume of material and the number of counts. We determine it after the consultation and set it out in the agreement, so the terms are known in advance.
No case has been opened yet. Do I need a lawyer?
Yes, and this is a good time to get in touch. At the check stage, the position and documents can be prepared before the first questioning begins.
Related
publications
All publications
Let’s discuss
your situation
If criminal prosecution has already begun, do not put off speaking to a lawyer. Call me – we will work out what to do now.
The information on this page is general and does not constitute legal advice.