Welcome to ILN-terviews, a series of profiles of ILN member firm attorneys, designed to give a unique insight into the lawyers who make up our Network. For our latest interview, we chose ILN member, Andrey Zelenin of Lidings Law Firm in Moscow, Russia.
In one sentence, how would you describe your practice?
Advising business in Russia on all aspects of the Russian law.
Who would be your typical client?
Russian and international companies primarily from such industries as pharmaceuticals and healthcare, IT&Electronics and FMCG.
What would you like clients and potential clients to know about you?
That I’m down-to-earth, responsible, optimistic and go above and beyond to get the results.
What has been your most challenging case? Why?
As of now, the most exciting case I had was an international insolvency matter, where we went up to the Supreme Court to recognize (first time ever in Russia!) a Northern Ireland Court Decision.
What has been your proudest moment as a lawyer?
Passing the Bar exam. The legal profession in Russia currently undergoes a major reform and I had to do that quite recently – in 2014. Apart from taking it as a personal challenge it was important for me that my colleagues at the firm have been encouraged by my example following in my footsteps successfully passing the Bar exam
What do you do when you’re not practicing law?
I’m doing homework with my five children.
What would surprise people most about you?
My family background generally. That I was born and spent my childhood in the Middle East, where my father worked as a journalist, and that I have quite remarkable ancestors – famous Russian actress Maria Ermolova and an advocate, member of State Duma (parliament) of the Russian Empire Nikolay Schubinskiy (my 3rd great-grandparents, both lived at the end of the XIX century). And that I am 34 years old and have five kids: two daughters, 12 and 2 years old, and three sons, 10, 8 and 6.
What has been your most memorable ILN experience?
I adore travelling by car. In 2015 we took a car ride to Sicily for the ILN Annual Meeting. Not from Moscow, though, but from Rome. And of course I also couldn’t miss the Trabant tour in Hungary last year. That was really remarkable.
What career would you have chosen if you weren’t a lawyer?
I planned to take historical studies in University, but never thought of a particular alternative career. A teacher maybe?
If a movie were made out of your life, who would you want to play you?
Let it be a cartoon instead.
How would you like to be remembered?
As someone taking care of other’s interests first.