The head of the real estate and construction practice of Maxima Legal Evgeny Druzhinin took part in discussions devoted to the matters of the apartment management. More information on the details of the new real estate format could be found in the closing article of the “Nedvizhimost I stroitelstvo Peterburga”  chief editor Dmitry Sinochkin.

Dmitry Sinochkin Apartments: to live in or to rent ? // Nedvizhimost I stroitelstvo Peterburga.- Nr. 18(806).- 05.05.2014.- С.10

April 28 – 29, 2014 the hotel Park Inn by Radisson Pribaltiyskaya hosted one of the most expected business events of the regional investment market, the forum “Development and construction in the Leningrad region” organized by the Russian Guild of managers and developers in cooperation with the administration of the Leningrad region.

The forum comprised the exhibition of the promising projects and technologies in development and construction accompanied by the hard-driving business programme.

One of its main events was a training conference “Managing and licensing. New laws” an active participant of which was the head of the real estate and construction practice of Maxima Legal Evgeny Druzhinin.  
The main topic for discussion was the mechanisms to increase the efficiency in real estate management as well as analysis of the Russian and international expertise in real estate management cost cutting.

Experts put a strong focus on the matter of licensing the operations of the managing companies. The participants of the discussion did not come to a unified opinion whether the licensing facilitates solving those problems appeared to the housing and public utilities or, on the contrary, deteriorates these problems.

“Licensing is a formal and rigid mechanism. It is purposed first of all at guarantying compliance with the minimum requirements rather than at real improvement of the qualities of the services rendered. But is this the main problem in managing condominiums? I think, it is not,” - stated Evgeny Druzhinin.

Maxima Legal lawyers provide consultancy to one of the divisions of the General Electric corporation, GE Oil&Gas in a set of matters related to the corporate and commercial rights.  

General Electric is a global multi-profile company operating in  implementation of the infrastructure projects, finances and mass media in 100 countries.

Its division GE Oil&Gas is engaged in developing complex solutions for oil and gas production, transport, storage and processing, gas liquefaction for the petrochemical industry and creation of the integrated oil and gas transport systems including piping system analysis and estimation.

The head of the real estate and construction practice Maxima Legal Evgeny Druzhinin took part in a round table Battle for the city center: society, business and  authorities  in their search for the compromise. The event organized by the editorial board of the newspaper ‘Nedvizhimost i stroitelstvo Peterburga’ (Real estate and construction of St. Petersburg)  with support of the non-profit organization Russian Guild of managers and developers took place on May 19 in the hall of the Investment projects.

The major discussion topic was the problem of retaining the historic identity in the process of restructuring and development of St. Petersburg’ city center.  The participants of the meeting strived to define the ways to enhance the investment attractiveness of the city center against the background of the strict legislative requirements and obligations towards the global society by means of a collective discussion.

Evgeny Druzhinin:

“The conflict of interests existing between the businessmen, developers and city safeguards in relation to the complex city center improvements is a long-standing conflict which has become classic for  St. Petersburg. We strive to observe how it is done in European cities and use the global expertise, search for compromises between the progress and the historical identity, though one thing is clear at this moment: the city will not succeed in solving the problem without a strict and strong-willed policies of the authorities”

One of the world’s most reputable legal directories Chambers & Partners ranked Maxima Legal (formely – Maxima Consulting & Law) in its famous Chambers Europe 2014 list (section General Business Law, St. Petersburg).

General business law practice of Maxima Legal headed by the managing partner Maxim Avrashkov has been highly appreciated by international experts.

The ranking is based upon the annual analytics research of the regional legal market. It reveals the most remarkable results shown by the market’s key players over the year.

“It is really pleasant and inspiring for us to be recognized by our foreign colleagues and enter such listings as Chambers, IFLR 1000 or the Legal 500 “, says Maxim Avrashkov,  “I believe this is the result achieved by the efforts of our whole team”.