Profile / CV

Sergey Usoskin

Sergey Usoskin is a Russian advocate focusing on international disputes and arbitration. In addition to his practice as counsel, Sergey regularly acts as arbitrator and expert on Russian law.

Sergey’s particular focus is on disputes arising out of M&A transactions, joint ventures, construction and IT. He has significant experience in coordinating cross-border litigation, including proceedings before the court of England, France, Germany, the US and major offshore jurisdictions.

Before establishing his own practice, Sergey worked with international dispute practices of two largest Russian law firms, as well as an in-house counsel of a large construction company, where he handled disputes with respect to an infrastructural project. For several years he practiced with the corporate and finance practice of a major law firm where he was involved in M&A and financing transactions as well as IPOs.

Sergey teaches public international law at the Saint Petersburg State University and taught dispute resolution and investment arbitration courses at Higher School of Economics (Moscow). He was one of the founders of the CIS Arbitration Forum – the largest online resource on CIS-related disputes. Between 2016 and 2020 Sergey served as the head of the Russian Arbitration Association’s working group on amicus curiae briefs responsible for preparation of submissions in cases before the Russian Supreme Court.

Representative experience

    As Counsel
  • Representing a client in an ad hoc arbitration concerning the management of a joint venture operating Russian assets;
  • Representing a large Russian telecom company in an arbitration against a foreign state-owned company;
  • Representing a software developer in an arbitration against the client concerning quality of the software and payment for the services;
  • Representing a Russian airline in an arbitration against a foreign leasing company;
  • Representing a Russian agricultural business in successfully defending an ICAC at the Russian CCI (MKAS) award in set aside proceedings;
  • Representing a major shipyard in proceedings concerning enforcement of an SCC award;
  • Advising a major Russian businessman on English proceedings concerning ownership of Russian assets, including assisting in evidence collection, disclosure and instructing Russian law experts;
  • Advising a major Russian company on a successful jurisdictional challenge in tort proceedings in England, including assisting in evidence collection and instructing experts on Russian law and practice;
  • Advising a major Russian investment company on a series of proceedings before the courts in various European countries, the US and offshore against former managers;
  • Representing the Russian Federation before the International Court of Justice in proceedings instituted by Ukraine;
  • Representing the Russian Federation in two inter-state arbitration and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea;
  • Advising a Russian company on interpretation of a bilateral treaty between Russian and an Asian state.
  • Advising a foreign state-owned company on the Russian law and practice on immunity of foreign property;
  • Representing several applicants in ECHR proceedings concerning right to property and access to court;
  • Advising a Russian investor on an arbitration against a former USSR State;
  • Advising a group of Russian investors on potential investment arbitrations against a former USSR State and a South East Asian State;
  • Advising several former USSR States on various jurisdictional issues in connection with ongoing investment arbitrations.
    • As Arbitrator
  • Arbitration concerning defects in the works performed by the contractor and scope of client’s costs recoverable from the contractor (sole arbitrator);
  • Arbitration concerning delay in the performance of construction works and quality of blueprints provided by the client (sole arbitrator);
  • Arbitration concerning delay in payment for the goods and amount of penalty recoverable from the buyer (chair);
  • Arbitration concerning excessive costs claimed by the contractor including allegations of fraud (sole arbitrator);
  • Arbitration under a power supply contract (party-appointed arbitrator);
  • Arbitration concerning interpretation of the retention payment provisions of the contract and effect of contractor’s insolvency on their performance (sole arbitrator).
    • As Expert
  • Expert opinion on various matters of Russian tort law for a court in Cyprus;
  • Expert opinion for a US court on jurisdiction of Russian courts and application of conflict of law rules by the Russian court.
  • Expert opinion for a US court on law and practice on enforcement of arbitral awards in Russia.
  • Expert opinion for a foreign court on various issues concerning service of process with respect to foreign proceedings in Russia.

Education

  • University College London, LL.M. (distinction)
  • Saint Petersburg State University, diploma in law (honors)

Admissions

Russia (Advocate).