Denis Chistyakov

Senior Associate

Denis specialises in litigation and advising clients in both Russian and cross-border disputes, with a particular focus on insurance matters, as well as maritime, construction and insolvency disputes, as well as sanctions-related projects. His practice also covers corporate and administrative cases, including international trade and customs regulation. Denis has extensive experience advising foreign lawyers on Russian law, including in preparing expert opinions for foreign arbitrations and state courts, and in developing procedural strategies.

Tel+7 (812) 640 07 98

Emaildenis.chistyakov@navicus.law

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Key Practice Areas

Insurance Disputes

Representing both insureds and insurers, as well as reinsurers in matters involving aviation, marine, property and liability coverage.

Bankruptcy Cases and Corporate Litigation

Acting for both creditors and debtors in bankruptcy proceedings, including challenging and defending transactions, pursuing and defending claims against controlling persons and business beneficiaries for subsidiary and other forms of liability, and developing strategies for insolvency proceedings.

Russian Law Expertise for Foreign Proceedings

Developing legal submissions under Russian law for use in foreign litigation and arbitration, including contesting the opinions of both Russian and foreign experts.

Currency and Customs Regulation

Advising on and preparing cross-border contracts governed by Russian and foreign law, including contracts applying INCOTERMS rules. Acting in disputes with customs and tax authorities concerning currency control and customs compliance and enforcement.

Representative Experience

Represented debtors and their controlling persons in some of the largest bankruptcy proceedings in Russia, including those involving Google, Siemens, and Oracle.
Acted for Swiss Re, a major global reinsurer, in a dispute with Russian insurers concerning losses of over ₽3 billion arising from a warehouse fire in the Leningrad Region.
Provided legal advice and acted for Sany Heavy Industry Company Limited, a leading Chinese heavy equipment manufacturer, in a marine insurance claim arising from an insured event at sea, with the amount of loss exceeding ₽2 billion.
Advised English solicitors and barristers representing Shannon Engine Support Ltd (Ireland), a global leader in providing aircraft spare engine lease solutions, in proceedings in the High Court of England and Wales concerning the de facto seizure of aircraft and engines leased to Russian airlines. The claims exceed $10 billion.
Advised a major Belarusian logistics operator on maritime law, carriage of goods and insurance matters following the loss of 1,500 containers when the vessel Angel sank off the Port of Kaohsiung (Taiwan).
Represented a Lebanese steel manufacturer in bankruptcy of a steelworks located in the Stavropol Region. The case involved non-delivery of steel products and breach of a bank guarantee, with claims totalling over $22.5 million.
Acted for the bankruptcy administrator in bankruptcy proceedings for a research and production company, following the unlawful diversion of more than €7 million to the Italian entity Giotto Water S.p.A.
Defended the CEO against corporate liability claims exceeding $11.5 million relating to the construction of the Zvezda shipyard (Bolshoy Kamen).
Represented the beneficiary owner of a bank in a dispute over subsidiary liability relating to the alleged decline of mandatory reserves by over $15 million.
Acted on behalf of a geological exploration company in a dispute concerning the drilling works debt valued at over $2 million.
Represented an international cocoa supplier in a dispute concerning the supply of chocolate, with counterclaims amounting to over $15 million.
Acted for a Russian supplier in a dispute over the quality of water treatment equipment supplied for the construction of the second power unit of the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant (decanter centrifuges).
Represented a Russian research and production company in contesting administrative fines of more than €20 million for the alleged failure to repatriate currency proceeds under a foreign trade contract.
Handled matters for cargo interests, insurers and shipowners in two high-profile maritime casualty cases involving the explosions of the vessels Koala and Eco Wizard in the Baltic Sea.
Acted for the shipowner and insurer in a maritime collision case resulting from a collision between the vessels Starlit and Calida in the Gulf of Finland, with losses exceeding $5 million.