Withers Worldwide

Overview

Olga's practice focuses on Russian, UK and international tax matters for wealthy entrepreneurs from Russian/CIS, with an emphasis on tax efficient cross-border financing structures, advising companies and their shareholders on the tax efficient structuring of their international operations. In addition, Olga works with family offices on a cross-border basis and provides international solutions to complex tax, succession and private wealth management issues for wealthy families and successful entrepreneurs from Russia and CIS.

Olga read law in both Russia (Saratov Law Academy) and England (Cambridge University, The College of Law, BPP Law School) and qualified as a Russian lawyer and a solicitor of England and Wales. She is also a former Russian tax inspector.

Olga is recommended in the Citywealth 2011 Leading Lawyers List

Highlights

Advising a number of HNWI on tax consequences of relocating to the UK and related restructuring of the asset holding

Pre-IPO tax structuring for $1 billion oil and gas investments for a major Kazakhstan investment group, and ongoing assistance to the group in structuring acquisitions of oil and gas assets in CIS countries.

Advising a major Russian banking group on the structuring of its private equity operations and providing advice on structuring a number of funds operated by the Private Equity Group.

Advising CNPC (China) on $450 million acquisition of Syrian oil fields and further structuring of the holding.

Advising a leading German manufacturer on Russian tax and legal aspects related to its Russian reorganizations and establishing of a tax-efficient and transparent Russian holding structure.

Advising an international hotel chain on structuring its Russian operations.

Advising a major German manufacturer on setting up and maintaining its distribution network in Russia.

Advising Russian Ministry of Finance and Russian Federal Securities Commission on tax policy issues.

Publications and speaking engagements

• Olga often speaks at international conferences on tax matters
• International tax structuring and risk management tools - Korporativny Jurist (In-house Counsel)
• Tax systems of Europe with socialist ideas - Nalgoved
• Onshore: Russia - Oxford Journals: Trusts and Trustees
• Trusts for Russians: the use of common law trust by Russians - STEP Journal (Vol 17 Issue 5)
• International tax structuring and risk management tools: holding companies - korporativny jurist (In-house Counsel)
• Picture of the month: as viewed by tax professionals - Nalogoved
• Taxation of individuals in the UK: is it the end of the tax shelter? - Nalogoved

Memberships

• Secretary, Individual Tax and Private Client Committee, International Bar Association
• The International Academy of Estate and Trust Law
• Expert Board of the Russian Chamber of Tax Advisers
• Tax Committee, Association of European Business in Russia
• The UK Chartered Institute of Taxation
• Member of International Committee of STEP (Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners)