01 / SERVICE
Representation in court
Court is a procedure with its own deadlines and rules, and mistakes made at first instance are hard to put right later.
PRACTICE
Courts and civil disputes
In a civil dispute, much turns on documents and deadlines: what was claimed, what proves it and when it was filed. We act for individuals from the first letter to the other side through to enforcement of the judgment, and we are candid about where a case is weak.
- For whom
- For individuals
- Format
- Moscow and remotely across Russia
SERVICES
Services in this practice
02 / SERVICE
Claims, lawsuits and defences
A claim put together in a hurry may be stayed or returned by the court, and a weak defence leaves the other side's arguments unanswered.
03 / SERVICE
Appealing a judgment
A first-instance judgment can be appealed, but appeal and cassation have rules of their own: strict deadlines, limits on new evidence and narrow grounds.
04 / SERVICE
Recovering a debt under a receipt or loan
People lend money to friends, relatives and former partners, and usually all there is to show for it is a handwritten receipt or a card transfer.
05 / SERVICE
Enforcement proceedings and bailiffs
A court judgment does not put money in anyone's pocket by itself, while a frozen card can leave a person without wages or a pension.
06 / SERVICE
Setting aside a court order
A court order is issued without a hearing and without the debtor being summoned, and people often learn of it when money disappears from their account.
QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions
How do I know whether to go to court?
We look at three things: how strong the evidence is, whether the judgment can actually be enforced, and whether the time and effort are proportionate to the amount at stake. Sometimes it is wiser to settle or stop at a claim letter; we say so honestly.
How long does a civil case take?
Under the Code of Civil Procedure the first instance must decide a case within two months, but with expert reports, adjournments and appeals a dispute often takes six months to a year.
I have been sued. What should I do?
Do not ignore the summons and the copy of the claim. Send us the documents straight away: objections need to be prepared, evidence gathered and, if needed, a counterclaim filed. If a judgment has already been given in your absence, it can be set aside by the same court, but the deadlines are short.
How do I preserve messenger chats as evidence?
Do not delete the chat, save screenshots showing numbers and dates, and export the chat if possible. For an important dispute a notary can certify the chat with an inspection report: such evidence is harder to challenge.
Do you handle cases before justices of the peace?
Yes. Small property claims, court orders and some family cases are heard by justices of the peace; we handle them the same way as cases in the district courts.
NEXT STEP
Let us discuss your situation
The consultation is free of charge when an engagement agreement is signed: on it we say what has to be done and by when.