King & Spalding, a leading international law firm, announced today that it has opened an office in Moscow after having received the necessary government registration from the State Registration Chamber. The office will work closely with the firm’s transactional and international arbitration practices in Europe. Complementing a broad-based transactional practice, the Moscow office offers particular expertise in the energy and natural resources, real estate, life sciences, financial services, automotive and telecommunications/ media/ technology industries. This is King & Spalding’s 17th office worldwide.

“Moscow is another example of our focus on expanding our global footprint by investing in high-value practices where we are already strong and in markets where our clients are seeking our expertise,” said Robert D. Hays, Jr., chairman of King & Spalding.

King & Spalding announced its plans for establishing an office in Moscow earlier this month, with the hiring of five partners and counsel from Hogan Lovells and White & Case.

As previously announced, the new office will be managed by partner Sergey Komolov, who came to King & Spalding from Hogan Lovells where he served as deputy managing partner and co-head of the corporate practice in Moscow. Joining Komolov from his former firm are transactions partners Olga Kozyr and Alla Naglis and counsel Iliya Zotkin. Joining as a partner from White & Case is Jennifer Josefson, who headed the CEE/CIS oil and gas practice of her previous firm.

In addition, London co-managing partner Garry Pegg and Mark E. Thompson, the London-based M&A and private equity partner who oversaw the firm’s plans for the Moscow office, will together lead the London-based portion of the Russia practice and continue to be significantly involved in the development of the practice in Moscow.

The new King & Spalding office is located at 10 Vozdvizhenka Street in Moscow’s central district near the Kremlin.

King & Spalding has a long history of representing clients across the Commonwealth of Independent States. Its work with major energy companies in the CIS spans oil and gas exploration, development, production and transportation activities, as well as acquisition financing and the negotiation of joint venture, intergovernmental and host country agreements. In the natural resources arena, King & Spalding has represented investors in the acquisition and disposition of mining interests and other natural resources across the CIS. The firm for many years has also advised clients across an array of industries on financial services, construction, trade, intellectual property and real estate matters in the CIS.