Hammonds set to advise Russia on WTO membership

Hammonds Suddards Edges Brussels office has won a year-long contract with the European Commission to provide advice to the Russian Ministry of Trade as part...Hammonds Suddards Edges Brussels office has won a year-long contract with the European Commission to provide advice to the Russian Ministry of Trade as part of Russias bid to become a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

In support, Hammonds will establish a permanent office in Moscow.The firm will provide WTO-related advice in areas of financial services, telecommunications, public procurement, intellectual property, e-commerce and trade in goods.

The advisory team which was in Moscow this week will be led by the head of Hammonds Brussels office, Konstantinos Adamantopoulos , supported by international trade experts lawyer Edward Borovikov and David OKeeffe.Mr Adamantopoulos described the appointment as significant for the firm.

He said that although it was early days to consider opening a permanent office in the Moscow, the contract would bring them regularly to Russia making them familiar with the countrys decision-makers and leading private-sector corporations.

Sue Allen