A Russian company has sent you a contract
We check whether the wording reflects the commercial agreement and identify the obligations, restrictions and costs you would accept.
For foreign companies and businesses with foreign ownership
Contract review and counterparty checks in Russia
Planning to sign a contract, pay an advance or offer a Russian company deferred payment? We review the transaction terms, the other party's authority and available counterparty information. We explain the risks and suggest what to clarify or change before you decide.
Communicate directly with our team in English. Chinese communication is supported by an interpreter. Documents and findings can be discussed remotely.
Consultation including document review — from RUB 5,000.
In your first message, include the transaction, counterparty and planned signing or payment date.
Before signing or payingWhen a review is particularly useful
Contract and counterpartyAvailable together or separately
Remote serviceDiscuss the matter from another country
How do you assess a transaction with a Russian company?
First establish the exact legal entity or individual entrepreneur entering into the contract and who is authorised to sign. Then compare the payment, performance and liability terms with the documents and available counterparty information. We help carry out this review and formulate questions for negotiations.
The deliverable depends on the agreed task: a consultation, a legal review of the contract with proposed changes, or a counterparty review using available sources. Before starting, we define the materials, depth of analysis and format of the findings.
When to involve a lawyer
We work with foreign buyers, suppliers and businesses with foreign ownership entering into contracts with Russian businesses.
The supplier requests an advance
We assess delivery terms, evidence of performance, grounds for repayment and available information about the payment recipient.
You supply goods on credit
We review payment and acceptance procedures, records needed to prove a debt and possible ways to secure the obligations.
You need to negotiate amendments
We prepare amendments or a schedule of proposed changes within the agreed scope. We help explain which provisions matter to your side.
This is your first transaction with the company
We compare identification details, public litigation history and other available information with the nature of the proposed transaction.
The contract has several language versions
We review the governing-language clause and agree how discrepancies will be analysed. Chinese documents require translation support.
What we review in the contract
We assess the terms against your role, commercial objective and a possible dispute. The scope depends on the contract type and applicable law.
Parties and authority
Who undertakes the obligations, who signs the contract and which documents establish their authority to act for the company.
Subject matter and schedules
Exactly what must be supplied or performed, and how quantity, quality, completeness and required specifications are defined.
Price and payment
Currency, payment stages and triggers, recipient details, additional costs and allocation of responsibilities under the agreed payment arrangements.
Advances and security
Conditions for advance payment, its application and repayment, security for obligations and documents triggering the next payment.
Timing and delivery
Delivery or completion deadlines, place of handover, transfer of risk and documentation responsibilities. Where Incoterms are used, we check the agreed edition and terms.
Acceptance and defects
How performance is documented, when objections may be raised, and what happens with shortages, defects or discrepancies in the records.
Liability and termination
Contractual penalties, damages, liability limitations, amendments, termination and consequences of a breach.
Law, disputes and language
Applicable law, court jurisdiction or arbitration, notices, agreed communication channels and the relationship between language versions.
What we check about the Russian counterparty
We start by identifying the exact company or individual entrepreneur. Usually, we need its name and tax identification number (INN) or state registration number (OGRN); a brand or website address alone is insufficient.
Registration details
Name, status, address and management information in available registers. We check consistency with the contract and documents provided.
Authority and changes
The signatory's documents, significant registration changes, entries flagging unreliable information and other matters requiring an explanation.
Litigation history
Available commercial cases: the company's role, claims, procedural stage and published decisions. Participation in a case is assessed in context.
Insolvency and disclosures
Available insolvency information and legally significant disclosures. We establish which company and date each finding relates to.
Published financial statements
Available financial statements and the periods they cover. We identify limitations and questions requiring further documents.
Fit with the proposed transaction
We compare stated activities, documents provided and the scale of the obligations. We identify what to request before signing or paying.
Sources we use
Depending on the assignment, we consult official registers and public resources, including:
Company and entrepreneur registers — Federal Tax Service
EGRUL/EGRIP registration records for legal entities and individual entrepreneurs.
Transparent Business — Federal Tax Service
Available company information and data from tax registers.
Russian state commercial court case database
Commercial court cases and published judicial decisions.
Fedresurs / insolvency disclosures register
Legally significant disclosures and insolvency information.
Financial Statements Resource — Federal Tax Service
Published financial statements held in the Russian tax authority's resource.
Findings relate to the materials reviewed and information available on the analysis date. Registers may contain incomplete information or updates may be pending. We distinguish established facts, matters needing confirmation and information that could not be obtained.
What you receive from the work
We agree the deliverables before starting. A detailed review can include the following materials:
A list of material risks
Which provisions or findings require attention, how they affect your transaction and which materials support the assessment.
Proposed amendments
Contract amendments or a schedule of proposed changes, where included in the assignment. We identify points requiring agreement with the other party.
Questions and document requests
What else to request: authority documents, schedules, performance records or explanations of findings and payment arrangements.
Discussion of next steps
We discuss negotiation options, further checks and transaction documentation. You make the commercial decision with the benefit of the analysis.
Contract review, company checks, drafting a new version and negotiation support can be agreed separately. We specify the written deliverables and their language in advance.
How remote work is organised
Describe the task
Tell us the parties, transaction, your role and the next signing or payment date. Email is sufficient for the first enquiry.
Agree the scope and fee
We define the documents, questions, depth of review, language of the findings and timeframe. You receive the terms before paid work begins.
Review the materials
We analyse the agreed documents and available information. Where needed, we clarify information and identify additional questions.
Discuss the findings
We provide the result in the agreed format and discuss next steps. Further amendments or negotiations are agreed as needed.
Communicate directly with our team in English; Chinese communication is supported by an interpreter. Translation scope and costs are agreed in advance. We also respond to enquiries at weekends.
Who will work on your matter
Nikolay Nemkov
Managing Partner of Konsultant Law Firm
Over 20 years of legal practice. Konsultant Law Firm has operated since 2007. Its work includes commercial disputes, debt recovery and protection of business interests.
We read contracts with a possible dispute in mind: what each party must perform, how it can be proved and which remedies are provided. The team is selected for the task.
Meet our firm
A short introduction to Konsultant Law Firm and our approach. The video starts when you press Play.
Open the video on Kinescope →Fees and service options
Start with a consultation, instruct us to review one contract or commission a separate Russian counterparty check. The final fee is agreed before work begins.
Consultation based on documents
From RUB 5,000
We review the documents provided within the agreed task and discuss questions, risks and next steps.
The fee depends on the volume and complexity of the materials. A written opinion and drafting a new contract version are included by separate agreement.
Arrange a consultationContract review and amendments
Quoted individually
Analysis of the terms and agreed recommendations. Amendments, a schedule of proposed changes or a new contract draft are included in the proposal as required.
The fee depends on length, schedules, language versions, applicable law and work on the other party's comments.
Discuss a contract reviewCounterparty review
Quoted individually
Analysis of available information on a specific Russian company or individual entrepreneur in the context of the proposed transaction.
We agree the depth, sources, period covered and format of findings. An extended financial or technical audit requires a separate assignment.
Discuss a company reviewThe contract and counterparty can be reviewed together
Where both relate to the same transaction, we agree a combined scope covering the party's information, contractual risks and changes needed. Drafting and negotiations are included only to the extent agreed.
Timing is set after assessing the documents and urgency. If signing or payment is already scheduled, include the date in your first enquiry.
Translation, notarisation and other necessary expenses are agreed separately. The stated consultation fee is in Russian rubles. Payment arrangements for a foreign company are discussed before work begins.
What to prepare for the discussion
You can start with a short description. To define the scope of the review, it helps to have:
- Your company's name and country of registration, your role and contact details for a reply.
- The Russian counterparty's full name and INN or OGRN, if known.
- The draft or signed contract, schedules, specifications and available language versions.
- The transaction's subject, value, currency, advance amount, payment schedule and your role in performance.
- Relevant correspondence, the commercial proposal, invoice and documents provided by the counterparty.
- Your questions, planned signing and payment dates, and details of steps already taken.
Tell us if some documents are unavailable. We will agree any additional materials and how to provide them after the first discussion.
Questions about reviewing a Russian transaction
Can we request only a contract review or only a counterparty check?
Yes. These are separate tasks. A contract review concerns the transaction terms and documents; a counterparty review concerns available information about the party. If both need to be assessed together, we agree a combined scope.
Is the company's INN enough to start a check?
The INN identifies the Russian legal entity or individual entrepreneur. A meaningful assessment also requires the transaction, value, your role and payment terms. If the INN is unknown, start with the name and documents available.
Does registration in EGRUL mean a company is trustworthy?
A registration entry establishes certain particulars about a legal entity. By itself, it does not prove the ability to fulfil a particular supply contract or repay an advance. We therefore compare registers, litigation history, documents and transaction terms.
Can a review guarantee that the transaction is safe?
No. A review helps identify discoverable risks and measures to reduce them. Future performance depends on the parties and circumstances, and some information may be unavailable. We explain the basis and limitations of our findings.
Does RUB 5,000 include a full review and a new contract?
Consultations with document review within an agreed scope start at RUB 5,000. A detailed written opinion, new contract version, comprehensive company review and negotiations are priced for the assignment. Scope and fees are agreed in advance.
Can we provide a contract in English or Chinese?
Yes. Specify the language, provide the available versions and explain the task. We communicate directly in English and arrange translation support for Chinese. Legal analysis, translation, comparison of versions and the language of final materials are agreed separately.
What if the contract selects foreign law or international arbitration?
Tell us before work begins. We review the applicable-law and dispute-resolution provisions within the agreed assignment. A full foreign-law analysis and involvement of a specialist in that jurisdiction require separate agreement.
Do you check bank accounts, warehouses and actual stock?
A public-record review does not provide access to confidential banking information or establish that goods are physically in stock. A financial audit, site inspection or technical examination is a separate task. We discuss whether it is needed and what checks are available.
How long does the work take, and must we travel to Russia?
The initial discussion and document review can be conducted remotely. Timing is agreed after assessing volume, languages and urgency. Any need for originals or work on site is discussed separately for the particular assignment.
Is it worth contacting you after signing or making payment?
Yes. Explain what has happened and which deadlines are approaching. We can assess the existing terms and further documents. If obligations have been breached, debt recovery or court representation will need separate assessment.
Discuss the contract and Russian counterparty
Tell us the proposed transaction, the other party and the relevant date. Specify whether you need the contract, company or both reviewed. We will identify the materials and agree the next step.
Contact us by email
You can enquire without a Russian phone number. Write to:
Contact us on WeChat
Scan the QR code in WeChat or open the image. Chinese communication is arranged through an interpreter.
Your first message helps define the task. Document review and preparation begin after the scope and fee have been agreed.
We also respond to enquiries at weekends. Include your time zone when arranging a call.