Goods delivered, invoice unpaid
We compare the contract, invoices, delivery records and correspondence, then review the amount claimed and the Russian customer’s objections.
When a Russian counterparty fails to perform
Debt recovery in Russia for foreign companies
Has a Russian customer left an invoice unpaid, a supplier failed to return an advance, or a judgment remained unenforced? Konsultant Law Firm helps assess your documents, the debtor’s position and your recovery options in Russia.
Communicate directly with our team in English. Chinese communication is supported by an interpreter. Start remotely.
Consultation with review of an agreed set of documents: from RUB 5,000.
We agree the scope and fees before work begins.
From RUB 1 millionAmount in a commercial dispute
Since 2007Konsultant Law Firm
Across RussiaRepresentation for creditors
How can a foreign company recover a debt in Russia?
The first step is to identify the debtor, verify the basis of the debt and determine where the dispute should be heard. The appropriate route may then involve negotiation and a formal demand, proceedings before the competent court, or enforcement of an existing judgment.
Konsultant Law Firm assists foreign creditors with recovery matters in Russia. We assess both the evidence of the debt and available information about the debtor: obtaining a judgment and actually receiving payment are separate stages.
Debt situations we can help with
Advance paid, goods not delivered
We examine payment evidence, delivery deadlines and repayment terms to identify the claims available against the Russian supplier.
Judgment obtained, payment outstanding
We review the court and enforcement documents, steps already taken and available options for pursuing recovery.
The debtor disputes the claim, stops responding or faces insolvency
We assess the objections, available asset information and urgency. Where grounds exist, we consider interim court measures and protection of the creditor’s claim in bankruptcy.
What we assess before choosing a strategy
The review depends on your matter and the agreed scope of work. An international contract requires particular attention to the documents, the parties’ authority and the dispute-resolution arrangements.
Who owes the money
The legal entity named in the contract, the payment recipient, registration details and signatories’ authority. A trading name may differ from the contracting party.
What proves the debt
The contract, amendments, invoices, delivery or service records, payments, correspondence, acknowledgements of debt and the calculation of the claim.
Where the dispute belongs
Governing law, court or arbitration clauses, the jurisdiction of a Russian court and any need to seek recognition of a foreign decision.
Which deadlines matter
Payment dates, contractual demand requirements, time limits for bringing a claim and dates of any scheduled procedural steps.
Whether enforcement is realistic
Available information about the debtor, litigation, enforcement proceedings and insolvency. Identifying an asset does not itself guarantee recovery against it.
Whether the costs are justified
The relationship between the amount claimed, evidence, costs and prospects of receiving payment. We discuss material risks before you decide on further work.
Work in stages: from documents to enforcement
Instruct us for a particular stage or agree a broader scope covering the dispute and enforcement. We define the work for each stage separately.
Document-based consultation
We review the agreed materials and discuss your legal position, missing evidence and potential next steps.
Demand and negotiations
We prepare the demand and discuss settlement terms. If instalments are considered, we examine how to document and secure the arrangement.
Court representation
We prepare procedural documents and represent you at the agreed court instance. The need for interim measures is assessed against the facts of the case.
Enforcement and protection of the claim
We work with enforcement documents and pursue recovery within the agreed scope. If the debtor enters bankruptcy, we separately assess how to protect the creditor’s interests.
Working with a creditor outside Russia
Start without travelling to Russia
A short account of the matter is enough for the first enquiry. We then agree the documents, how to provide them and the authority required for further work.
A clear language arrangement
You can communicate directly with our team in English. We arrange an interpreter for Chinese communication and agree translation costs in advance.
Documents and authority tailored to your matter
We identify the foreign company documents and representative authority needed for your matter. The necessary translations and document formalities are agreed before that work begins.
Representation in the relevant Russian region
We handle matters across Russia. Online court participation depends on court approval and technical availability. Where necessary, our lawyer travels or we engage a local partner; related costs are agreed.
Debt recovery casework: the outcomes achieved
Examples from our Russian debt recovery practice. Each case distinguishes the court outcome from confirmed receipt of payment.
Obtained an award after the case was reheard
After the original court decisions were set aside, the client amended its claim to RUB 2,607,022.47 and succeeded. The outcome was upheld by the higher courts.
The client actually received the awarded funds.
Case No. А33-35006/2017. Litigation costs were awarded separately and are not included in this amount.
Read the case →Pursued a claim against a publicly funded institution through to payment
We obtained an award exceeding RUB 2.5 million in the Russian state commercial court for the Irkutsk Region. The awarded funds reached the client.
Actual receipt of payment is confirmed in the published case.
A dispute with a publicly funded institution. This outcome relates to the particular facts of that case.
Read the case →Established a substantial debt in court
A debt exceeding RUB 20 million owed to the client was confirmed in the Russian state commercial court for Krasnoyarsk Krai.
The court outcome is confirmed. Actual receipt of payment is not confirmed.
The amount refers to the debt established, not money received in the client’s account.
Read the case →Your prospects depend on the documents, the facts of the dispute and the ability to enforce the outcome.
View all published cases →Who will work on your recovery matter
Nikolay Nemkov
Managing Partner of Konsultant Law Firm
More than 20 years of legal practice, focusing on debt recovery, commercial disputes, bankruptcy and protection of business interests. Konsultant Law Firm has operated since 2007.
We start with a practical question: what evidence establishes the debt, and what routes to payment are available in your circumstances?
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 the first step
From RUB 5,000Consultation with review of an agreed set of documents
First, describe the debt and any deadlines. Before reviewing the materials, we agree which documents are included, the consultation scope and the fee.
- Discuss the legal position and principal risks based on the materials provided.
- Identify the documents and information still needed.
- Consider possible next steps and the scope of further work.
We handle commercial disputes from RUB 1 million. Demand work, court representation and enforcement are priced separately by stage. Any agreed success fee is set out in the engagement contract.
Translation, notarisation, court fees, expert work and travel are subject to separately agreed terms. A written legal opinion and representation are not included in the consultation unless expressly agreed.
What to prepare for the discussion
For the first message, provide the debtor’s name, the amount, the basis of the debt and upcoming deadlines. An agreed review may require:
- Your company’s name and country, your role and a contact for the reply.
- The Russian counterparty’s name and its INN tax ID or OGRN state registration number, if known.
- The contract, amendments, orders and dispute-resolution clause.
- Evidence of goods delivered, services provided or the advance payment made.
- Correspondence, demands, replies and a calculation of the debt stating its currency.
- Court and enforcement documents if proceedings have already started.
Tell us if documents are missing. After the first enquiry, we agree the materials needed, any translation requirements and how to provide them.
Questions from foreign creditors
Can we contact you without a company office in Russia?
Yes. A Russian office is not required for the first enquiry. For further work, we identify your company documents, the representative’s authority and an appropriate route for protecting the claim.
Can we pursue a Russian customer remotely?
You can begin discussions and provide agreed materials remotely. Whether subsequent steps can be completed without your visit depends on the documents, authority and procedure. If a representative needs to attend in person, we arrange representation in Russia.
A Russian supplier has not delivered after receiving an advance. Can you help recover it?
We review the contract, payment evidence, delivery dates and correspondence. We then assess the grounds and procedure for repayment or another remedy. An advance payment alone does not allow us to promise recovery of the full amount.
Our contract specifies a foreign court or international arbitration. What happens next?
Send the dispute-resolution clause together with the contract. The competent forum, governing law and possible steps in Russia require a separate assessment. Representation before a foreign court or in international arbitration is outside the offer on this page.
Can you enforce a foreign court judgment or arbitral award in Russia?
We first review the decision and related documents. Whether it can be recognised and enforced in Russia requires a separate legal assessment. We do not promise automatic recognition or payment.
Which languages can we use for communication and documents?
We communicate directly in Russian and English. Chinese communication is supported by an interpreter. Tell us the language of the original documents in your first message; required translations and their cost are agreed separately.
What if the debtor is in another Russian region or already in bankruptcy?
We handle matters across Russia. If bankruptcy proceedings have started, the stage of the procedure and deadlines for protecting a creditor’s claim must be considered. We define the scope and costs after reviewing the case information.
How long does debt recovery take?
There is no single timeframe. It depends on the documents, the debtor’s objections, court stages and enforcement. After an initial assessment, we discuss the likely sequence and factors that may extend the process.
What are your fees, and can we pay only after recovery?
An initial consultation with review of an agreed set of documents starts at RUB 5,000. Further work is priced separately by stage. Any success-fee arrangement is discussed individually; an engagement paid solely as a percentage of recovery is not promised in advance.
Can we contact you about a debt denominated in a foreign currency?
Yes. Provide the amount and currency, payment terms and details of the parties. We assess the currency and calculation of the claim, as well as possible payment arrangements, against the documents. We do not guarantee an unrestricted international transfer of recovered funds.
Tell us who owes your company money
Name the Russian debtor, the amount and currency, the basis of the debt and any deadlines. We will clarify what is needed for an initial consultation and agree the next step.
Start by email
You do not need a Russian phone number to contact us by email. Write to:
Contact us on WeChat
Scan the QR code in WeChat or open the image. Chinese communication is supported by an interpreter.
Your first message helps identify the next step. Document review and legal work begin after we agree the scope and fee.
We also respond to enquiries on weekends. Include your time zone when arranging a call.