Kirill Ponasyuk
Partner, Attorney
Kirill is a partner at VERBA LEGAL company with more than 12-years’ expertise in indemnification of directors, shareholders, and beneficiaries, settlement of corporate conflicts and complex litigation projects, major commercial disputes and individual bankruptcy disputes. Moreover, Kirill is engaged in consultations and assessment of management risks for key customers related to transactions with problematic assets and business protection from acquisition. Prior to joining VERBA LEGAL, Kirill was a partner and head of dispute settlement practice at a major Russian law firm.
Kirill is a barrister and has been a member of the Moscow Bar Association since 2013.
Over the last 2 years, Kirill led the largest number of litigation projects related to corporate dispute and conflict settlement in Russia based on the survey by Pravo.ru (2024).
Education
Russian Academy of Barristers and Notaries (2011).
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Academy, MBA degree (2021).
Higher School of Economics, advanced training on Legal Function Leadership – a Practical Course for Managers (2022).
Higher School of Economics, advanced training on Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management in Legal Business (2024).
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Academy, MBA degree (2021).
Higher School of Economics, advanced training on Legal Function Leadership – a Practical Course for Managers (2022).
Higher School of Economics, advanced training on Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management in Legal Business (2024).
Awards and Ratings
Kirill is recommended by an international rating (Best Lawyers) and Russian ratings (Pravo-300, Kommersant, and Rossiyskaya Gazeta).
projects
Project Experience Highlights
Проект
Commercial disputes
Клиент
Описание
Representation of a major global clothing retailer in the disputes under the rental agreement on recovery of damages for a total amount of RUB 1.5 billion for failure to do business, based on which the Principal’s liability was reduced from RUB 1.5 billion to RUB 6 million.
Representation of United Colors of Benetton in the precedent-setting case on judicial termination of a long-term rental agreement due to significant change in circumstances at the time of exposure to COVID-19, based on which the rental agreement was terminated pursuant to Article 451 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation.
Defence of a major federal developer in the dispute against Khanty-Mansiysk City Administration and a state-owned company (investor) under the lawsuit on declaration of ownership for an uncompleted construction project worth RUB 1.8 billion, based on which all courts, including the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, rejected the suit lodged by the opponents.
Representation of a large construction company in the disputes against OboronEnergo JSC and the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation on enforcement of debt in the amount of RUB 2.2 billion for the capital construction of an airfield in Krasnodar Krai, based on which the Principal’s claims were satisfied in full.
Defence of a major metal-working equipment and industrial machinery manufacturer in the dispute against the Moscow City Property Department and the Moscow Government under the lawsuit on recognising a real estate asset (with the market value of RUB 1.2 billion) as an unauthorised structure and its subsequent demolition, based on which the asset was retained by the Principal and the suit lodged by the opponents was rejected.
Defence of a service company in the dispute against OboronEnergo JSC and the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation under the lawsuit on contract termination and enforcement of debt in the amount of RUB 470 million under the public contract for maintenance of power network facilities at more than 50 military bases in the Republic of Crimea.
Defence of the Principal in the dispute with Promsvyazbank PJSC under the lawsuit on challenging the largest banking charge in judicial practice as of 2024 charged by the bank from the customer pursuant to Federal Law No. FZ‑115. Shaping the case law with regard to judicial reduction of banking charges applied up to the present day.
Representation of Lacoste in a rental dispute against a major department store in Moscow. Based on the six-month negotiation process initiated upon lodging a lawsuit against the Principal on debt collection, the dispute was settled thereby the claimant fully abandoned the initial lawsuit and a compensation was paid to the Principal under a settlement agreement resulting from a countersuit.
Representation of a leading quick-frozen fish and seafood company in the Russian market in multiple judicial disputes on collection of debt exceeding RUB 6 billion.
Representation of United Colors of Benetton in the precedent-setting case on judicial termination of a long-term rental agreement due to significant change in circumstances at the time of exposure to COVID-19, based on which the rental agreement was terminated pursuant to Article 451 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation.
Defence of a major federal developer in the dispute against Khanty-Mansiysk City Administration and a state-owned company (investor) under the lawsuit on declaration of ownership for an uncompleted construction project worth RUB 1.8 billion, based on which all courts, including the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, rejected the suit lodged by the opponents.
Representation of a large construction company in the disputes against OboronEnergo JSC and the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation on enforcement of debt in the amount of RUB 2.2 billion for the capital construction of an airfield in Krasnodar Krai, based on which the Principal’s claims were satisfied in full.
Defence of a major metal-working equipment and industrial machinery manufacturer in the dispute against the Moscow City Property Department and the Moscow Government under the lawsuit on recognising a real estate asset (with the market value of RUB 1.2 billion) as an unauthorised structure and its subsequent demolition, based on which the asset was retained by the Principal and the suit lodged by the opponents was rejected.
Defence of a service company in the dispute against OboronEnergo JSC and the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation under the lawsuit on contract termination and enforcement of debt in the amount of RUB 470 million under the public contract for maintenance of power network facilities at more than 50 military bases in the Republic of Crimea.
Defence of the Principal in the dispute with Promsvyazbank PJSC under the lawsuit on challenging the largest banking charge in judicial practice as of 2024 charged by the bank from the customer pursuant to Federal Law No. FZ‑115. Shaping the case law with regard to judicial reduction of banking charges applied up to the present day.
Representation of Lacoste in a rental dispute against a major department store in Moscow. Based on the six-month negotiation process initiated upon lodging a lawsuit against the Principal on debt collection, the dispute was settled thereby the claimant fully abandoned the initial lawsuit and a compensation was paid to the Principal under a settlement agreement resulting from a countersuit.
Representation of a leading quick-frozen fish and seafood company in the Russian market in multiple judicial disputes on collection of debt exceeding RUB 6 billion.
Проект
Corporate disputes
Клиент
Описание
Representation of a minority shareholder in a corporate conflict of a major oil pipeline and onshore facility construction company, including more than 60 disputes for the total amount exceeding RUB 3.5 billion, and its settlement by signing a comprehensive settlement agreement.
Representation of a minority shareholder of a major developer in a corporate conflict, based on which 100% shares of the company were consolidated with the assets worth RUB 7.8 billion by judicial cancellation of a majority participant’s (holding 67% shares) membership in the company with the subsequent execution of a comprehensive settlement agreement.
Defence of beneficiaries of a medical centre in Moscow under a lawsuit on recovery of damages worth RUB 501 million, based on which, despite the recovery of damages at the first round of dispute review, the decisions made by lower-level courts were cancelled by the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, while the new round of dispute review resulted in restoration of the Principals’ rights and refusal to recover the damages.
Representation of the shareholders of a large IT company in a corporate conflict since 2017. The main purpose of the project was to consolidate the shares in the group of shareholders and to remove a hostile shareholder (the former general director) from the list of the company’s shareholders. In 2017–2018, upon recovering damages from the former director and challenging the transaction, the former director’s personal bankruptcy procedure was initiated with the company’s shares included in the bankruptcy assets. Ultimately, a settlement agreement was executed in 2023, based on which the amicable shareholders consolidated the shares in their ownership.
Representation of the minority members of a major federal construction company in a corporate conflict related to the disputes on recovery of damages from the former general director and company member worth more than RUB 480 million with the subsequent initiation of criminal action and personal bankruptcy case.
Representation of the shareholders of the largest regional bread factory in a corporate conflict that resulted in restoration of corporate control over the enterprise with the assets worth more than RUB 2 billion.
Defence of the Principal (a subsidiary of the largest technology company in Russia) against an investment fund under a lawsuit on challenging the transaction on selling the company worth RUB 1.4 billion that resulted in the dispute settlement against a mediation agreement, while the Fund abandoned the lawsuit.
Representation of a minority shareholder of a major developer in a corporate conflict, based on which 100% shares of the company were consolidated with the assets worth RUB 7.8 billion by judicial cancellation of a majority participant’s (holding 67% shares) membership in the company with the subsequent execution of a comprehensive settlement agreement.
Defence of beneficiaries of a medical centre in Moscow under a lawsuit on recovery of damages worth RUB 501 million, based on which, despite the recovery of damages at the first round of dispute review, the decisions made by lower-level courts were cancelled by the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, while the new round of dispute review resulted in restoration of the Principals’ rights and refusal to recover the damages.
Representation of the shareholders of a large IT company in a corporate conflict since 2017. The main purpose of the project was to consolidate the shares in the group of shareholders and to remove a hostile shareholder (the former general director) from the list of the company’s shareholders. In 2017–2018, upon recovering damages from the former director and challenging the transaction, the former director’s personal bankruptcy procedure was initiated with the company’s shares included in the bankruptcy assets. Ultimately, a settlement agreement was executed in 2023, based on which the amicable shareholders consolidated the shares in their ownership.
Representation of the minority members of a major federal construction company in a corporate conflict related to the disputes on recovery of damages from the former general director and company member worth more than RUB 480 million with the subsequent initiation of criminal action and personal bankruptcy case.
Representation of the shareholders of the largest regional bread factory in a corporate conflict that resulted in restoration of corporate control over the enterprise with the assets worth more than RUB 2 billion.
Defence of the Principal (a subsidiary of the largest technology company in Russia) against an investment fund under a lawsuit on challenging the transaction on selling the company worth RUB 1.4 billion that resulted in the dispute settlement against a mediation agreement, while the Fund abandoned the lawsuit.
Проект
Individual bankruptcy disputes
Клиент
Описание
Defence of the former manager of a company forming part of a major insurance company under a dispute on enforcing subsidiary liability in the amount of RUB 1.5 billion.
Representation of the Principal (a beneficiary of a construction company undergoing the bankruptcy procedure) in the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation under the claim on challenging the transaction on selling the company worth RUB 860 million.
Defence of a beneficiary of a major clothing retailer under a dispute on enforcing subsidiary liability in the amount of more than RUB 3 billion.
Comprehensive defence of the Principal in a dispute with an oil refining company under the lawsuit on collection of debt in the amount of RUB 940 million and representation under the corporate bankruptcy procedure, including transaction defence and enforcement of subsidiary liability on the debtor’s controlling parties.
Defence of a beneficiary in a company engaged in manufacture, supply, and commissioning of banking equipment for major Russian banks under a dispute on enforcing subsidiary liability in the amount of more than RUB 800 million.
Representation of the Principal (a beneficiary of a construction company undergoing the bankruptcy procedure) in the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation under the claim on challenging the transaction on selling the company worth RUB 860 million.
Defence of a beneficiary of a major clothing retailer under a dispute on enforcing subsidiary liability in the amount of more than RUB 3 billion.
Comprehensive defence of the Principal in a dispute with an oil refining company under the lawsuit on collection of debt in the amount of RUB 940 million and representation under the corporate bankruptcy procedure, including transaction defence and enforcement of subsidiary liability on the debtor’s controlling parties.
Defence of a beneficiary in a company engaged in manufacture, supply, and commissioning of banking equipment for major Russian banks under a dispute on enforcing subsidiary liability in the amount of more than RUB 800 million.