Юридическая фирма VERBA LEGAL

+7 (495) 374-74-03

Selected Experience

Ratings and Awards

News and publications

Marat Samarskiy

Counsel, Attorney

Sanctions Law Compliance

Phone

+7 (495) 374-74-45

Email

marat.samarskiy@verba.legal

Contacts

Languages

Russian, English, Spain

Marat possesses unique expertise in sanctions and export control. He is a leading expert on sanctions enforcement concerning personal risks to corporate beneficiaries and executives.

Marat specializes in complex compliance matters and the management of multi-jurisdictional and sanctions-related projects with multiple regulatory ties. His sectoral expertise covers the financial and insurance sectors, luxury goods, transportation, pharmaceuticals, international energy projects, and the structuring of international investments.

Selected Experience

Marat advised:

a client in obtaining Russia's first license from the Belgian Ministry of Finance to unblock a private investor's assets and in its full implementation;

a client in appealing the Belgian Council of State's refusal to issue a license to unblock frozen assets in the NSD;

a major insurance company in preventing asset confiscation in EU member states;

an international medical equipment manufacturer on logistics organization under sanctions;

a luxury watch manufacturer in maintaining its service business in Russia amid sanctions restrictions and export controls;

Russia's sovereign wealth fund in developing a multi-jurisdictional strategy and ongoing support;

an oilfield services equipment manufacturer in ensuring commercial presence in Venezuela;

a Russian oil and gas major on intra-group financing for its overseas business under sanctions;

a Russian oil and gas major in analyzing sanctions risks for expansion into Persian Gulf countries;

a major telecommunications operator in conducting a sanctions risk audit;

a sanctioned Russian insurance company in obtaining an EU member state regulator's license for reinsurance premiums;

projects to create joint ventures between Russian entities and sovereign wealth funds of Persian Gulf countries.

achievements

Ratings and Awards

Marat is recommended by international and Russian directories, including WorldECR, Pravo-300, Kommersant, and Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

Pravo-300: Compliance, Sanctions Law, Private Capital (high market)

WorldECR: The only Russian lawyer rated in this international directory

Rossiyskaya Gazeta: International Projects, Sanctions Law, Private Capital and Investments

what's new

News and publications

10 / 04 / 26

VERBA LEGAL Named Leader in Kommersant Ranking

Yesterday, the annual Kommersant award ceremony for top law firms took place, where VERBA LEGAL was recognized as the best firm in a record number of categories

02 / 02 / 26

Belgian Licenses Continue to Be Executed

Despite the currently discussed pause in the issuance of new asset unlocking licenses by the Belgian Treasury, pending the outcome of the first appeals before the Council of State, licenses that have already been issued continue to be executed

10 / 11 / 25

VERBA LEGAL Business Evening: “India: Charting the Legal Course” — Key Takeaways

On 29 October, VERBA LEGAL hosted a business evening dedicated to one of the most relevant areas for Russian companies today — entering and operating in the Indian market. The event brought together Russian and Indian experts, enabling a comprehensive discussion of the key features and practical aspects of doing business in India.

11 / 08 / 25

U.S. Tariff Increases on Imports from India for Purchases of Russian Oil: Legal Analysis and<br>Consequences

On August 6, 2025, the President of the United States signed an Executive Order imposing an additional ad valorem rate of duty of 25 percent on all imports of articles of India. The duty, taking effect on August 27, 2025, is aimed at prevention of circumvention of energy sanctions against Russia. Accordingly, with effect from July 27, the rate of the U.S. duty on Indian imports will increase to 50 percent.

20 / 07 / 25

EU'S 18th PACKAGE OF SANCTIONS

The 18th Russia sanctions package adopted by the European Union is one of the most large-scale and comprehensive sanctions packages over the entire period of the conflict so far. It includes tough energy, financial and trade measures aimed at weakening the Russian Federation's economic and military potential, as well as introduces new legal tools to protect the EU Member States from foreign arbitration awards and court judgments.

18 / 07 / 25

Interactive Brokers Fined $11.8 Million for U.S. Sanctions Violations

On July 15, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced a settlement with Interactive Brokers LLC (IB), a major global electronic broker-dealer providing brokerage and investment services to millions of customers worldwide.

18 / 06 / 25

On June 24, 2025, at 10:00 (Moscow time), the Italian-Russian Chamber of Commerce, jointly with the law firms VERBA LEGAL and Campa AVVOCATI, will host a webinar to discuss the 17th, and the anticipated 18th, packages of the EU sanctions against Russia.

Experts will provide a detailed analysis of the current developments in the international sanctions policy, paying a special attention to the 17th package of the EU sanctions against Russia and the counter-measures adopted by the latter. Additionally, the experts will discuss potential developments relating to the anticipated imposition of the 18th package of sanctions.

11 / 06 / 25

Anti-Russian Sanctions: May – June 2025

On June 3, 2025, i.e. two weeks after the adoption of the 17th package of the EU and UK sanctions against Russia, the Swiss Confederation Federal Council decided to implement the restrictive measures imposed by the EU.

30 / 04 / 25

VERBA LEGAL Features Prominently in Kommersant’s Legal Market Rankings

The firm has earned 23 nominations (with 18 of them represented in Band 1) in the Best Legal Practices Category.

#events #press release

28 / 04 / 25

On the Legal Nature and Non-Extension of Executive Order 14024

VERBA LEGAL’s Sanctions Practice team comprising Tatyana Neveeva, the firm’s Managing Partner, Counsel Marat Samarskiy and Associates Tatiana Zelenovskaya and Yulia Koroleva has put together a legal alert explaining in detail what really happened and pondering on whether the extension of the national emergency means that the hopes for a relaxation of the sanctions regime recently entertained by some Russians were vain.

11 / 04 / 25

Business Breakfast Recap: Sanctions Enforcement in 2025 - Key Risks and Strategies

On February 27, VERBA LEGAL held a business breakfast on "Sanctions Enforcement in 2025: Key Risks and Strategies". As part of the event, experts addressed the pressing issues relating to business regulation and adaptation to sanctions restrictions.

12 / 02 / 25

Counsel Marat Samarskiy to Speak at ICC Russia Conference

On February 20, 2025, ICC Russia will host a conference International Contracts and Logistics: Incoterms 2020 In Action

05 / 02 / 25

Enforcement of Sanctions in 2025: Key Risks and Strategies

On February 27, 2025, leading experts Tatyana Neveyeva and Marat Samarskiy will discuss the key aspects of sanction enforcement, relevant cases, and forecasts for the future.

20 / 01 / 25

At Sunset - New Sanctions in Waning Days of Biden-Harris Administration

28 / 11 / 24

Law Forum of Belarus

On 28 November 2024, Minsk will host the Law in the Modern World forum, the major platform for discussing legal issues in the Republic of Belarus.

22 / 11 / 24

Going on the air on RBC

Marat Samarsky, Counsel of Sanctions Law Practice at VERBA LEGAL, shared his opinion on the impact of the new package of sanctions on Russian banks in a live broadcast on the RBC Investments channel.

22 / 11 / 24

Last One Out Turn Off the Lights: US Treasury vs. Russian Financial System during Last Months of Biden-Harris Presidency

On 21 November 2024, the US Treasury announced another set of blocking sanctions against a number of Russian financial institutions and specialised depositories, as well as officials of Russian companies and the Central Bank of the Russian Federation.

07 / 11 / 24

Triangle, But Not the Bermuda: Blockchain, Digital Rouble and BRICS Bridge in Sanction Setting

VERBA LEGAL Partner Alexandr Kuznetsov, Counsel Marat Samarskiy, Senior Asossiate Anna Sidorenko, and Asossiate Ivan Dubrovsky discuss whether the interested parties will be able to pursue the project, and what political and legal barriers they may face.

01 / 11 / 24

SDN Halloween: new U.S. Treasury Department sanctions by the end of October

29 / 10 / 24

Shaken, Not Stirred: A New UK Authority to Monitor Enforcement of Sanctions against Russia

12 / 09 / 24

VERBA LEGAL will facilitate the Pharmaceutical Law workshop at Law Forum of Masters

VERBA LEGAL will facilitate the Pharmaceutical Law workshop to be attended by Advisor Marat Samarsky and Senior Lawyer Anastasia Myrsina. The workshop will be moderated by Senior Lawyer Karina Kolobova.

09 / 08 / 24

VERBA LEGAL obtained 3 licenses from the Belgian Treasury for more than €60,000,000 in Euroclear

VERBA LEGAL obtained 3 licenses from the Belgian Treasury in one day for release of securities and funds of Russian private investors in Euroclear. The assets amounted to more than €60,000,000.

26 / 06 / 24

VERBA LEGAL advised Rowi, a factoring group, in a transaction with T-Bank Group (former Tinkoff)

VERBA LEGAL Corporate Practice advised Rowi, a factoring group (ROWI Factoring Plus LLC and ROWI Technologies LLC), in a transaction between Rowi Group, its founders and a T-Bank Group company (as a majority shareholder of the group).

13 / 05 / 24

Legal Challenges for Healthcare Industry - 2024

Legal Challenges for Healthcare Industry - 2024, a forum that annually brings together more than 100 representatives and experts from various areas of Life Sciences, will once again become a platform for dialogue between key market participants.

08 / 04 / 24

New Victory in Unblocking Securities in Euroclear

VERBA LEGAL obtained another licence from the Belgian Treasury to unblock assets that were frozen due to the sanctions imposed on the NSD

13 / 02 / 24

VERBA LEGAL lawyers successfully challenged the Belgian Treasury's decision regarding a securities market professional participant

The Belgian Treasury has rescinded its refusal to issue a license for unblocking the assets of a securities market professional participant and their clients.

06 / 12 / 23

VERBA LEGAL attorneys managed to overturn the decision to deny asset unblocking

For two clients who engaged VERBA LEGAL's sanctions practice to file an appeal with the Belgian Council of State regarding their license denial, the Belgian Treasury overturned the previous negative decision. The VERBA LEGAL team acted swiftly to prepare extensive appeals within a short timeframe.

05 / 12 / 23

VERBA LEGAL lawyers were acknowledged in 12 categories of Rossiyskaya Gazeta's rating

Rossiyskaya Gazeta has released the results of a lawyer and law firm rating. This rating is unique to the Russian legal market – for the first time, the rating questionnaires were not strictly predefined, allowing lawyers to discuss their specializations more expansively. Among thousands of consulting firms, whose operations span across Russia, VERBA LEGAL lawyers have been highlighted 28 times!

23 / 08 / 23

VERBA LEGAL secured a license to unlock assets for individuals without a European residency permit

VERBA LEGAL obtained a Euroclear license to unlock assets for a Russian individual investor without a European passport or residency permit. This was one of the initial instances in which the Belgian regulator issued such a permit.

14 / 08 / 23

VERBA Legal reports the execution of a Belgian Ministry of Finance license for the release of an individual investor's assets

The firm's sanctions practice team confirms the fulfillment of a license that enabled an individual investor to divest securities from Euroclear.

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