Sergey Afanasyev
Counsel, Attorney
Sergey’s principal area of expertise for more than 18 years has been judicial dispute settlement and defence of directors, shareholders, and beneficiaries from criminal prosecution under economic, tax, and other cases. Moreover, Sergey’s area of expertise includes defence of entrepreneurs and officials under anti-corruption cases, as well as those related to public contracts and state defence order.
Prior to joining VERBA LEGAL, Sergey was a partner and head of business criminal defence practice in a major Russian law firm and acted as a managing partner at Afanasyev and Partners lawyer’s office.
Prior to joining VERBA LEGAL, Sergey was a partner and head of business criminal defence practice in a major Russian law firm and acted as a managing partner at Afanasyev and Partners lawyer’s office.
Sergey is a barrister and has been a member of the Moscow Bar Association since 2012.
Sergey is an expert at the Business Against Corruption Centre of Public Procedures where he is engaged in expert review of requests filed by entrepreneurs.
Besides, Sergey is a permanent participant at the meetings of the Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.
Sergey often acts as an expert in TV and radio news programs, comments on various legal situations and answers the questions asked by citizens in mass media.
Education
Military University of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, Prosecution and Investigation Faculty (2006).
Russian Academy of Barristers and Notaries, Higher Advanced Training Course for Attorneys in the Russian Federation (2012).
Moscow State University of International Relations of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Advanced Training under Digital Business Transformation Program (2021).
Moscow Psychological and Social University, Advanced Training under Practical Neuro-Linguistic Programming and Psychology Program (2022).
City Business School, MBA (2024).
Russian Academy of Barristers and Notaries, Higher Advanced Training Course for Attorneys in the Russian Federation (2012).
Moscow State University of International Relations of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Advanced Training under Digital Business Transformation Program (2021).
Moscow Psychological and Social University, Advanced Training under Practical Neuro-Linguistic Programming and Psychology Program (2022).
City Business School, MBA (2024).
Awards and Ratings
Sergey is recommended by the Russian rating published by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
projects
Project Experience Highlights
Проект
Criminal defence
Клиент
Описание
Defence of the business owner of a major IT company under a criminal case pursuant to Part 4 in Article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (large-scale fraud). The criminal case was discontinued at the investigative stage on exonerative grounds due to the absence of elements of crime in the acts of the entrepreneur.
Defence of the university president under a criminal case pursuant to Part 4 in Article 160 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (misappropriation and embezzlement) with large-scale damages. The president’s acts were re-classified at the investigative stage with the charges reduced, the claimed damage cut by more than 90 times and the criminal prosecution dismissed prior to the case being taken to court.
Defence of a beneficiary of a construction company with the law enforcement authorities under an obviously fabricated criminal case. The criminal case was initiated by a former business partner. The defence efforts under the case resulted in the prosecutor dropping the charges in court and the criminal case being discontinued.
Defence of a customer’s representative on multiple bribe-taking episodes and other related offences. The criminal case was classified as top secret since the products were supplied under the state defence order. The defendant was partially acquitted on some bribe-taking episodes with the less than minimum penalty imposed for related offences without any fine and with the rank and pension retained, etc.
Defence of the rights and interests of an employee of a leading quick-frozen fish and seafood company in the Russian market under the criminal case on bribing a veterinarian.
Defence of the founder and general director of a leading cyber-crime control company on treason charges.
Defence of the university president under a criminal case pursuant to Part 4 in Article 160 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (misappropriation and embezzlement) with large-scale damages. The president’s acts were re-classified at the investigative stage with the charges reduced, the claimed damage cut by more than 90 times and the criminal prosecution dismissed prior to the case being taken to court.
Defence of a beneficiary of a construction company with the law enforcement authorities under an obviously fabricated criminal case. The criminal case was initiated by a former business partner. The defence efforts under the case resulted in the prosecutor dropping the charges in court and the criminal case being discontinued.
Defence of a customer’s representative on multiple bribe-taking episodes and other related offences. The criminal case was classified as top secret since the products were supplied under the state defence order. The defendant was partially acquitted on some bribe-taking episodes with the less than minimum penalty imposed for related offences without any fine and with the rank and pension retained, etc.
Defence of the rights and interests of an employee of a leading quick-frozen fish and seafood company in the Russian market under the criminal case on bribing a veterinarian.
Defence of the founder and general director of a leading cyber-crime control company on treason charges.
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