Ekaterina Smolovaya

Partner – Tax Advice and Disputes

Ekaterina focuses on Russian and international taxation, providing advice on tax and customs matters, including corporate income tax, VAT, and personal income tax. Her areas of expertise include advising clients in connection with tax and customs audits, tax disputes, intra-group structuring, business reorganisation, and review of tax implications of corporate procedures, as well as advice on export/import transactions. Ekaterina's experience includes advising clients on taxation of intellectual property rights and digital assets. She assists Russian and foreign companies with asset structuring in Russia and abroad, taking account of tax and currency control considerations, and improving performance and efficiency of business entities and enhancing business profitability.

Awards

Pravo-300

Kommersant

Rossiyskaya Gazeta

Past Experience

Before joining BGP Litigation, Ekaterina served as the Head of Tax and Customs Practice at CLS. Prior to that, she dealt with various tax matters at Okko, a Russian online cinema platform, and international tax planning and foreign asset support at Gazprom Export.

Legislative, Scientific Activities and Membership in Associations

Ekaterina participates in expert work focused on improving the customs legislation in collaboration with the St. Petersburg Governor's Special Envoy for Economic Development and members of various industry associations. She is actively involved in the activities of the St. Petersburg International Business Association (or SPIBA) and German-Russian Chamber of Commerce.

Education

Ekaterina holds a degree in Law and a master’s degree in Tax Law from Saint Petersburg State University

Languages

Russian, English

Ekaterina advised:

a group of companies operating in the aerospace system development sector

on various tax structuring matters in relation to a RUB 2,000,000,000 asset transfer transaction and a transaction made with a major real estate developer

a Russian investor on international tax structuring matters

in connection with the implementation of a RUB 62 bln infrastructure project in the Republic of Salvador

a major Russian machine-building conglomerate and its top executives

in relation to the development of a strategic asset protection programme addressing, among other things, over RUB 4 bln tax and foreign exchange implications

a high net worth investor

whose aggregate capital exceeds RUB 20 bln on various tax and estate planning matters in relation to the assets located in multiple jurisdictions, including developing a structure for holding and transferring shareholdings, participation interests, immovable properties, works of art, and other assets taking account of the cross-border tax and succession law aspects

a leading Russian IT company

on various matters relating to comprehensive tax and legal structuring of the group's business in Russia, Uzbekistan, the United States, and Uruguay, including arrangements for the introduction of software products to international markets

a major Russian online cinema platform

on operational structuring and legal arrangements in connection with the entering Belarus and Kazakhstan markets

a major construction materials manufacturer

belonging to a world's largest construction materials group on management of customs risks and risks of administrative and criminal proceedings

a leading Russian supplier of spare parts, consumables and emergency repair parts and tools for mining equipment

in relation to a dispute with the customs authorities over the classification of mining industry goods and creating case law for similar products

a major international private equity and venture capital fund

on various matters relating to management of criminal liability risks that may arise from potential currency control violations by the fund and its executives

Ekaterina Smolovaya

Awards

Ekaterina advised:

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