Maryann Gashi-Butler

As a dispute resolution lawyer...

For decades Maryann has provided consulting and expert services relating to the laws of Russia and Ukraine in arbitrations and courts around the world in particular in the U.S., U.K. and EU countries. Since 1990 her practice has primarily related to dispute resolution and advising on the legal framework for investing in Russia and Ukraine.

As a transactions lawyer...

Maryann has assisted clients develop legal structures to grow their businesses in diverse, and at times, adverse environments within the U.S. and abroad, primarily in Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. She has represented businesses of all sizes, large and small, from start-ups to expanding multinationals.

After graduating from Harvard Law School with a JD in 1983, Maryann began her legal career as a transactions lawyer in Washington, D.C. with concentration in securities law and large scale transactions (1983-December 1990) after which she concentrated on the laws of Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and other states formerly part of the USSR. She received a Russian law degree from a law school in Moscow, Russia in 1997 and was licensed by the Russian Ministry of Justice when such a requirement existed. Maryann established and/or managed foreign offices of American and English international law firms from 1990 through 2010 after which she managed law practices outside of Russian focusing on Russian and Ukrainian law. From 1990 she resided in Russia or England until repatriating (in part) to the states in late 2005. Until 2010 she continued to manage a Moscow law firm founded by her in 2001; she sold her interest in that firm in 2010 in order to focus on building a U.S. based law practice.

Since 1983 she has advised on doing business in many key industries, most of which experience was gained after 1990 while managing law practices focusing on Russia, Ukraine and other states formerly part of the USSR). Work in the latter areas required expertise in the laws of Russia, Ukraine or other such states. Examples of key industries include:

Aviation (finance leasing to licensing)

Energy (oil and gas as well as nuclear)

Consumer products

Communications (including satellite, telephone, internet based)

Transportation (manufacturing and joint ventures)

Media (including television, radio, print and internet based, movie rights)

Construction (from acquisition of real estate to building and licensing)

Finance and investment (regulation of investment in the securities market and finance as well as specially regulated investment projects)

Banking (creation and licensing as well as regulation)

Most of her experience in these sectors was gained while managing teams of lawyers at Anglo-American law firm offices abroad or as the managing partner of her own foreign law firm. She advised in the above areas on many levels including conducting legal due diligence on U.S., Russian, Ukrainian and Kazakh companies prior to mergers, acquisitions or privatizations, application of licensing or currency regulation requirements, contract negotiations relating to partnerships and other joint investments or acquisitions, creation of investment vehicles, negotiations for purchase/sale of goods and services, distributorships, tolling arrangements in the oil and gas, metals and manufacturing sectors, advising on regulation of various special industries, including, for example, securities, banking, aviation, oil and gas, construction, broadcasting, transportation and storage of nuclear waste in Russia and Kazakhstan, special investment projects, including in Russian industries regulated as "strategic", assistance in licensing of Russian banks and participants in the securities market. In her early days in the former Soviet Union, she advised clients on some of the first large scale privatizations in Russia and Kazakhstan.

In 1997 Maryann decided to increase her expertise in Russian law by obtaining a Russian law degree (Russian Master's Degree in law by written thesis and oral exam after attending classes). She was thus able to be licensed by the Russian Ministry of Justice under new legislation requiring such licensing. There currently is no such licensing required, except for a small class of lawyers known as "advokats", a species of lawyers similar to some degree to English barristers.

As an author...

Maryann has published, co-authored or translated from Russian to English many books and articles on various aspects of the legal framework in Russia, including publications relating to doing business or investing in Russia and regulatory frameworks in certain Russian industries, the role of paperless securities and derivatives in the Russian market, comparative analysis of Russian securities regulation and company law to that in common law systems, the development of the Russian judicial system, a comparative analysis of regulation of the nuclear industry (Russia, EU, U.S.).

As a participant in legal reform...

Most recently, Maryann has participated in legal reform projects relating to Russian company law, the judicial system and possible professional responsibility rules for Russian lawyers. During the 1990(s) and early 2000(s), Maryann gained unique insight into practical solutions for legal structuring at a pivotal time in the history of Russia and other CIS States as they moved from communist to capitalist economies. The task was often driven by the need to meld three legal systems (that of the existing States with their unique history and needs, the continental legal system, on which some part had been based prior to communism, and desirable elements of the common law system). The goal was to improve on the legal framework for business and growth of all three systems. Most of these projects were organized by the host country and/or various international organizations (e.g. The World Bank, EBRD, IMF and others). Key legislation related to company, securities, privatization, ownership and investor protection legislation. Maryann also chaired many conferences in these areas to increase public awareness of changes in legislation. She advised on development of some of the first Russian securities and "non-securities" derivatives.

As a "law educator"...