in conjunction with
cordially invite you and your colleagues
to a roundtable discussion on the current foreign investment climate in
The past three months have witnessed dramatic political changes in both Russia and Ukraine. The resignation of Boris Yeltsin and the re-election of Leonid Kuchma may both serve as catalysts for a return to the era of economic expansion, interrupted so abruptly in August, 1998.
While Yeltsin may be credited with initiating economic reform in Russia, most would agree that his continued tenure could lead only to increased cronyism, corruption, and the augmentation of Russia’s already-sizable shadow economy. Many see the Russian Presidential elections, scheduled for March 2000, as an opportunity to right the wrongs of Russian capitalism.
While Yeltsin’s lack of political future was his ultimate demise, President Kuchma’s inability to run for office again may be his greatest asset. As a second term President with no possibility for a third term, Leonid Kuchma need no longer fear Ukraine’s conservative Parliament, and all indications are that the newly re-elected President will use his final term as a platform for tax reform, smaller government, and other economic reforms of interest to foreign investors.
Who: Dr. Benno Schwarz has been with Beiten Burkhardt Mittl & Wegener since 1992, where he provides legal support to major European and American clients investing in Russia. His areas of practice include mergers and acquisitions, real estate law, project finance, anti-trust law, insolvency law, and general corporate and commercial issues. He has also been involved with projects for EBRD, KfW, and TACIS.
Dr. Schwarz is the author of Investing in the Russian Federation (1996; published by Berlin Verlag) and co-author of Litigation and Arbitration in Central and Eastern Europe (1998; edited by David W. Rivkin and Charles Platto; published by Kluwer Law International), and the author of numerous articles on Russian corporate law.
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Alex Frishberg, Esq. has practiced law in Ukraine since Ukrainian independence. During his more than eight-year tenure, Mr. Frishberg has been confronted with nearly every type of transaction handled to date in this challenging jurisdiction. As Mr. Frishberg often says, “Every question has been asked, and answered.”
Sample clients include: Commerzbank; Duropack; HEWLETT-PACKARD; IKEA; Intel; KLM Royal Dutch Airlines; Mees Pierson; Philips Electronics; PTT Telecom BV; Embassy of Sweden; and, the U.S. Embassy in Kiev, among others.
Mr. Frishberg is the author of Frishberg & Partners’ Practical Guide to Doing Business in Ukraine (1999; published by Juris Publishing, Inc.) as well as many current articles on Ukrainian investment legislation.
Where & Munich, Germany Frankfurt, Germany
When: Wednesday, March 1, 2000 Friday, March 3, 2000
2:00 - 5:00 PM 2:00 - 5:00 PM
(reception to follow) (reception to follow)
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Agenda: 2:00 - 3:30 PM Highlights of Reform, focusing on:
ú Tax reform
ú Currency regulations
ú Property rights
ú Question & answer period
3:30 - 4:00 PM Coffee & discussion
4:00 - 5:00 PM Discussion of Direct Foreign Investment:
ú Production agreements
ú Leased factories
ú Joint ventures
ú Mergers & acquisitions
ú Greenfielding
ú General discussion of due diligence
ú Question & answer period
5:00 – 6:30 PM Wine & Cheese Reception
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To make your reservation, please contact:
In Europe: In the USA:
Irina Malkmus Alex Schay
Beiten Burkhardt Mittl & Wegener Frishberg & Partners
Tel: 49-69-756095-261 Tel: 1-312-263-5212
Fax: 49-69-756095-518 Fax: 1-312-263-5216
e-mail: irina.malkmus@bbmw.de e-mail: fandp@wwa.com