Protecting Foreign Rights Holders in a Complex Jurisdiction

Pravo-300 · 8 years |

Best Lawyers Russia |

Kommersant |

1,000+ matters |

15+ years

Practice
Est. 2009 · Practice No. 05

About This Practice

For a foreign brand owner, the Russian IP market is not difficult in principle — Russia is a signatory to the Paris Convention, the Berne Convention, and the Madrid Agreement, and provides statutory protection for trademarks, patents, and copyright under the Fourth Part of the Civil Code. The difficulty lies in enforcement: knowing which administrative route produces the fastest result against a counterfeiter; understanding the customs register (TROIS) and when it can be used; navigating the Intellectual Property Court, which has exclusive jurisdiction over certain IP disputes; and addressing the structural challenge of parallel import, which Russian law has expanded in ways that create specific risks for brand owners with exclusive distribution arrangements. At Vetrov & Partners, our IP enforcement practice is led by a partner who has managed trademark portfolio defence, anti-counterfeiting proceedings, and trademark squatting disputes for foreign rights holders operating in Russia. We provide enforcement from the registry through to the court.

Who We Act For

Our IP instructions come from foreign brand owners, international rights holders, and overseas companies with trademark portfolios or IP assets registered in Russia.

Client situations:
You are the GC of a foreign consumer goods company with a Russian trademark registration. A third party has registered a mark that is identical or confusingly similar to yours, and is now opposing your renewal or filing. You need to invalidate the third-party registration and protect your portfolio position in Russia before the situation worsens.

You own a trademark in Russia and have discovered that counterfeit goods bearing your mark are being imported through Russian customs. You need to register your mark with the Russian customs authority (TROIS register) and use the customs register to detain shipments at the border.

Your Russian distributor's exclusive distribution arrangement is being undermined by parallel imports — goods bearing your original trademark imported into Russia through unauthorised channels. You need legal advice on the available tools for protecting the exclusivity of your distribution arrangement under Russian law.

A third party has registered your trademark or trade name in Russia without your consent — a practice known as trademark squatting — and is either using it commercially or seeking to extract a payment from you for its transfer. You need to challenge the registration before Rospatent or before the Intellectual Property Court.

You are in-house counsel for a pharmaceutical or technology company. Your patent or know-how is being infringed in Russia. You need enforcement proceedings before the Russian courts and advice on the available remedies — including injunctions, damages, and seizure of infringing goods.

What We Do

We do not treat IP enforcement as a registry exercise. Our practice combines Rospatent proceedings, Intellectual Property Court litigation, customs enforcement, and civil infringement claims in a coordinated strategy that addresses the specific enforcement objective of each instruction.

We manage the defence and maintenance of foreign trademark portfolios registered in Russia, including monitoring for conflicting filings, filing oppositions to third-party applications, responding to non-use cancellation actions under Article 1486 of the Civil Code, and managing renewal and recording of changes in the Rospatent register. For foreign rights holders with existing Russian trademark counsel, we act as litigation counsel when enforcement proceedings become necessary.

Trademark portfolio defence

The Russian customs IP register — maintained by the Federal Customs Service under the TROIS system — allows rights holders to record their trademarks for monitoring at the Russian border. Customs officers may detain shipments of goods bearing registered marks without prior application by the rights holder. We manage TROIS registrations, advise on the practical scope of the customs protection obtained, and coordinate responses to detained shipments — including the commencement of civil infringement proceedings where appropriate.

Anti-counterfeiting and customs enforcement (TROIS register)

Russian legislation has expanded the grounds on which parallel-import goods can be admitted to the Russian market — meaning that goods bearing an original trademark may be imported through channels other than the brand owner's authorised distributor. We advise on the legal scope of the parallel import provisions as they apply to a specific brand owner's market, on the tools available to limit parallel import activity, and on distribution agreement structuring to maintain enforceability.

Parallel import defence

Russian transfer pricing rules (Section V.1 of the Tax Code) apply to controlled transactions between related parties exceeding established thresholds. FNS transfer pricing audits examine whether the pricing of intra-group transactions reflects arm's-length conditions. We advise on the preparation of transfer pricing documentation, the selection of the most defensible comparables methodology, and the conduct of the appeal process where an assessment has been issued.

Trademark squatting proceedings

The Intellectual Property Court (Суд по интеллектуальным правам) has exclusive jurisdiction over disputes concerning the validity of IP registrations, the challenge of Rospatent decisions, and certain civil IP disputes. We appear before the IP Court in both first-instance and cassation proceedings, including on matters referred from the general arbitrazh courts.

Intellectual Property Court proceedings

Where infringement — including counterfeiting, unauthorised use of a trademark, or patent infringement — has occurred in Russia, civil infringement proceedings before the arbitrazh court or the court of general jurisdiction (depending on the nature of the defendant) are available. Remedies include injunctions, seizure and destruction of infringing goods, and damages calculated either on an actual-loss basis or by reference to the compensation amounts specified in Article 1301 and Article 1515 of the Civil Code

Civil infringement claims

For foreign rights holders managing enforcement across multiple jurisdictions, we act as Russian enforcement counsel within a broader international strategy — managing the Russian proceedings and reporting to overseas IP counsel on the progress and outcomes.

Coordination with overseas IP counsel

By the Numbers

Representative Matters

HEADLINE: Successfully contested IP rights holder's compensation claim of approximately $178K — claim dismissed at first instance, upheld on appeal.

BACKGROUND: A Russian company faced a statutory compensation claim from an IP rights holder alleging unauthorised use of registered trademark rights. The claim relied on the statutory compensation mechanism under Article 1515 of the Civil Code, calculated at the upper range of the available scale based on the alleged commercial impact of the infringement.

OUR ROLE: We managed the defence in the arbitrazh court proceedings, challenging both the characterisation of the alleged use as infringement and the quantum calculation methodology applied by the claimant. We produced contemporaneous evidence that the defendant's use did not constitute infringement as defined under Articles 1484 and 1515, and demonstrated that the claimed compensation amount was unsupported by the statutory criteria and the evidence of actual loss.

OUTCOME: The compensation claim — valued at approximately $178K — was dismissed at first instance. The decision was upheld in full on appeal. The claimant did not pursue cassation review.

IP Enforcement Defence   ·  Statutory Compensation   ·  Art. 1515 Civil Code   ·  Russia — Arbitrazh Court

HEADLINE: Trademark infringement proceedings at IP Court — 500,000 RUB compensation ordered for unauthorised use of registered mark.

BACKGROUND: A brand owner faced a two-year dispute involving unauthorised use of its Russian registered trademark by a competitor. The case required proof of infringement and, critically, proof that formally separate defendant entities were economically connected — a requirement that involves complex corporate-structure evidence not typically required in straightforward infringement matters.

OUR ROLE: We managed the proceedings across three court levels. After adverse decisions at first instance and on appeal, we took the matter to the Intellectual Property Court (Суд по интеллектуальным правам), developing the evidentiary approach to establish the structural links between the defendant entities and reframing the infringement characterisation for the IP Court's specialist bench.

OUTCOME: The Intellectual Property Court found in the client's favour and ordered 500,000 RUB in compensation for unauthorised use of the trademark. The IP Court decision was determinative.

Trademark Infringement   ·  IP Court   ·  Compensation Award   ·  Art. 1515 Civil Code

HEADLINE: Trademark infringement proceedings at IP Court — 500,000 RUB compensation ordered for unauthorised use of registered mark.

BACKGROUND: A brand owner faced a two-year dispute involving unauthorised use of its Russian registered trademark by a competitor. The case required proof of infringement and, critically, proof that formally separate defendant entities were economically connected — a requirement that involves complex corporate-structure evidence not typically required in straightforward infringement matters.

OUR ROLE: We managed the proceedings across three court levels. After adverse decisions at first instance and on appeal, we took the matter to the Intellectual Property Court (Суд по интеллектуальным правам), developing the evidentiary approach to establish the structural links between the defendant entities and reframing the infringement characterisation for the IP Court's specialist bench.

OUTCOME: The Intellectual Property Court found in the client's favour and ordered 500,000 RUB in compensation for unauthorised use of the trademark. The IP Court decision was determinative.

Trademark Infringement   ·  IP Court   ·  Compensation Award   ·  Art. 1515 Civil Code

Managed TROIS registration for foreign brand. Coordinated customs detention of four shipments of counterfeit goods. Civil claim filed against the importer.

International brand owner · TROIS registration · customs detention · anti-counterfeiting

Advised on the scope of parallel import provisions as applied to the client's market. Advised on distribution agreement restructuring. No proceedings required.

European technology company · parallel import dispute · exclusive distributor protection

Defended foreign trademark owner against non-use cancellation claim filed by a competitor. Produced evidence of genuine use. Application rejected by IP Court.

Foreign fashion brand · non-use cancellation defence · Article 1486

info@vetrovpartners.com
+7 (983) 510-38-76
Response: under 2 hours (Mon–Fri 09:00–20:00, Sat 10:00–15:00 UTC+7)

The Partner

Elizaveta Razina, Senior Lawyer

Elizaveta Razina leads Vetrov & Partners' IP enforcement practice, acting for foreign rights holders in trademark portfolio defence, anti-counterfeiting proceedings, Intellectual Property Court litigation, and trademark squatting disputes in Russia. She has managed enforcement instructions for international brand owners across consumer goods, pharmaceutical, and technology sectors, combining Rospatent proceedings with civil and administrative enforcement to address specific infringement objectives.

Her practice includes the management of TROIS customs register filings and coordinated responses to detained border shipments, the conduct of non-use cancellation and bad-faith registration proceedings before the IP Court, and the representation of foreign companies in civil infringement claims before the Russian arbitrazh courts. She coordinates regularly with overseas IP counsel on multi-jurisdictional enforcement strategies.

We coordinate frequently with overseas IP counsel on parallel enforcement actions across multiple jurisdictions, managing the Russian registry and court proceedings locally.

Recognised by Pravo-300   ·  Listed in Best Lawyers Russia

The Team

Recognition

We do not hold rankings from Chambers Global or Legal 500 in this practice area.

How We Work

Every engagement begins with a short description of your situation sent to one person, who reads it the same day.

We close with a written memorandum covering the outcome and any ongoing compliance or monitoring requirements identified during the proceedings.

Step 5 · Matter close

Kornouhova manages every material step. We coordinate with the group's overseas tax advisers where required and provide written reports after each significant procedural step.

Step 4 · Execution

We provide a phase-by-phase scope and fee estimate before billable work begins: audit support, administrative appeal, and judicial proceedings are each separately costed.

Step 3 · Written scope

If the initial exchange suggests a viable instruction, we schedule a thirty-minute call with the practice lead partner. For audit matters, this call will focus on the current state of the audit and the most important immediate steps. For appeal matters, we will assess the grounds available and the realistic outcome range.

Step 2 · Complimentary call

Send us three paragraphs: your IP right (trademark, patent, or other), the nature of the infringement or threat, and the country in which the right is registered. We will respond within two hours with an initial assessment of the available routes and the realistic timescales.

Step 1 · Initial enquiry

Fees

Our standard billing model is hourly, with rates reflecting the seniority of the fee-earner and the complexity of the matter. Rates are quoted in Euros or US Dollars, invoiced monthly, with payment terms of fourteen days.

For disputes and recovery matters, we are willing to discuss alternative arrangements — including fixed-fee phases for defined procedural steps and, in appropriate circumstances, success-fee components where the recovery value is quantifiable. Our cost base allows us to provide partner-level attention at economics that reflect a regional, non-Moscow practice.

We do not publish rates on this page because every matter is different. We provide a written fee estimate within twenty-four hours of receiving your enquiry.

We invoice in EUR or USD. Local currency billing (RUB) is available for Russian-entity clients upon request.

Questions

Last reviewed: May 2026

Related Practices

Corporate Governance for Foreign Shareholders

Asset Protection & Wealth Structuring

Tax
Controversy

Cross-border Disputes & Arbitration

Further Reading

The Parallel Import Landscape in Russia: What Brand Owners Need to Know

Practice Analysis

Using the TROIS Customs Register: A Practical Guide for Foreign Brand Owners

Practice Analysis

Trademark Squatting in Russia: The Legal Routes for Foreign Rights Holders

Practice Analysis

Make an Enquiry

ALTERNATIVE CONTACTS
Email: info@vetrovpartners.com
Phone (office): +7 (383) 310-38-76
Mobile / WhatsApp / Telegram: +7 (983) 510-38-76
Telegram channel: t.me/vitvetcom
Hours: Mon–Fri 09:00–20:00 · Sat 10:00–15:00 (UTC+7)
Response: Under 2 hours (business hours)

ADDRESS:
Deputatskaya Street 46, Office 1191, 19th Floor
Novosibirsk, Russia

Vetrov & Partners is a Russian-qualified law firm. For matters governed
by foreign law or requiring local admission in other jurisdictions,
we collaborate with trusted counsel in the relevant jurisdiction.

Vetrov & Partners · Boutique Law Firm · Established 2009 · Russia

The contents of this page are provided for informational purposes and
do not constitute legal advice. No solicitor–client relationship is
formed by reading this page. Vetrov & Partners is registered and
practising in Russia. © 2026 Vetrov & Partners.