Statement on the Inclusion of Maxima Legal Law Firm in the EU’s 19th Sanctions Package

23 October 2025, the European Union included the law firm Maxima Legal on its sanctions list. We consider this decision to be unlawful and will challenge it by all available means.

The decision was made with serious breaches of the established EU procedures. The firm was added to the list without prior notification and without evidence being provided. All of our official requests for clarification have gone unanswered. Moreover, no EU authority has established any wrongdoing by Maxima Legal in the course of providing professional legal services.

Our European advocates have already requested our sanctions dossier and, upon its receipt and analysis, will initiate proceedings to challenge this decision at the pre-trial and, if necessary, judicial stages.

The imposed restrictions will create certain operational difficulties but will not affect the fulfilment of our obligations to clients. Our team will continue to provide all services in Russia and to develop our international consulting practice. Our European legal partners will continue to defend and represent before EU Courts and national competent authorities the relavant clients including in relation to the unblocking of frozen assets”.

We would remind that the Russian and international legal community has previously expressed serious concern regarding this situation. In a joint statement by legal associations and in publications by specialised media, it has been highlighted that the inclusion of a law firm on a sanctions list sets a dangerous precedent for the entire professional community and is capable of undermining the principles of the rule of law. We are grateful for the support expressed by our clients, partners, and colleagues from Russia, the EU, and other countries, and we highly value their solidarity.