– Nikolay Aleksandrovich, what prevented you from taking full advantage of deserved rest and resting on your laurels far from the state and professional problems? 

– I wouldn’t dream of retiring and wrapping myself in a bathrobe and watching life on the couch in front of the TV! It just wasn’t in my nature! And there were plenty of offers to continue my labor activity. Aft er careful consideration I chose ALLIANCE LEGAL CG. Th e fact is that I knew the partners of this company for a long time, their professional development took place before my eyes. And I was attracted by the opportunity to work in a team of young, ambitious, professionally growing, motivated lawyers. I felt that they, for their part, need my professional and life experience. Th us, our interests, corporate and personal, coincided.

– And how does this harmony of personal and corporate interests manifest itself in practice in the work of the Scientific Advisory Board, which you chair? 

– In addition to the expert component and assistance to partners in implementing the fi rm’s projects, the Council is, in fact, a mentor for the company’s young employees. As an experienced and senior professional I help them to improve their professional knowledge and legal literacy, give recommendations on career development, look at many corporate processes as if “from the outside” and, most importantly, try to motivate my junior colleagues to move forward. And the positive changes that I observe inspire me a lot! I want and like to pass on my knowledge and experience to those who can take advantage of it.

– What qualities and habits are you trying to cultivate in your young colleagues? 

– Tens of thousands of young professionals join the Russian legal community every year. And, of course, each of them dreams to take a worthy place in the profession. In higher education, students are given approximately the same amount of knowledge, the same base. Another thing is who and how much can be taken into their intellectual baggage. The ability to work independently, the aspiration to be above the standard are of great importance. A young specialist’s interest in a particular specialization, passion for an important and ambiguous legal problem also distinguishes him or her favorably. Communication skills and the ability to position oneself correctly are invaluable for the legal profession. The combination of professional literacy, empathy and high capacity for work is the key to successful career development. In addition to all of the above, it is very important to understand the specifics of work in legal consulting: it is lightning-fast reaction to the client’s requests, constant support, the ability to defend your professional point of view (for example, if necessary to dissuade him from a dangerous deal).

– Are there people in the company that employees would like to look up to? 

– You’re right, the opportunity to work as part of a successful, highly professional team is decisive for further career and growth. Answering your question specifically, these are, first of all, the company’s partners. DMITRY FESKO due to his serious work experience in the Interior Ministry, he understands how the entire legal system works, has considerable experience as a manager, has strong communication skills, understands to the fi nest detail how lawyers and security officers work in large companies and corporations. EVGENY KARNOUKHOV has gained invaluable experience in the justice system and the legal profession. He knows how a legal business should be run from the inside, which services are in demand, and how to create a unique, irreplaceable service for the client and become his full-fl edged business partner. NIKOLAY POPOV is the head of the law fi rm, with experience in law enforcement and almost 20 years of experience as a lawyer, including international practice. He can look at a case from different angles, understanding the position of the prosecution, and building the necessary line of defense. Th e fi rm’s partners are experienced experts in specialized fields of law, who know the regional specifics. Understanding the needs of clients led them to create their own Bureau of forensic examination: ANO “National Expert Bureau”. Th e right “designer” of legal services and a harmonious combination of competencies of the founders of the firm ensures its self-sufficiency and relevance.

– At the core of the corporate culture of any company is not only the professionalism of employees, a team of like-minded people is created through many factors… 

– I agree with you. ALLIANCE LEGAL CG partners believe that the team – is a living organism. And the healthier and stronger it is, the more productive the work. Great importance is given to creating a favorable atmosphere in the team, creating a comfortable working environment and stimulating employees. It is very important to find an individual, unconventional approach to everyone in the team, to achieve an understanding of their goals, responsibilities, and role in the team. And for this purpose it is necessary to support any initiative connected with growth: both visiting of profile events, and support in questions of health care and sports, and even the help in receiving the academic degree. All of this allows us to retain qualified personnel and recruit talented young people to the team. Company leaders proceed from the presumption of each employee’s individuality and focus their efforts on discovering their strengths. A striking example of a nonstandard approach to solving this problem is the tradition of corporate games. For example, Alliance Legal Battle is a competitive project of the fi rm, which requires oratorical and logical thinking skills to win. Twice a year the team as a whole travels out on a team building trip: it is a joint conquest of ski slopes, beach games at the seaside, and even a themed weekend in the style of Imperial Russia. Such trips bring us together and motivate us to work together. I am deeply convinced that it is the forwardlooking and creative policy of the company’s partners that is the key to its success on the legal services market. “Weather” is not only at home but in the legal business oft en determines the result. And I like to take the honorary role of a mentor in such a “house”.

Search: RBG
Ovchinnikov Nickolay, Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board