We represent a network of fundamentally independent companies focusing on support and establishment of business relations between Western Europe and the states of the former Soviet Union. As far as reasonable, all companies use a common technological infrastructure and are guided by common operating principles.
Staff It’s our absolutely conscious decision to have as permanent staff only a small number of employees: today consulting business is so specialized that one would have to hire tens of specialists for provision of legal advice only. However, it’s unlikely that they would work at full capacity all the time. As a result, the unjustified costs would pass on to our clients.
In all countries where the offices of our companies are located, we have a wide network of non-payroll employees. Our regular staff gives instructions to contractors, inspects their work and, if desirable or required, gives them a possibility to contact the client directly.
Using our own resources, we solve only standard tasks in which we have 100% competence (e.g., setting up of companies or labour law; in Russia it is also bookkeeping and tax consulting). In any case we take full responsibility towards the client, including financial liability.
All regular staff closely cooperates within our group of companies. This means that our employees do not work solely in one place. Mutual support is carried out primarily through Internet and videoconferences. In particular, they have the possibility to work remotely provided that their physical presence in a certain place is not required.
Invoicing Our pricing is generally based on hourly rates. Each employee registers the time spent for a project. The work of an employee is paid according to an hourly rate corresponding to his/her qualification.
We make offers with a fix price only for standard works where we can estimate the costs, for instance, in case of setting up a company, based on the existing experience. We ask our new clients to make an advance payment in the amount of the estimated costs for the next 2 months. By the time of exhaustion of the paid advance the client will receive a detailed account of the expenses. If the client decides to continue cooperation with us, we will proceed further with fulfilment of works and upon completion of the next stage will issue an invoice also containing a detailed list of expenses. If the client cancels the order prior to exhaustion of the advance, of course the remaining amount will be transferred back.
