On February 17, 2026, the annual flagship seminar of Lidings, "Predictions 2026: Crystal Clarity Instead of Legal Fog," was held at the Hotel Metropol.

The event marked the beginning of a series of celebrations dedicated to the firm's 20th anniversary and brought together over 70 representatives from 50 Russian and international companies.

Lidings' lawyers together with invited speakers from the corporate sector discussed key legislative changes and shared current trends and practical tools.

2026 is a special year for our team — it marks our 20th anniversary. And we are especially pleased to kick it off with a seminar where we will look into the "Crystal of Predictions": back to the past — to review the key legal developments of the past year, and forward to the future — to share crystal-clear insights on the key business trends awaiting in 2026.

On December 19, a major tax seminar titled "Taxes-2026" will be held in Moscow. This practical event, organized by the team of the Legal Masters Forum, is dedicated to the upcoming amendments to the Tax Code effective from 2026.

Dmitry Kirillov, Partner, Head of Tax and Customs practice at Lidings, will moderate the discussion session "Disputes with Tax Authorities or Defense in Tax Disputes".

We are pleased to announce the appointment of two new partners and counsel!

The development of a double taxation treaty between Russia and the United Arab Emirates ("DTT") started as early as in 2022, but the final text of agreement was not known until middle of February 2025. The process of drafting the agreement was delayed because the UAE agreed to a 10% withholding tax rate on passive income paid abroad only under the terms of renegotiation of DTTs with other Arab countries, requiring similar tax rates of 10% in such agreements.

On July 30, 2024, laws aimed at regulating cryptoassets were passed by the State Duma and approved by the Federation Council. They promote the use of cryptocurrency, stablecoins and DFAs in cross-border settlements.

Lidings takes high positions in the new rating of the leading legal advisors in Russia based on the analytical research held annually by the “Kommersant” newspaper. In 2024 the firm is ranked among the TOP leading legal advisors in Russia.