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.
Seminar Highlights
Malakhov, Partner at Lidings, covered key trends in the IP sphere, ranging from increased state fees and the specifics of protecting foreign rights holders' interests to the practice of granting compulsory licenses and distinguishing between parallel imports and counterfeits. During his presentation, Boris also emphasized the need to combine classic IP tools with regulatory expertise and GR.
Also speaking during the intellectual property protection session was Stanislav Sidorov, General Director of Alfarma, who shared practical experience and a business perspective on how legal IP protection tools help preserve a company's capitalization.
Through the Prism of Tender: The Multidimensional Nature of Procurement Disputes
Alexander Popelyuk, Partner at Lidings, explained that public procurement is an intersection of public interests and private rights, where formal compliance with procedures does not guarantee a lawful outcome. Using the pharmaceutical industry as an example, Alexander demonstrated that the outcome of a dispute often depends not on the letter of the law, but on how the court and regulatory authorities assess the limits of the customer's discretion.
Business Crystallization in Russia: New Frontiers of Localization and Import Substitution
The localization session also featured a practical presentation by Andrey Shanchev, General Director of Boule Medical, who demonstrated, through a real-world case, how to structure the localization processes for medical devices in Russia.
Conflict Dismissals: What to Do When Employees Overstep the Bounds of Reason
Elizaveta Fursova, Partner at Lidings, shared insights into modern "life hacks" used by disgruntled employees and their methods of putting pressure on employers. Using case studies from her practice, Elizaveta outlined what a company's proper response should look like to minimize risks and resolve the conflict with the least possible losses.
Business Reputation – The Crystal of Any Business: How to Protect Every Facet of a Company's Most Valuable Asset in the Digital Age
Julia Kuzmenko, Counsel at Lidings, diagnosed the main reputational threats in the digital environment. Yulia presented tactical response tools — from pre-trial claims to lawsuits — and offered recommendations for building a preventive system to manage a company's business reputation through digital profile monitoring and internal regulations.
The seminar was moderated by Dmitry Kirillov, Partner at Lidings.