About Us                     
BRLA History
The BRLA was established in 1992 as the successor to the British-Soviet Law Association following the break-up of the Soviet Union. Our first years coincided with profound changes in the Russian legal system. To reflect this our original remit involved assisting the development of the legal profession in Russia through mutual exchanges and training programmes, providing advice and assistance in connection with the administration of justice in the Russian Federation and the drafting of legislation and organising high level meetings and round table discussions on developing legal issues. In the 1990’s the BRLA organised a number of seminars in Russia funded by the British government involving leading judges, lawyers and academics from the UK and Russia on a range of subjects including: inward investment, judicial review, judicial training, children’s rights and prisoners’ rights. We also acted as hosts to delegations of Russian judges and lawyers visiting the UK.
Our Objectives
Since then the work and aims of the association have evolved to reflect the changes that have taken place in Russia in recent years and the growth of the Russian legal and commercial market. The BRLA’s objectives now are:
  • to strengthen links between the legal professions in the UK and the Russian Federation
  • to provide a networking forum for lawyers, businessmen and anyone with an interest in developing Russo-British contacts and business
We seek to do this by organising seminars on topical issues of Russian law, commerce and politics as well as hosting social events designed to facilitate networking opportunities. Recent examples include seminars on:
  • Recent changes to Russian Insolvency Law and their impact on cross-border disputes
  • Recent developments in English Law relevant to Russian businesses
  • Review of recent Russian related cases involving enforcement issues
  • International arbitration of Russian-related disputes
  • Russian sanctions
  • Deoffshorisation – and its impact on Russian clients, UK businesses and English lawyers
  • Protecting your business from common risks – the role of English and Russian Law
  • The dispute resolution process in England and Russia
  • Obtaining and enforcing security over property in Russia and England
  • Commercial decision making, negotiation and dispute resolution in contemporary Russia
  • Arbitrating CIS related disputes through the LCIA
All of these events were followed by a drinks reception. Further details of our recent events can be found on the events page. The BRLA also acts as a point of contact and reference for anyone seeking the services of lawyers with experience of and expertise in the Russian market. In this we are assisted by the fact that our membership includes highly skilled experts in almost every area of law.
Our Management
The affairs of the BRLA are managed by an executive body under the supervision of a Committee. The BRLA’s executive officers for 2021 are:
Chairman: Professor Bill Bowring (Field Court Chambers and Birkbeck College, University of London)
Vice-Chairman: Robert Brown (Corker Binning)
Secretary: Rupert D’Cruz (Littleton Chambers)
Treasurer: Sophie Palmer (Dentons)
Our Members
The BRLA’s individual members include solicitors, barristers, in-house counsel, accountants, bankers, corporate service providers and businessmen and women. Our corporate members include a number of commercial firms with active Russian and CIS practices and a range of businesses catering for Russian companies and businessmen based in the UK and UK businesses with a presence in (or trade with) Russia. Corporate members of the BRLA include:
Further details of how to join can be found on the membership page Our Data Privacy Policy can be found here:  BRLA GDPR POLICY 25 May 2018 Further information about the BRLA can be obtained from our Hon. Secretary, Rupert D’Cruz, at the following e-mail address: rdc@littletonchambers.co.uk