Maria Rybakova’s practice focuses on private equity, mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures. She advises Russian and international clients on structuring, negotiating and documenting private equity investments and exits, joint ventures and M&A transactions. She also counsels on business restructurings, corporate governance and antimonopoly issues.

Maria has represented investment funds and public and private companies in a wide array of industries including consumer goods, telecommunications, manufacturing and insurance. She also has significant experience conducting complex due diligence investigations of target groups of companies on behalf of private equity and strategic investors. 

Prior to joining Squire Sanders, Maria served as in-house counsel to an investment and management company where she advised a group of companies on day-to-day operations, commercial activities and transactional issues. 

Representative Experience

• Advising on the structuring and negotiating of investments for leading Russia-based and international investment funds including Baring Vostok Capital Partners, Mint Capital, New Russia Growth Fund and Troika Capital Partners.
• Conducting a due diligence review of a major restaurant chain for the subsequent sale of the business and advising on all corporate matters in connection with the acquisition of the business by a foreign investor.
• Participating in the set-up of a data center in the Russian Federation including conducting due diligence of Russia-based companies and real estate properties proposed for the accommodation of the data center, advising the investor on matters relating to the formation of a joint venture, obtaining consents from antimonopoly bodies and other corporate matters with the acquisition of shares in Russia-based companies by a foreign investor, and drafting transaction documents. 
• Conducting the due diligence review of a crane manufacturer for a subsequent sale and advising on all corporate matters with the acquisition of shares by a foreign investor.
• Advising a large foreign private equity fund on the acquisition of a group of companies providing broadband wired and wireless communication services, and drafting and negotiating the transaction documents including preparation of the shareholders, option, escrow agent, security and convertible loan agreements.
•  Advising a foreign private equity fund with proposed investment in a collection agency, drafting and negotiating share subscription and share purchase agreements, and preparing constituent documents for Russia-based companies.
• Advising a large Russia-based investment company on establishing and closing representative offices and branches of foreign companies in the Russian Federation and formation of joint ventures with other investors, including preparation of constituent documents for Russia-bassed companies, and advising on corporate restructuring of a group of companies (alcohol production, peat processing) for subsequent sale.