The Gazette 1993

GAZETTE

I M N A GEM N JUNE 1993

taxes are in force and at high rates. It is necessary for foreign investors to look closely at international company structures to minimise their tax implications. Unfortunately Ireland does not have a Double Taxation Treaty with Russia. One is in the process of being drafted but is not expected to be completed until the end of 1993. Local legal consultancy firms did not exist in Moscow before Perestroika and so many of those that exist are very inexperienced in commercial law, uninsured and badly organised. A number of UK, US and other Western accountancy and law firms have established Moscow offices

Bloc should not be surprised by the changing nature of the regulations governing commerce, the different and, at times, unorthodox methods of implementing same. Such matters as import and export taxes and licences come and-go and change as the government adjusts to a market economy. Implementation of regulations can also be carried out in a draconian and unfair way. In many cases the authorities such as Revenue and Customs have the powers to freeze bank accounts and order deduction of taxes before the company can exercise any right of appeal. To overcome these problems it is necessary to be very vigilant of the companys' affairs and have local advisors to keep you closely aware of the trends of local authorities. Taxation law in Russia is being developed very quickly and corporation, income and value added Solicitors and apprentices are requested and urged to note that the Education Committee of the Society has decided the dates for the remaining Professional Courses in 1993 and in 1994. These are: 33rd Professional Course 8 June - 8 October, 1993 34th Professional Course 1 November, 1993 - 28 February, 1994 35th Professional Course 21 March - 13 July, 1994 36th Professional Course 22 August - 14 December, 1994 The timetable for the 33rd Professional Course includes a two week break during August, 1993. The terminal date in each case is the last date of class contact, and the conveyancing examination for each course will occur approximately ten days after that date. This should be borne in mind both by apprentices and offices in arranging their respective commitments.

doing business in Moscow would be well advised to take local advice but also to insist on grafting as much Western commercial documentation and practice as possible into the Russian system. It is imperative to insist on directing the Russian partners' advisors and bureaucrats in a commercial direction and refusing to take no for an answer. In this article I have confined most of my comments to Russia which is the most complex of all the post Communist countries, the same applies to advising clients doing business in other Eastern Bloc countries though to a lesser degree. *Julie Sadlier, Solicitor; provides a legal consultancy service on doing business in Eastern Europe. • apprenticeship and having submitted to the Society the completed application for consent to become apprenticed together with the necessary accompanying documentation. In the absence of any one condition of eligibility, an allocation will not be made. It should be noted that failure to take up a place on a particular Professional Course by an apprentice does not automatically ensure postponement to the next available Professional Course, and that in such circumstance it will be the responsibility of the apprentice to re- apply for a place. Applications to attend a Professional Course, should be submitted in writing to the undersigned. Albert Power, Assistant Director of Education, Incorporated Law Society of Ireland, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7. Tel: 01 6710711 Ext. 326.

employing largely Russian accountants and lawyers.

Persistence & patience

Any Irish lawyer advising clients

Law School Professional Courses

There may be some minor modification of the commencement or termination dates. These would be liable to variation if there were to be an increase in the time allocation for existing subjects or an introduction of any new subjects or due to the vagaries of examination timetabling. There are currently 91 students on each Professional Course. At the time of going to print the 33rd and 34th and 35th Professional Courses are completely full. The earliest that any law graduate qualifying from his or her university in 1993 will be able to attend on the Professional Course is in August, 1994. Places on Professional Courses are allocated on a 'first come first served basis', provided that the applicant is exempt, or is entitled to apply to be exempt, the Final Examination - First Part, or has in fact passed that examination, and further subject to the applicant's actually having secured an

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