# *Beiten Burkhardt Mittl & Wegener*

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*in conjunction with*

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## ***Frishberg & Partners***

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*cordially invite you and your colleagues*

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*to a roundtable discussion on the current foreign investmentclimate in*

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# *Russia and Ukraine*

 

 

 

The past three months havewitnessed dramatic political changes in both Russia and Ukraine.  The resignation of Boris Yeltsin andthe re-election of Leonid Kuchma may both serve as catalysts for a return tothe era of economic expansion, interrupted so abruptly in August, 1998.  

 

While Yeltsin may be credited withinitiating economic reform in Russia, most would agree that his continuedtenure could lead only to increased cronyism, corruption, and the augmentationof Russia’s already-sizable shadow economy.  Many see the Russian Presidential elections, scheduled forMarch 2000, as an opportunity to right the wrongs of Russian capitalism.

 

While Yeltsin’s lack of political futurewas his ultimate demise, President Kuchma’s inability to run for office againmay be his greatest asset.  As asecond term President with no possibility for a third term, Leonid Kuchma needno longer fear Ukraine’s conservative Parliament, and all indications are thatthe newly re-elected President will use his final term as a platform for taxreform, smaller government, and other economic reforms of interest to foreigninvestors.

 

 

#### Please allow our partners to share their 

#### insights during this transitional time.

 

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***Who:          *****Dr. Benno Schwarz** has been with Beiten Burkhardt Mittl& Wegener since 1992, where he provides legal support to major European andAmerican clients investing in Russia. His areas of practice include mergers and acquisitions, real estate law,project finance, anti-trust law, insolvency law, and general corporate andcommercial issues.  He has alsobeen involved with projects for EBRD, KfW, and TACIS.

 

                        Dr.Schwarz is the author of *Investing in theRussian Federation* (1996; published by Berlin Verlag) and co-author of *Litigation and Arbitration in Central andEastern Europe* (1998; edited by David W. Rivkin and Charles Platto;published by Kluwer Law International), and the author of numerous articles onRussian corporate law.

 

 

 

***

 

 

**Alex Frishberg, Esq.**has practiced law in Ukraine since Ukrainian independence.  During his more than eight-year tenure,Mr. Frishberg has been confronted with nearly every type of transaction handledto date in this challenging jurisdiction. As Mr. Frishberg often says, “Every question has been asked, andanswered.”  

 

Sampleclients include: Commerzbank; Duropack; HEWLETT-PACKARD; IKEA; Intel; KLM RoyalDutch Airlines; Mees Pierson; Philips Electronics; PTT Telecom BV; Embassy ofSweden; and, the U.S. Embassy in Kiev, among others.

 

Mr.Frishberg is the author of *Frishberg& Partners’ Practical Guide to Doing Business in Ukraine* (1999;published by Juris Publishing, Inc.) as well as many current articles onUkrainian investment legislation.

 

 

***Where &***            Munich,Germany                                Frankfurt,Germany

***When:***            Wednesday,March 1, 2000                Friday,March 3, 2000

2:00 - 5:00 PM                                          2:00- 5:00 PM

                        (receptionto follow)                          (receptionto follow)

 

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

                                                

***Agenda:***            2:00- 3:30 PM                      Highlightsof Reform, focusing on:

 

�      Tax reform

�      Currencyregulations

�      Propertyrights

�      Question& answer period

 

3:30- 4:00 PM                        Coffee& discussion

 

4:00- 5:00 PM             Discussionof Direct Foreign Investment: 

 

�      Productionagreements

�      Leasedfactories

�      Jointventures

�      Mergers& acquisitions

�      Greenfielding

�      Generaldiscussion of due diligence

�      Question& answer period

 

5:00– 6:30 PM            Wine& Cheese Reception

 

 

***

 

***To make yourreservation, please contact:***

 

 

 

***In Europe:                                                                  Inthe USA:***

 

Irina Malkmus                                                AlexSchay

Beiten BurkhardtMittl & Wegener                                  Frishberg& Partners

 

Tel:           49-69-756095-261                  Tel:                 1-312-263-5212

Fax:           49-69-756095-518                  Fax:                 1-312-263-5216

e-mail:                   [email protected]     e-mail:                  [email protected]

 

 

### **Please R.S.V.P. byclose of business, Friday, February 25th**