CMS Moscow has appointed Maxim Boulba as its new head of competition following the departure of former head Yevgeny Voevodin to local firm Capital Legal Services (CLS).

Russia TMT chief Boulba took over as head of the competition practice earlier this month after a decade at the CMS branch. He joined CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre in 2000 and made partner in 2008.

Boulba specialises in advising foreign investors on Russian anti-monopoly requirements and obtaining antitrust clearance on the acquisition of assets located in Russia.

Voevodin had been head of the competition practice at CMS Cameron McKenna in Moscow since 2005, taking on the role of head of the combined competion practice when Camerons, CMS Hasche Sigle and CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre merged their offices in the Russian capital on 1 January 2009.

Boulba said: "Competition and antitrust is an important part of our practice in which we have a number of experts and on which we remain focused. We are looking to develop and build the practice through recruitment at all levels and wewill continueto work closely with our offices in central Eastern and mainland Europe."

There are currently eight lawyers in the Moscow competition practice, two of whom are partners.

CMS Moscow managing partner Jean-Francois Marquaire said: "Our strategic investment in the group reflects the need for detailed knowledge and experience of the increasingly sophisticated international competition legal environment – this is something to which our clients are very responsive."