The Commercial Litigators Forum (CLF), a cross-firm group of leading litigators, has set up a Moscow operation in a bid to increase the influence of the UK legal profession in the Russian courts.

The CLF, which was established in 2002 and now boasts a London membership including partners from the majority of the UK top 20 law firms, formally launched in the Russian capital yesterday (20 June).

The group, which also has a presence in New York, has launched in Moscow in a push to improve links between professionals involved in Russian-related disputes work, as well as set up channels for discussion with the Russian judiciary.

White & Case litigation and arbitration partner David Goldberg (pictured), who will lead the Russian offshoot, chaired yesterday's inaugural meeting in Moscow. Goldberg, a fluent Russian speaker who specialises in investment treaty disputes and commercial arbitrations, set up the event alongside SJ Berwin litigation partner Hilton Mervis, who founded the CLF in 2002.

Other Russia CLF members include Sir Bernard Rix QC, a recently retired Lord Justice of Appeal, as well as One Essex Court barrister and former London Court of International Arbitration chairman Peter Leaver QC. The group is now looking to add more members.

Russian corporate and personal legal disputes have in recent years become a rich source of work for international law firms. However, one issue identified by the CLF has been a rise in disputes arising from transactions where knowledge of either English or Russian/CIS law was lacking, or where matters were drafted without the involvement of lawyers qualified in the relevant legal systems.

Goldberg said he had seen evidence of both local and major international law firms drafting English law documents without the involvement of English-qualified lawyers.

"The disputes that we come across now obviously relate to agreements concluded a few or more years ago," said Goldberg. "However, even today there is anecdotal evidence that such practices continue to exist."