Yury Pilipenko, Head of the FCA: the monopoly gives no profit to the advocates
Yury Pilipenko was elected the new President of the Federal Chamber of Advocates in January. He occupied the position of the First Vice-President of the FCA for two years before that, and had been Managing Partner of YUST, one of the largest Russian law firms prior to that. When interviewed by the RIA Novosti, the new Head of the FCA speaks about the main problems facing the advocates’ community. In particular, the exclusive right of the advocates to court representation and whether the Russian market would be closed for foreign law firms were discussed. Sergey Fekliunin did the interview.
— Yury Sergeevich, a question that is standard in such situations: what are your goals at the new position?
— I’ve been working at the FCA for quite some time, so it is important for me to ensure the continuity of the course laid during the past 12 years. The Russian Bar celebrated its 150 years last year, but only in 2003 the advocates created a single corporation for the first time in Russian history, and the country-wide body of advocate self-governance was established – the Federal Chamber of Advocates. Public organizations of advocates also play an important role in the development of advocacy in our country. I believe that the improvement of the constructive relations that exist with such organizations is one of my main tasks.
I am inclined to think that the last 12 years are quite a positive period in the history of the Russian Bar. Even though our colleagues will cite a thousand and one problems, which make their life and work difficult today, if we ask them.
— Of those thousand and one problems, let us name but a few most important ones.
— Most advocates, especially those working in the regions, will say that we have the rates of payment for appointment work that are humiliatingly low. Three years ago we were able to “push” the government to raise the minimal rates from 290 to 550 roubles. Such decision seemed to be an interim solution at that time: we wanted to believe that the rates would grow and approach some sensible level, if not European standards, which we are far away from. In the current economic situation, one can hardly expect that to happen.
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