Our People

Mr Filatov qualified as a solicitor in 2002. He worked for a niche shipping and insurance practice and a smaller corporate practice in the City of London before joining a natural resources company as an in-house counsel. After that he worked for corporate departments of two large international firms in the City before setting up FGM with Mr Musatov in April 2009.

Mr Filatov’s main specialism is in corporate M&A and project finance, both for private and public companies. He is also experienced in general corporate and commercial law, commercial contracts as well as advising on business affairs for individual clients. Mr Filatov is based at FGM's London office. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Anglo-Russian Law Association and is active in the London Russian-speaking community.

Mr Musatov became a lawyer (jurist) qualified to practice in the territory of the Russian Federation in 2000 and qualified as an advocate (advokat) in 2001. Mr Musatov had started his own practice in 2001 and began his career as a trial lawyer before turning to non-contentious matters, mainly corporate law, corporate governance, M&A, joint ventures and finance law. He also was a visiting lecturer in History of Law and Criminal Procedure at various universities and colleges of the Russian Federation in 1999-2006. Mr Musatov was registered as a foreign lawyer by the Solicitors Regulation Authority in May 2009.

Mr Musatov’s current expertise is in corporate law, joint ventures, business affairs, private M&A, non-contentious employment, debt collection and commercial litigation. He is based at the firm's Moscow office.

Simon Porter qualified as a solicitor in 1970 and practised for most of his career as in-house counsel to international public companies. He gained great practical experience in company and commercial law, including mergers and acquisitions, cross-border licences and joint ventures, intellectual property, employment, contract, property, and company administration.  Latterly he was the managing partner of a law firm in London with a strongly international practice.

Mr Porter is a graduate of Oxford University, and also obtained a Distinction from the Sloan Programme at London Business School.

Ms. Higgins qualified as a solicitor in 2005. During her career she has worked as a corporate solicitor at top international law firms in the City of London. Ms. Higgins’ specialism is corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions, and she has worked on a range of multi-million dollar deals and flotations for well-known public and private companies with the emphasis on the Russian oil and gas sector.

Ms. Higgins gained her BA Degree in History from King's College, London in 1999 and studied at College of Law, London for her legal qualifications, where she graduated top of her class. She also studied at Oxford University for a postgraduate diploma in Russian and Eastern European studies.

Ms. Ilchenko qualified as a lawyer in 2000.  Before joining Filatov Goldberg Musatov LLP she practiced law in legal departments of leading Russian companies operating in mass media and telecommunications.  Her practice areas were corporate matters, licensing and approval compliance, intellectual property matters and contract administration.  Before joining media business Ms. Ilchenko worked for largest offshore oil & gas development project in Russia operated by major world leading oil & gas company.

At Filatov Goldberg Musatov LLP Ms Ilchenko specialises in general commercial law, corporate governance and compliance, intellectual property law, legal support for mass media and telecommunication projects.

Ms. Ilchenko is based in Moscow office.