Baker McKenzie has confirmed the spin-off of its Russian operations, with the international firm announcing that its offices in Moscow and St Petersburg will ‘launch as an independent law firm by October’.

The firm, which previously had 260 staff including 130 lawyers in the country, said in March that it would leave Russia after 33 years, adding: ‘We will not act for any individuals or entities that are controlled by, or directly linked to, the Russian state and/or current regime, anywhere in the world.’

The firm today said that its Russian operations ‘will cease to be a member firm of Baker McKenzie and launch as an independent law firm by October’.

‘The intention is for the newly independent firm to be Baker McKenzie’s preferred law firm in Russia. Baker McKenzie is working with the team in Russia to ensure a smooth transition for our clients and our people,’ a spokesperson for the firm added.

Baker McKenzie follows other major firms in spinning-off their Russian practices after the invasion of Ukraine, with Hogan Lovells last month ending its Moscow operation and announcing the creation of a new firm called LEVEL Legal Services, led by three of its former senior lawyers in the Russian capital.

Magic circle firm Clifford Chance, which had a presence in Russia since 1991, said in April that most of its Moscow team would start working for a ‘new independent law firm’ called Bortkevicha & Partners under the leadership of former Moscow managing partner Vika Bortkevicha.

International firm Eversheds Sutherland also said in April that its Russian lawyers will move to Birch Legal, a newly-created firm that will become its ‘preferred relationship firm in Russia’. The firm later insisted it has ‘ceased operating in Russia’, saying that the new firm is not part of Eversheds ‘and nor do we have any financial interest in Birch Legal’.

Meanwhile Baker McKenzie today also announced an increase in its newly-qualified salaries from £105,000 to £110,000, effective from the beginning of July, though trainee salaries with remain the same at £50,000 for first-year trainees and £55,000 in the second year.