PRESS: Russia's SMARTS Hires Famous Law Firm to Defend Vs Sigma

MOSCOW, Dec 20 (Prime-Tass) -- Russia's regional mobile operator SMARTS has hired law firm Yegorov, Puginsky, Afanasyev and Partners to defend its interests to prevent a hostile takeover bid by Sigma investment group, a source with SMARTS said, Russian business daily Kommersant said Tuesday.

One of the founders of the law firm, Nikolai Yegorov is reportedly a university classmate and friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

This week the law firm will represent the interests of SMARTS

Posted to the site on 20th December 2005