Vladimir Trofimchuk

Experience

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  Herbert Smith Freehills

  Dec 2013 - Dec 2013

  Vacation scheme intern

  Key achievements:- Conducted comprehensive legal analysis and research on English and foreign civil law, with a focus on comparative research of energy legislation in Britain and Norway.- Authored and drafted detailed memos for internal stakeholders and clients, covering TMT, tobacco, and energy sectors.- Performed proofreading of documents, including service contracts in the TMT sector and procedural notes from court hearings, ensuring accuracy and clarity in all legal documentation.- Delivered high-quality French/English legal translation services, facilitating effective communication and understanding between clients and legal teams across linguistic barriers. Show less

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  PBN Hill+Knowlton Strategies

  Dec 2014 - Jul 2015

  Associate Account Manager

  Formulated GR strategies and managed stakeholder communications within Russian and CIS government bodies, and represented clients in professional associations such as AmCham and the European Business Association.Key achievements:- Strategically developed and implemented a GR strategy for Tetra Pak Russia to navigate new environmental responsibility regulations for consumer goods packaging manufacturers.- Successfully led a perception study for Visa in Russia, evaluating the company's image and reputation across a broad spectrum of stakeholders including government bodies, competitors, clients, and the media.- Planned a list of activities for the 20th anniversary of operations in Russia action plan of a Canadian mining company.- Involved in a current GR monitoring and project management for a big sports retail company, providing regulatory and political engagement and advice.- Developed a social media strategy for one of the Western embassies operating in Russia.- Developed an engagement plan for an American rail company wishing to perform at the Saint-Petersburg Economic Forum successfully. Show less

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  Eurasian Economic Commission

  Jul 2015 - Feb 2019

  Advisor, Trade Policy Department

  Former chief legal negotiator for free trade agreements on behalf of the Eurasian Economic Union members (Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia). Successfully negotiated trade agreements with Iran, Singapore, China, Israel, Egypt and India.Key achievements:- Successfully led negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Iran, culminating in a signed and enacted agreement that not only eliminated and reduced tariffs on key export-interest goods of the EAEU but also provided better market access for about 80% of goods exported from the EAEU to Iran.- Facilitated the agreement and signing of the inaugural trade and economic cooperation agreement with China, marking the first legal document between the EAEU and China.- Orchestrated negotiations and secured the signing of an FTA with Singapore, though it has not entered into force due to external circumstances.- Successfully coordinated the efforts of approximately 10 expert subgroups during Free Trade Agreement negotiations, involving specialists across various fields. Show less

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  Ministry of Transport of Russian Federation

  Mar 2019 - Sept 2021

  International Policy Advisor

  Developed the Ministry's positions on bilateral and multilateral cooperation and investment projects abroad, and represented the Ministry at international negotiations in Hungary, Indonesia, Korea, Italy, Iran, Armenia, Uzbekistan, and China.Key achievements:- Resolved a complex investment and political dispute over the management of the South Caucasus Railway in Armenia, demonstrating expertise in conflict resolution and concession management, leading to the signing of terms for additional road funding of $70 million and the absence of mutual claims regarding the fulfillment of previous concession conditions.- Initiated and facilitated the resumption of rail transit negotiations between South and North Korea with Russian mediation, and represented this initiative at an international forum «The East Asia Railway Community Initiative International Seminar» in Seoul.- Successfully opened the Chinese market to a Russian company transporting liquid cargo in flexitanks, achieving the lifting of certification restrictions through effective negotiation with Chinese authorities.- Negotiated an agreement with Hungary to create a joint rail venture for cargo transit between Hungary and Russia, showcasing strategic international partnership skills, which would have enabled 1,000 Chinese freight trains to transit through Hungary to Western Europe annually, though the project was not realized due to external factors.- Directly managed a team of 5 people in the International Cooperation Department of the Railway Transport Department. Show less

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  UNDP

  Oct 2021 - Jan 2022

  International Consultant

  As an International Consultant for the UNDP office in Turkmenistan, I worked on the project "Strengthening the Trade Capacity of Turkmenistan. Key achievements:- Prepared an analytical report on the development of Turkmenistan's foreign trade policy and proposed strategies to strengthen the country's position on the international stage.- Held capacity-building seminars on trade policy instruments for officials from approximately 30 Turkmenistan departments, focusing on trade negotiations, WTO law, and both the theory and practice of trade negotiations, to support the country’s strategic objectives, including efforts towards joining the WTO.- Successfully presented a "Strengthening Turkmenistan's Trade Potential" project under the UNDP in Turkmenistan.This project became a foundation for the further team and capacity building of the national trade policy team in Turkmenistan in the light of the envisaged WTO accession process. Show less

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  EuroChem

  Oct 2021 - now

  Led the foreign GR and public affairs department, specializing in mitigating the impact of international sanctions.Key achievements:- Initiated an independent sanctions audit of EuroChem's international subsidiaries, securing clearances for operations in France, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Belgium, and the USA, enhancing the group's compliance and operational footprint globally.- Negotiated with the authorities of the U.S., EU and its Member States, Switzerland, Australia, UK, and other jurisdictions on securing the compliance of EuroChem's business with the global sanctions-related framework;- Oversee communications with EuroChem's external consultants, including lawyers and lobbyists in the USA, EU, and Britain, ensuring effective advocacy and legal support across key markets.- Established communications with the UN regarding the impact of sanctions on food security, contributing to international discussions on sanctions and global food supply.- Directly manage a team of 2, leading international advocacy efforts. Show less Managed public affairs, government relations, and trade policy strategies of EuroChem Group in core business markets, including the United States, Europe, Brazil, and Latin America. Key achievements:- Was promoted to the Head of International Public Affairs role in the EG's Dubai office, in February 2023.- Successfully led EuroChem's lobbying strategy to counter a US trade investigation on fertilizers, securing support from independent farming organizations and managing legal cases effectively, resulting in a favorable decision that prevented US tariffs on our products, saving approximately $20 million annually.- Actively represented EuroChem in the US Department of Commerce investigation into Russia's market economy status, crafting both legal and factual arguments, and orchestrating coordination with other Russian exporters like NLMK and Rusal, successfully delaying the designation of Russia as a non-market economy for approximately six months.- Formulated and executed legal and political strategies for negotiations led by the CEO with EU, US, and British authorities during the first rounds of sanctions against Russia in 2022, achieving exemptions for Russian fertilizers from critical sanction regimes.- Managed a direct report team of 2, overseeing strategic initiatives and international legal and trade negotiations. Show less

  • Head of International Public Affairs

    Feb 2023 - now

  • Deputy Director for International Projects Department

    Oct 2021 - Feb 2023