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Valentin specialises in subsoil use law, corporate law, support of merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions.

Valentin graduated from Perm State University with a degree in Law. He received a Candidate’s Degree in Juridical Sciences and the titles of Honoured Lawyer of the Russian Federation, Honorary Prosecutor of the USSR, Honorary Law Officer of the Russian Federation, Assistant Professor of the Department of Advocacy of MGIMO (Moscow State Institute of International Relations) of MID RF (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation), Honorary Professor of Perm State University, Honorary Doctor of Chuvash State University, Vice Chair of the Community Council of the Federal Agency for Subsoil Use.

From 1975 to 1993, Valentin worked for the prosecution agencies, beginning his career as a regional Prosecutor’s Office investigator and going all the way to become the General Prosecutor of the Russian Federation. He was elected a people’s deputy of the Russian Federation (1990 – 1993), a deputy of the Second State Duma (1995 – 1999), held the positions of the Deputy Presidential Envoy in the Volga Federal District, the Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation; since 2006, Valentin has been engaged in private legal practice.

Before joining UKEY consulting company, while being the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation, Valentin was involved in the development of new Forestry and Water Codes of the Russian Federation, improvement of the land and natural resources legislation. He was responsible for the development of statutory regulations on subsoil use; regulations governing the activity and interaction between the federal agencies (Rosnedra (Federal Agency for Subsoil Use), Rosleskhoz (Federal Forestry Agency), Rosvodresursy (Federal Water Resources Agency), Rosprirodnadzor (Federal Service of Supervision of Natural Resources Use)). He was a member of the expert group for the preparation of the G8 Summits on energy security in 2005 (Glendegles, Scotland) and in 2006 (St. Petersburg). Valentin is a regular participant of Russian and international conferences on natural resources use, energy security, and environmental protection.

Valentin has vast experience of working in the law enforcement agencies and government authorities. While being a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR and a deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, Valentin was involved in drafting the legislation regulating the powers of the government authorities. From 2000 to 2003, as the Deputy Presidential Envoy in the Volga Federal District, he was involved in bringing local laws in compliance with the Constitution of the Russian Federation. In the capacity of the Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Valentin dealt with the issues of national security in the economic realm.

Valentin was awarded the Russian Federation Presidential Certificate of Honour for taking an active part in the development of the draft Constitution of the Russian Federation. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Association of Russian Lawyers.
Valentin Stepankov’s official website: vgstepankov.ru