Dmitry Semashko

Leaving the SP&P team in 2020.

Dmitry Semashko is an experienced attorney at law, ranked by Chambers Europe and Minsk City Bar in the field of dispute resolution in Belarus. His practice focuses on commercial cross-border litigation and arbitration. Mr. Semashko has represented clients in Belarus, Russian Federation, and Kazakhstan. He has particular expertise in the field of administrative law and state-involved disputes.
Mr. Semashko continued his legal education at American University Washington College of Law with focus on International Commercial and Investment Arbitration. He was a Litigation Intern in International Arbitration Practice at the International Law Firm based in Washington, DC, USA.
Chambers Europe about Mr. Semashko: “…”He gets to the point immediately,” a client says, adding the advice was laid out in a “very clear and short” manner. He is involved in the firm’s key mandates, advising big corporate clients.

IN PRACTICE SINCE 2006

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

• Successful defense of copyright of the largest American software producer, Microsoft in Belarus, conducting the first anti-piracy legal case of Microsoft in Belarus
• Successful representation of the world’s largest chemical company in its litigations in Belarus
• Successful defense of Belarusian client in unfair competition litigation against the German international nutrition company;
• Successful defense of a major French perfume company in a dispute with a customs agency for Euro 500,000
• Successful representation of a German subsidiary construction company in its dispute with a tax agency for USD 96,000
• Successful defense of a Belarusian company in its dispute with a tax agency for USD 670,000
• Successful client representation in an antitrust agency and court on appellation against a decision on the antitrust law violation in part of unfair competition on the commodity market of toy construction sets
• Successful represented the subsidiary of French international food company as a creditor in the bankruptcy case
• Successful represented the Swedish track manufacturer in litigation against Belarussian national insurance company;
• Successful represented leading international healthcare and diagnostic services provider in real estate acquisition litigation in Belarus;
• Successful defense of Belarusian company in litigation with Tax authority for USD 700,000;
• Successful representation of a Dutch join venture company in International Court of Arbitration for USD 250,000;
• Advising an Austrian engineering company on tax matters in Belarus;
• Due Diligence (dispute resolution and administrative law risks assessment) in investment projects (National Agency

Other Experience:

• 2019-2020 Young Institute of Transnational Arbitration Mentorship Program
• 2018-2019 Young International Council of Commercial Arbitration Mentoring Programme
• International Legal Resource Center, ABA Section of International Law, Expert, 2017 – pres.
• UNDP project “Promotion of the Republic of Belarus in the creation of the Institute of Tax Consultants”, Tutor on tax disputes, 2014
• World Justice Project Rule of Law, Expert, 2013-pres.

EDUCATION:

• American University Washington College of Law, DC, USA, International Commercial and Investment Arbitration
  UC Davis, Extension, CA, USA;
• Belarusian State Economic University, School of Law, BA with honors, High School of Management and Business, MA in jurisprudence;
• Advanced Course on Arbitration and Mediation under the WIPO Rules, WIPO Academy, 2018
• International Law Program in the field of international law, ILIA, 2014-2015;
• Personal liability of Shareholders in bankruptcy, Supreme Court of the Republic of Belarus, 2015
• White Collar Crime, Institute for Retraining and Qualification Upgrading of Judges, Prosecutors and Legal Professionals, BSU, 2015
• International Law in Advocacy Program, ILIA, 2014-2015
• Trial-advocacy Training, ABA ROLI, 2013
• General course on Intellectual Property, WIPO, 2011

MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:

• Minsk City Bar Association, Belarus
• Young Arbitration Forum International Chamber of Commerce (YAF ICC)
• Young International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (Young ICSID)
• RAA40 (Russian Arbitration Association)
• Young International Council for Commercial Arbitration YICCA
• Young Institute for Transnational Arbitration (ITA)
• Young International Arbitration Group (YIAG, The London Court of International Arbitration, LCIA)
• Young Singapore International Arbitration Center (YSIAC)
• Young Austrian Arbitration Practitioners (YAAP)
• Global Alliance for Justice Education (GAJE)