Together we are SILA
Official announcement on creation of SILA
As of February 1, 2017, Legal Sport (Moscow, Russia) – the leader of the Russian sports law market – and Gradev Sports (Sofia, Bulgaria) headed up by Georgi Gradev – one of the strongest sports lawyers in Europe – are joining forces to work under a single brand «SILA International Lawyers». The decision to merge was made after many years of successful cooperation between the two companies.
The unified company will have a new website at silalawyers.com and a new logo. All cases and procedures previously handled by Legal Sport and Gradev Sports, will from now on be handled by SILA. The new company’s management will be carried out by three partners – Georgi Gradev, Mikhail Prokopets and Yury Zaytsev.
Unlike their predecessors, SILA will provide legal services on a wide range of issues, not limited to sports law only. In particular, the company has a new legal practice with experts working in areas such as contractual, criminal, corporate, administrative, urban planning and energy law. The new practice is headed up by a renowned lawyer Ekaterina Yakovleva.
In the near future SILA plans to expand the area of its activities, including opening new offices in Western and Eastern Europe.
Mikhail Prokopets: “A merger into an international law firm is a logical step for our companies, which have long made a name for themselves in the field of sports law. We have become stronger as sports lawyers and of course as experts in other fields. Georgi Gradev and Ekaterina Yakovleva are excellent professionals, with whom we will continue to provide our customers – now also in areas other than sports – legal services of the highest quality. ”
Yury Zaitsev: «SILA originally emerged as an International Sports Lawyers’ Association. There was a click between us, for several years we were working together on major projects and finally realized that we had to join forces. This merger with Georgi Gradev`s company will enable all of us to become even stronger. We are going international that’s great! Now we have new goals and objectives. ”
Georgi Gradev: «SILA in Cyrillic means power. My cooperation with the top Russian sports lawyers, M. Prokopets and Y. Zaytsev, and their skilled crew started in 2010. Our successful record in UEFA, FIFA and CAS throughout the years gave us the power to unite and continue as one – stronger than ever. I truly admire what my partners achieved since they started LEGAL SPORT and it is a privilege to start this new musketeer’s project with them. One for all, all for one! We are looking to expand not only in Europe, but also in Asia and America in the coming years, helping players, clubs, associations and leagues in their day-to-day businesses and, in particular, disputes.»