Derek Bloom
Practice Areas
- Complex Litigation and Dispute Resolution
- International Arbitration
- Discovery in Aid of Foreign Proceedings
- Chapter 15 Asset Recovery
- Foreign Judgment Enforcement
- International Trade and Regulatory Compliance
- Aviation Transactions and Compliance
- Admiralty and Maritime
- Russian Commercial Law
- Russian Corporate Law Services
- Russian Intellectual Property
- Russian Real Estate Law
Derek Bloom is Of Counsel to Marks & Sokolov where he currently works primarily on business aviation transactions. Derek worked full-time in Russia for approximately 20 years, working on a wide variety of U.S. multinational direct investment projects in Russia. Derek developed a growing focus on business aviation transactions and worked for 5 years in two business aviation law firms in the U.S. and is experienced in planning for issues that arise in the purchase, sale, lease, financing, import, export, and tax planning for the ownership of aircraft. While based in Russia, Derek was a leading proponent of the Russian government taking steps to stimulate the development of business aviation in Russia, advocating for several initiatives that are reflected in Russian government action in 2019.
Originally from Massachusetts, Derek received a BA in 1981 from Brown University and studied for a semester in Leningrad State University in the fall of 1980. Derek received a JD from the Boston University School of Law in 1984, and a Masters Degree in Tax Law from Georgetown University in 1989. Derek practiced law in Washington, DC from 1984-1995, becoming a partner in a law firm specializing in securities issuances in the banking industry.
In 1995, Derek moved to Moscow to represent U.S. multinational making their initial investments in Russia, eventually becoming an equity partner with Coudert Brothers, the noted international law firm, where he ran the firm’s St. Petersburg office for three years. Derek developed an aircraft leasing practice which included the first leases of Boeing planes to a Russian airline, and assisted in directing the legal defense of Ilim Pulp against a hostile takeover of two of its Russian operating subsidiaries. Derek also worked as General Counsel of Golden Telecom, a NASDAQ-listed fixed line telecommunications operator, and as General Counsel of Promsvyaznedvizhimost, a large Russian real estate holding company. Derek is fluent in Russian and English and is currently a frequent writer and speaker on Russian aviation law matters.
Experience
Derek’s representations include:
- Complex Litigation and Dispute Resolution
- International Arbitration
- Discovery in Aid of Foreign Proceedings – 28 U.S.C. §1782
- Chapter 15 Foreign Bankruptcy Recognition Asset Recovery
- Foreign Judgment Enforcement
- International Trade and Regulatory Matters