Rimma Izmaylova is a Senior Counsel in Galadari’s Banking & Finance practice, advising financial institutions, sovereign-related entities, corporates, investment platforms, and private equity stakeholders on complex domestic and cross-border financing transactions.
She brings nearly two decades of international experience gained across leading international law firms, in-house legal roles, and independent advisory mandates, including almost 16 years at White & Case where she served as Counsel within the Energy, Infrastructure, Project and Asset Finance practice. Her experience spans the UAE, the wider GCC, Europe, Central Asia, and the CIS region.
Rimma focuses on syndicated lending, project and infrastructure finance, acquisition finance, export and pre-export finance, real estate finance, restructuring, and strategic cross-border transactions. She has extensive experience advising on LMA-standard financings, multi-jurisdictional transactions, regulatory and sanctions-related matters, and complex financing structures involving sovereign entities, development finance institutions, banks, and multinational corporates.
Her background combines sophisticated financing expertise with strong commercial and strategic advisory capabilities, allowing her to support clients on high-value and commercially sensitive transactions across multiple jurisdictions and sectors.
Prior to joining Galadari, Rimma advised clients through her independent consultancy practice on cross-border transactions, governance frameworks, private equity investments, and strategic M&A matters. She also previously worked within the M&A Department of PAO TMK, supporting international joint ventures and cross-border corporate projects. Rimma has also contributed to legislative reform initiatives relating to syndicated lending, pledge law, and aviation sector regulations, and has lectured at leading universities on banking, finance, and transactional legal matters.
She is fluent in Russian and English, with intermediate French proficiency and working knowledge of German.
Rimma’s experience includes:
Syndicated Lending & Corporate Finance
- Advised major international and regional financial institutions, borrowers, and sponsors on syndicated lending transactions, term and revolving facilities, refinancing transactions, and structured financings across multiple jurisdictions.
- Advised Raiffeisenbank on one of the first digitally executed syndicated lending transactions in Russia involving enhanced qualified electronic signatures.
- Advised lenders and borrowers on cross-border corporate financings involving major industrial, manufacturing, infrastructure, and energy sector businesses.
- Advised financial institutions on secured and unsecured lending structures, intercreditor arrangements, and restructuring matters.
Project & Infrastructure Finance
- Advised The Water and Electricity Holding Company, a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), on the financing of major solar PV projects in Saudi Arabia with an estimated investment value of approximately US$3.3 billion.
- Advised a syndicate of banks on a US$603.2 million project financing relating to the Taishet aluminium smelter project owned by RUSAL.
- Advised SIBUR Holding on a US$9.1 billion hybrid multi-ECA covered financing for the Amur Gas Chemical Complex project.
- Advised ICBC in connection with a US$400 million project financing for the construction of a gas-fired combined cycle cogeneration plant.
- Advised Credit Suisse AG on a US$675 million project financing for the development of one of the world’s largest oil product transshipment terminals.
Acquisition Finance & Strategic Investments
- Advised an Abu Dhabi government-related entity on a US$900 million financing in connection with a strategic acquisition.
- Advised Concession Infrastructure Investments Manager Limited on the proposed acquisition of a minority interest in a project joint venture operating Prince Mohammed International Airport in Saudi Arabia.
- Advised Rosneftegaz on the €10.2 billion sale of a 19.5% stake in Rosneft Oil Company to an international investor consortium.
- Advised ESN Group on the acquisition of RBC, one of Russia’s leading media holdings.
Export Finance, ECA & Structured Finance
- Advised Czech Export Bank on numerous export financings relating to industrial, transport, manufacturing, and energy infrastructure projects.
- Advised lenders and sponsors on ECA-backed financings, pre-export facilities, and structured financing transactions across the energy, mining, and industrial sectors.
- Advised RUSAL on a secured multi-currency pre-export financing facility.
Real Estate & Asset Finance
- Advised PPF Real Estate on the acquisition and financing of the Nevsky Centre shopping mall in Saint Petersburg.
- Advised Hines and PPF Real Estate on financing arrangements for the acquisition of a Class A business centre in Moscow.
- Advised Capital Partners and other developers on real estate development and refinancing transactions involving commercial and residential assets.
Restructuring, Sanctions & Regulatory Advisory
- Advised international clients on sanctions, restructuring strategies, and exits relating to investments and operations connected to Russia and surrounding jurisdictions.
- Advised the Ministry of Finance of Uzbekistan on sanctions and countermeasure issues affecting its financing portfolio.
- Advised financial institutions and corporates on restructuring, insolvency, and enforcement-related matters.
- Supported AML and compliance review matters through secondment work with a leading international financial institution.
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