Unpaid invoice from a Russian company?

Start with the claim, not a promise of recovery

Debt collection in Russia begins with several separate questions: who owes the money, what became due, what proves performance, which dispute-resolution clause applies and whether there is a realistic enforcement route.

An invoice is part of the evidence. We also examine the contract, delivery or acceptance documents, correspondence and any objections raised by the Russian company. The initial assessment can identify gaps to address before a formal demand or court filing.

From a payment demand to a Russian commercial court

• Review the agreement, the amount claimed and the evidence of delivery or services.
• Identify the applicable law, forum, relevant deadlines and any required pre-action procedure.
• Assess the debtor's stated objections and the available public information relevant to recovery.
• Prepare or review a payment demand where appropriate, keeping evidence of its dispatch and receipt.
• If the matter remains unresolved, agree separately whether to prepare a claim, negotiate or take another available step.

A Russian arbitrazh court is a state commercial court. Private arbitration is a different process. A claim cannot be assigned to a forum solely because the debtor is Russian; the contract and the applicable jurisdiction rules need to be checked.

A judgment and actual payment are also different outcomes. Enforcement, insolvency and the practical ability to receive funds require separate consideration. Cross-border payment restrictions may affect how a recovery can be completed.

Documents for an unpaid-invoice assessment

• The signed contract, amendments, specifications and dispute-resolution clause.
• Invoices and a calculation showing principal, payments received and the outstanding balance.
• Delivery records, transport documents, acceptance certificates or other evidence of the services performed.
• Relevant emails, messages, acknowledgements of debt and the debtor's objections.
• Any demand already sent, proof of sending and the response.
• The parties' legal names, registration details and any court or insolvency case references.

In your first email, describe the transaction, the amount and currency, the due date and what the debtor says about non-payment. We will confirm whether we can act before requesting the complete file.

What the initial assessment gives you

We agree the output before work starts. It can be a written assessment of the available documents, the main legal and evidential issues, the appropriate next step and the information needed to make a reasoned decision.

If the scope includes a demand letter or a draft claim, that is stated expressly. Court representation and enforcement are separate stages unless the engagement says otherwise. Where the creditor is a foreign company, its status documents, signatory authority and translations also need to be planned.

Recovery time, costs and limits

There is no reliable universal timetable or recovery percentage. The route, required pre-action steps, service of documents, objections, appeals, available assets and insolvency can all affect the outcome.

Professional fees, court charges, translation, certification and enforcement expenses are different cost items. We agree a budget for the chosen stage and explain assumptions and exclusions before accepting it. We do not advertise a guaranteed recovery, a fixed payment date or an outcome independent of the debtor's position.