Tatyana Alexandrovna Nozhkina
Tatyana Alexandrovna Nozhkina (Russian: Татьяна Александровна Ножкина); born 24 August 1976) is a Russian lawyer and attorney specializing in criminal defence, particularly cases involving business, economic offences, corruption and tax-related charges. She has been a partner at several Russian law firms and has held senior management positions in criminal-law practices. She was a managing partner of the law firm ZKS and, following the firm's reorganization, became a managing partner of Corvus, a Moscow law firm founded by former ZKS attorneys.
Early life and education
Nozhkina was born in Moscow on 24 August 1976. She graduated from the Faculty of Law of Moscow State University in 1998 with a degree in jurisprudence. She qualified as an attorney in 2000 and became a member of the Moscow Bar Association.
According to an interview published by Legal Insight in 2022, Nozhkina entered the legal profession in the late 1990s after being invited to work as an assistant to attorney Genrikh Padva while she was still studying at Moscow State University. She subsequently developed a specialization in criminal law, working alongside lawyers at the law firm Padva and Partners.
Legal career
Nozhkina began her professional career in 1998 at Padva and Partners. From 2000 to 2013 she worked there as a criminal defence attorney, handling cases involving economic, corruption and tax offences.
In 2013, Nozhkina joined the law firm Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners as counsel in its criminal defence practice. She became a partner in 2017 and in January 2018 was appointed head of the criminal-law practice at the firm's Saint Petersburg office. The firm described her practice as including economic, corruption, tax and other white-collar criminal cases, as well as representation of senior executives and companies in criminal proceedings.
In August 2020, Nozhkina joined ZKS as a senior partner and attorney in its criminal-law practice. The firm said that her work included criminal defence for Russian and foreign clients and internal corporate investigations.
In May 2022, the ZKS partnership council elected Nozhkina as managing partner. Pravo.ru reported that she became the first woman to hold the position at the firm.
In 2025, following the reorganization of ZKS, Nozhkina became a managing partner of Corvus, a Moscow law firm established by former ZKS attorneys.
Professional practice
Nozhkina's practice has focused on criminal defence in cases involving business and economic activity. In a 2022 interview with Legal Insight, she described her work as including the defence of business owners and senior executives facing criminal prosecution, as well as advice on criminal-law risks and internal investigations for companies.
She has also represented foreign companies and their employees in Russia. In the same interview, Nozhkina discussed criminal-law risk assessments, internal investigations and the legal issues faced by foreign businesses operating in Russia.
In 2012, Nozhkina was among Russian lawyers who signed a public statement concerning the prosecution of the members of the punk group Pussy Riot. The statement argued that the defendants' actions should be assessed according to the Russian Constitution and the criminal law applicable at the time, including consideration of possible decriminalization.
Selected cases
Nozhkina has represented clients in a number of criminal and business-related proceedings that received coverage in Russian and international media.
In the 2000s, she represented Antonio Valdes-Garcia, a defendant in a case connected with the Yukos affair. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported on his disappearance during court proceedings in 2007 and identified Nozhkina as his lawyer.
Nozhkina also represented Antonina Babosyuk, a former executive of the Altyn jewelry holding, in a criminal case involving the seizure of jewelry and business documents. In 2013, RBC reported on the case and quoted Nozhkina as Babosyuk's lawyer in connection with the return of seized property.
She represented employees of ZAO Alcoa Metallurg Rus in criminal proceedings. The case was reported by CEE Legal Matters in 2014 in connection with the defence work carried out by Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners.
Nozhkina also acted as a representative of historian and professor Igor Pleve in a dispute concerning claims against him. In 2022, the matter was reported in Russian media in connection with Nozhkina's legal representation of Pleve.
She represented former head of the Federal Penitentiary Service Alexander Reimer in criminal proceedings. Russian and international legal news outlets reported on the proceedings and Nozhkina's role as his defence lawyer.
Evan Gershkovich case
In 2023, Nozhkina became one of the lawyers representing Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter detained in Russia on espionage charges. She represented Gershkovich together with lawyer Maria Korchagina.
During an appeal hearing in April 2023, Nozhkina said that Gershkovich denied the espionage allegations and was prepared to defend his innocence. Her comments were reported by international news organizations covering the case.
The Moscow City Court upheld Gershkovich's pre-trial detention in April 2023. Nozhkina and Korchagina had asked the court to replace detention with a non-custodial measure, including house arrest or bail.
Nozhkina subsequently remained part of Gershkovich's defence team during his detention. Her role in the case was covered by The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Times and other international media.
Professional recognition
Nozhkina has been included in professional legal rankings including The Legal 500, Best Lawyers and the Russian Pravo.ru-300 individual ranking. The published rankings and law-firm announcements have listed her in categories related to criminal defence and white-collar crime.