Podshivalov T.P. The doctrine of piercing the corporate veil in the court practice on the disputes with offshore companies

Abstract: This article reviews the questions that emerge during the use of the doctrine of piercing the corporate veil to reveal the identity of the beneficiary hiding behind the corporate shield of an offshore company. It makes an assessment of the legality of using foreign jurisdiction in structuring a business on Russia’s soil, and the specificity of determining the final beneficiary. A special attention is given to the use of offshore companies as titular and operational legal entities while they are being formed not for the purpose of conducting business themselves, or service the activity of another legal entity. Considering that the doctrine of piercing the corporate veil was developed at a court level, the article makes an accent on reviewing specific court cases. The author evaluates the participation of offshore companies in the Russian civil commerce and public ownership of the assets of offshore companies based on the legislation of an offshore jurisdiction.

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