Natalia V. Poliakova, Attorney

Natalia V. Poliakova is a Russian born and educated attorney licensed to practice law in the former USSR and the State of Florida. Ms. Poliakova received law degrees from both Stetson University College of Law and Tyumen State University. She has established herself as a well-known leader in the Russian-American business community in Florida and an authority on business opportunities in the new Russia.

Before moving to the United States, Ms. Poliakova served as Head of the Legal Department of JSG Gazprom, Russia's largest natural gas company, in its Procurement Division. In that capacity, she represented the company in international and domestic trade matters, customs, employment, corporate compliance and contract drafting. Between August 1999 and April 2004, she practiced business immigration and international transactional law as a member of the European and International Business, Trade and Customs Practice Groups of Becker & Poliakoff, P.A., a Florida- based statewide and international law firm.

Ms. Poliakova counsels foreign professionals, entertainers, athletes, entrepreneurs, and companies with respect to business immigration and general corporate matters, business negotiations, complex international business and property transactions. She also assists U.S. investors and traders with business and investment projects in the former USSR, utilizing her contacts and business experience in the Russian Federation.

Ms. Poliakova is a member of the Entertainment, Arts & Sports Law and International Law Sections of the Florida Bar. She serves as a member of the International Law Section of the Florida Bar. She also acts as Co-Chair of the Russian Liaison Committee of the International Law Section and in that capacity she co-chairs the steering committee of the upcoming Euro-American Business Symposium scheduled for April 2005 in Miami, Florida.

Ms. Poliakova serves as unofficial liaison with Russian Embassy and Consulate in Washington D.C. As such she assisted the Russian Embassy in conducting the 2003 Russian Duma and the 2004 Presidential elections in Florida. She has also arranged visits to Florida by several Russian Consulate officials to perform consular services for Russian nationals residing in the state.

Ms. Poliakova lectured at various seminars abroad and in the U.S. on business immigration into U.S.; business and investment opportunities in the new Russia; and U.S. business immigration laws. In August of 2004, she presented seminars in Beijing and Shanghai on business opportunities in Russia. In April of 2004, she gave speeches at the Barcelona-Florida International Legal Symposium in Spain titled Russian Business Considerations and U.S. Immigration Update. The next month she led the Roundtable Discussion on Opportunities for U.S. Firms in the Russian Market sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Florida District Export Council. She played a leading role in organizing the International Legal Symposium held in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia in July 2003, bringing together legal professionals from the United States, Canada, France and Russia. In 2001 and 2002, Ms. Poliakova had given lectures at the Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville, Florida on New Potentials in Russia and Eastern Europe. In June 2001, in cooperation with CzechTrade, the Czech government's trade promotion agency, Ms. Poliakova presented a seminar for Czech businesses on the U.S. business immigration and corporate matters in Prague, Czech Republic.

Ms. Poliakova is a member of the Board of Advisors of the Center for Transnational and Comparative Studies at Florida International University and the Stetson University College of Law LLM in International Law Program.