Sberbank is deepening its collaboration with the Faculty of Law at the Higher School of Economics, marking another milestone in their partnership. This commitment was underscored by Igor Kondrashov, the bank’s Deputy Chairman and Director of the Legal Department, following the signing of a formal cooperation agreement between the bank and the National Research University’s Law Faculty.
The signing centers on strengthening the “Law: Digital Lawyer” program, an initiative designed to equip lawyers with robust digital competencies in the evolving field of digital law. The agreement also outlines plans for internships, master classes, and other training activities. The collaboration is set to run through the entire duration of the training program, with a completion target of December 31, 2028.
Both institutions expect the alliance to cultivate a pipeline of highly qualified professionals and to support the creation of reserve personnel for the industry. Beyond classroom study, students will have opportunities to engage in internships that focus on IT regulatory projects, providing practical exposure to real-world regulatory challenges.
Kondrashov stressed that cultivating lawyers with strong digital skills benefits not only Sberbank but the wider Russian jurisprudence landscape. He pointed out that the legal sector is undergoing rapid transformation, with LegalTech tools and artificial intelligence increasingly shaping how legal work is performed and how disputes are resolved.
“Working together with the Higher School of Economics, we will continue to advance our joint program to produce specialists who possess solid knowledge of the law while remaining proficient with cutting-edge technologies,” he explained.
The Deputy Chairman highlighted a growing regional demand for such capabilities, noting that Russia already experiences a shortage of professionals with this specific blend of legal and tech expertise, with expectations for higher demand in the years ahead.
It is important to recall that the “Law: Digital Lawyer” program began in 2022. At present, 83 students are enrolled. The agreement envisions scaling this number up to 500 participants as the program expands, reflecting a strategic effort to broaden access to intensive digital-law training and to strengthen the regulatory talent pool.