28–29 April, 2025 the final round of the second GR & Lobbying Case Championship was held in person at MGIMO University. The event was organized by Baikal Communications Group in partnership with the MGIMO Law Club. This remains the first case competition in Government Relations (GR) and lobbying in Russia and the CIS.

The championship served as a unique platform for students from leading Russian universities who are interested in the interaction between business, non-profit organizations, and government authorities. Participants progressed from analyzing legislative initiatives to presenting full-scale advocacy strategies on behalf of a hypothetical client.

A total of 116 teams registered for the competition, with 224 participants at the starting stage. Students from 26 cities across Russia took part, including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Pushkin, Kaliningrad, Kirov, Vladimir, Tula, Oryol, Pskov, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, Volgograd, Rostov-on-Don, Saratov, Nalchik, Makhachkala, Cheboksary, Chelyabinsk, Yekaterinburg, Omsk, Barnaul, Tyumen, Surgut, Kyzyl, Khabarovsk, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, and others.

Participating universities included: MGIMO University, Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU), National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE – Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod campuses), Kutafin Moscow State Law University (MSAL), Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA – Moscow, Altai, Vladimir, and regional campuses), Moscow City University (MCU), Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT), Russian State University for the Humanities (RSUH), the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN), National Research University MPEI, Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas, St. Petersburg State University (SPbU), St. Petersburg State University of Economics, ITMO University, Pushkin Leningrad State University, Tula State University, Pskov State University, Vyatka State University, Volgograd State University, Samara State University, Saratov State Law Academy, Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, Kabardino-Balkarian State University, Dagestan State University, Orel State University, Chuvash State Pedagogical University, Dostoevsky Omsk State University, Tuvan State University, South Ural State University, Tyumen State University, Surgut State University, Ural State Law University, Sakhalin State University, Eastern European University, and Pacific National University.

Before the in-person stage, a qualifying round was held, in which teams analyzed the regulatory framework of a specific sector. Fifteen teams advanced to the semifinals.

In the semifinal round, participants acted as GR consultants and were tasked with:

  • Assessing the risks embedded in a draft law identified in the qualifying round;
  • Analyzing the socio-political context surrounding the initiative;
  • Developing a stakeholder map;
  • Preparing a risk mitigation plan that incorporated both analytical and communication tools of GR and lobbying.

Participants presented their findings to a jury panel acting as potential clients, tasked with selecting an optimal government engagement strategy.

In the final round, the selected teams conducted stakeholder negotiations with representatives of government bodies. Each team was required to:

  • Formulate a well-reasoned company position;
  • Adapt arguments to align with specific public officials;
  • Propose alternative regulatory solutions that considered both business interests and government priorities.

The final stage offered a realistic simulation of GR practice: participants had to balance the interests of a hypothetical client with the need to find common ground in dialogue with the state.

Team presentations were evaluated by a distinguished jury panel, which included Eduard Voytenko and Valery Afanasyev, representing Baikal Communications Group.

Based on the results, the following teams received top honors for their analytical rigor, strategic thinking, and persuasive argumentation:

  1. 1st Place – “Shadow Advisors” (MSU).
  2. 2nd Place – “Crew” (MGIMO).
  3. 3rd Place – “Publicans” (HSE & MSAL).

The winning teams were awarded diplomas and offered internships at Baikal Communications Group.

The championship enabled students to apply GR and lobbying tools to a real-world case scenario and confirmed the growing interest in this field among future professionals.

Baikal Communications Group remains committed to its mission of developing the professional GR and lobbying community and supporting educational initiatives that help prepare the next generation of experts.

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