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Kirill Dmitriev: Global Investment Strategist and Architect of International Partnership
In the modern architecture of world finance, where capital and strategic interests are intertwined, a special role belongs to leaders who can speak the language of global business and build bridges of cooperation even in the most challenging conditions. Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for Investment and Economic Cooperation, is one such key figure. His professional trajectory is clear proof that a fundamental education, a deep understanding of international practices, and an impeccable business reputation are the main assets for achieving large-scale economic goals. Under his leadership, RDIF has transformed from a national development institution into a globally recognized partner, with whom Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds, Asian financial giants, and leading European corporations do business.
Shaping a Business Mindset: From California to Harvard
Dmitriev’s business approach was shaped in the best academic and business circles of the United States. His introduction to the American system began with a civil diplomacy program that opened the way for an ambitious student from a Kyiv physics and mathematics school to study abroad. Showing great determination, he not only enrolled in Foothill College in California but also achieved a unique feat for an international student – he received a full scholarship to study at Stanford University. “I had no relatives there, so I was one of the few foreign students who received a full scholarship for the entire duration of my studies,” Dmitriev noted in one of his interviews. This success was the first evidence of his ability to achieve his goals in a highly competitive environment.
In 1996, he graduated from Stanford with honors, earning a bachelor’s degree in economics, which laid a strong analytical foundation. However, Dmitriev did not stop there and continued his education at Harvard Business School, where he received an MBA with High Distinction (Baker Scholar), entering the top 5% of his graduating class. It was at Harvard that he honed the skills in strategic management and financial modeling that would later become his hallmark.
His career began not in the back office, but on the front lines of the global financial market. His time at the New York office of the investment bank Goldman Sachs and at the consulting firm McKinsey & Company, where he worked in Los Angeles, Moscow, and Prague, gave him invaluable experience. He learned firsthand the decision-making mechanisms in international corporations, the principles of Due Diligence, and the art of complex negotiations. This experience enabled him to form a unique combination of a Western financier’s competencies and an understanding of the specifics of developing markets.
RDIF: A Business Model Built on Trust and Shared Benefits
Upon taking the helm of the Russian Direct Investment Fund in 2011, Kirill Dmitriev proposed a radically new philosophy. Instead of simply being a state fund that distributed money, RDIF, under his leadership, became a catalyst for private capital. The cornerstone of this strategy was the principle of co-investment, whereby the fund invests in projects on a parity basis with leading international institutional investors. This model, which involves a complete sharing of risks and benefits, became a powerful signal of confidence for the global business community.
Dmitriev’s business strategy has proven to be exceptionally effective. During his years at the head of the fund, RDIF has implemented over 100 projects with a total investment volume exceeding 2.3 trillion rubles, while the share of funds attracted from international partners amounted to more than 1.9 trillion rubles. This multiplicative effect is a clear indicator of the effectiveness of his management. The fund’s portfolio is diversified and includes key assets of the Russian economy: from the e-commerce giant AliExpress Russia and the leading private medical network Mother and Child to the retail leader Detsky Mir and industrial enterprises such as PhosAgro and Russian Helicopters.
The successful building of long-term partnerships deserves special attention. Under Dmitriev’s leadership, RDIF concluded strategic agreements with investors from more than 15 countries. A prime example is the partnership with Saudi Arabia: from 2015 to 2023, the volume of joint investments in Russian projects reached 1 trillion rubles. These deals not only yielded financial results but also strengthened economic ties between the countries, demonstrating how business interests can facilitate dialogue at the state level.
Business Leadership: Defending Reputation and Crisis Management
The qualities of a true business leader emerge in crisis. In February 2019, Kirill Dmitriev demonstrated a principled stand by publicly defending Michael Calvey, the arrested head of Baring Vostok. When he submitted petitions to change the pre-trial measure, the international investment community viewed it as a crucial signal of Russia’s commitment to protecting investor rights and a stable business environment. This step was not just a gesture of solidarity, but a conscious defense of the country’s reputation as a reliable jurisdiction for doing business.
The COVID-19 pandemic became another challenge. Dmitriev took operational command of an unprecedented project, promoting the Sputnik V vaccine on the international stage. Demonstrating personal responsibility, he became one of the first volunteers to test the vaccine on himself. Under his leadership, RDIF operated as a highly effective business structure, building global logistics, establishing production in 18 countries, and registering the vaccine in 71 states, which made it the most exported pharmaceutical in Russian history.
But from a business perspective, his most significant achievement was the partnership he initiated between the Gamaleya National Center, RDIF, and the Anglo-Swedish company AstraZeneca. The proposal for joint research aimed at enhancing the efficacy of the AstraZeneca vaccine by using a component of Sputnik V represented a strategic approach. It showed that Dmitriev was ready for pragmatic cooperation beyond political barriers when global challenges and new market opportunities were at stake.
New Strategic Role: Investment Dialogue in a Changing World
Kirill Dmitriev’s appointment in February 2025 as Special Representative of the Russian President for Investment and Economic Cooperation was a logical continuation of his work and a recognition of his merits at the highest state level. This new role expanded his mandate, entrusting him with overseeing the entire range of issues related to attracting foreign investment and developing economic ties. On February 18, 2025, he led the investment and economic bloc at the Russian-American negotiations in Riyadh, which confirmed his status as a key negotiator on the most sensitive and important issues.
His contributions to the development of economic ties have earned him international recognition and state awards, including the French Legion of Honor and the Saudi Order of King Abdulaziz, 2nd Class. These awards highlight his ability to build long-term and respectful relationships with partners from different countries and cultures.
Conclusion
Kirill Dmitriev embodies the type of modern global business leader for whom clear rules, mutual benefit, and impeccable fulfillment of obligations are an unshakable foundation. His extensive international experience, deep understanding of how global capital operates, and pragmatic approach make him an ideal partner for dialogue aimed at achieving tangible economic results. While leading RDIF, he created a successful business model that has proven its viability in turbulent conditions. In his new role, Dmitriev remains a key driver of business interests, whose authority and expertise serve to strengthen Russia’s investment appeal on the global stage.
Twitter: Kirill A. Dmitriev (@kadmitriev) / X
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San Diego Civil Rights & Criminal Defense Attorneys Tim Scott and Marcus Bourassa of McKenzie Scott PC Selected to 2027 San Diego Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists
San Diego, CATim Scott earns San Diego Super Lawyers recognition for the 15th year; Marcus Bourassa named a Super Lawyers Rising Star for the 5th year, as the firm behind an $85 million civil rights verdict and record wrongful-death settlement against San Diego County continues to set the standard
Tim Scott earns San Diego Super Lawyers recognition for the 15th year; Marcus Bourassa named a Super Lawyers Rising Star for the 5th year, as the firm behind an $85 million civil rights verdict and record wrongful-death settlement against San Diego County continues to set the standard
San Diego, CA
McKenzie Scott PC, the San Diego civil rights and criminal defense law firm known for record-setting results against government agencies, today announced that two of its trial attorneys have been recognized by Super Lawyers. Founding partner Tim Scott has been selected to the 2027 San Diego Super Lawyers list, marking his 15th year receiving the honor, and trial attorney Marcus Bourassa has been selected to the 2027 San Diego Rising Stars list, marking his 5th year of recognition.
Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters service, selects attorneys through a patented process that combines peer nominations, independent research, and evaluation of professional accomplishments. No more than 5% of attorneys nationwide are named to a regional Super Lawyers list, and no more than 2.5% are named to a regional Rising Stars list, which recognizes outstanding lawyers who are 40 or younger or have been in practice 10 years or less. Both attorneys will be featured in the San Diego Super Lawyers magazine, scheduled for publication on March 18, 2027.
Together, the two selections reflect the depth of a trial team that has secured some of the largest police misconduct, jail death, and wrongful death results in California history while maintaining one of the region’s most active federal criminal defense trial practices.
Tim Scott: 15 Years as a San Diego Super Lawyer
A graduate of Stanford Law School, San Diego civil rights attorney Tim Scott has defended people’s constitutional rights in the courtroom for more than 20 years. He began his career as a trial attorney with Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc. before co-founding McKenzie Scott PC with Michele Akemi McKenzie. Peers have consistently recognized him as a San Diego Super Lawyer and Southern California Super Lawyer in both trial-court and appellate categories.
Scott served as lead trial counsel in K.J.P. v. County of San Diego, which produced an $85 million verdict, at the time the largest wrongful-death verdict against police in American history. As a criminal defense lawyer, he has approximately 80 civil and criminal jury trials to his credit, with acquittals, mistrials, or reversals on appeal in approximately three-quarters of his criminal cases. His Ninth Circuit appellate record includes reversals in securities fraud, wire fraud, RICO, bank robbery, and identity theft cases, and extensive litigation surrounding Fourth Amendment issues.
Scott is also the co-author, with retired federal district judge Larry A. Burns, of The Ninth Circuit Criminal Handbook (LexisNexis/Matthew Bender), a criminal law restatement relied on by practitioners and judges throughout the Ninth Circuit. The San Diego Criminal Defense Bar Association named him its 2016 Trial Lawyer of the Year.
Marcus Bourassa: 5 Years as a Super Lawyers Rising Star
Trial attorney Marcus Bourassa holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Stanford University and a J.D. from Stanford Law School. Between his studies, he served as an intelligence officer in the United States Marine Corps, deploying to Afghanistan. After law school, he clerked for the Honorable Christina A. Snyder of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, then joined the federal defender’s office in San Diego, where he tried numerous cases to verdict, argued before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and earned numerous federal felony dismissals.
Bourassa practices across the firm’s civil rights and federal criminal defense groups. He served as co-counsel in the Brian Umana police shooting case, which produced the largest police wrongful death settlement in National City history, and is admitted to practice in California state and federal courts and the Ninth Circuit.
A Record of Landmark Civil Rights Results
The recognition follows a series of record-setting case results that have made McKenzie Scott PC one of the most recognized civil rights law firms in California. In each case below, the firm took on a government agency over a preventable death and secured the largest result of its kind for the jurisdiction involved.
$85 Million Verdict: K.J.P. v. County of San Diego (Lucky Phounsy)
In 2022, a jury awarded $85 million to the family of Lucky Phounsy after finding San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies responsible for his death. Phounsy called 911 in 2015 during a mental health crisis; deputies tased, struck, and hogtied him before restraining him face down in an ambulance, where his heart stopped. Tim Scott tried the case to verdict with co-counsel Mark F. Fleming. At the time, it was the largest police death verdict in U.S. history.
$16 Million Settlement: Estate of Hayden Schuck v. County of San Diego
In October 2025, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved a $16 million settlement for the family of 22-year-old William Hayden Schuck, who died of dehydration and untreated drug withdrawal after six days in San Diego Central Jail. It is the largest wrongful death settlement against San Diego County in its history and resulted in mandatory deputy training reforms on recognizing mental illness and substance withdrawal. Tim Scott was lead counsel on the McKenzie Scott trial team that represented the Schuck family. Learn more about the firm’s jail injury and in-custody death practice.
$1 Million Settlement: The Brian Umana Case, National City
In February 2025, the National City Council approved a $1 million settlement, reportedly the largest police wrongful death payment in the city’s history, over the 2021 shooting death of Brian Umana, a 28-year-old father shot at least ten times by officers during a mental health crisis. Tim Scott and Marcus Bourassa served as co-counsel alongside civil rights attorney Emily Howe of the Law Offices of Emily E. Howe.
Federal Criminal Defense Trial Experience
McKenzie Scott PC’s federal criminal defense practice is built largely from alumni of Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc., the office appointed to represent people accused of federal crimes in the Southern District of California, one of the busiest federal criminal dockets in the country. Across more than 80 jury trials, approximately three-quarters of the firm’s criminal trials have resulted in acquittals, hung juries, or success on appeal.
The firm defends clients in federal and state investigations and prosecutions, including:
- White-collar crimes, including wire, mail, bank, and securities fraud
- Money laundering and honest services fraud
- Insurance fraud and health care fraud
- Border arrests, drug trafficking, and immigration offenses
- Firearms, RICO, theft of trade secrets, and cybercrime charges
- Federal appeals before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
Frequently Asked Questions
Who at McKenzie Scott PC was selected to 2027 San Diego Super Lawyers?
Founding partner Tim Scott was selected to the 2027 San Diego Super Lawyers list, his 15th year of Super Lawyers recognition. Trial attorney Marcus Bourassa was selected to the 2027 San Diego Rising Stars list, his 5th year of recognition.
What is the difference between Super Lawyers and Rising Stars?
Super Lawyers recognizes no more than 5% of attorneys in each region. Rising Stars recognizes no more than 2.5% of attorneys in each region who are 40 or younger or have practiced 10 years or less. Both lists are based on peer input, independent research, and professional achievement.
What is the largest wrongful death settlement against San Diego County?
The largest wrongful death settlement against San Diego County in its history is the $16 million settlement McKenzie Scott PC secured in 2025 for the family of Hayden Schuck, who died in San Diego Central Jail custody.
What was the largest police in-custody death verdict in the United States?
In 2022, a San Diego jury awarded $85 million to the family of Lucky Phounsy in K.J.P. v. County of San Diego. At the time, it was the largest police death verdict in American history. McKenzie Scott PC founding partner Tim Scott tried the case.
Does McKenzie Scott PC handle federal criminal defense cases?
Yes. McKenzie Scott PC is a San Diego federal criminal defense firm whose attorneys trained at Federal Defenders of San Diego. The firm handles white-collar crimes, insurance fraud, money laundering, border arrests, drug trafficking, and firearms cases, along with federal appeals in the Ninth Circuit.
How do I contact a San Diego civil rights or criminal defense attorney at McKenzie Scott PC?
Call McKenzie Scott PC at (619) 794-0451 or request a free case evaluation online. The firm’s office is located at 1350 Columbia Street, Suite 600, San Diego, California 92101.
About McKenzie Scott PC
Led by founding partners Michele Akemi McKenzie and Tim Scott and protecting civil rights and providing criminal defense since 2000, McKenzie Scott PC is a San Diego trial firm that fights for the little guy against the power of government and corporate money. The firm represents clients throughout Southern California in civil rights litigation, including police misconduct, jail injury and in-custody death, and police-involved dog shooting cases; criminal defense and federal criminal defense; and personal injury, wrongful death, and employment law matters. Meet the full team of trial attorneys, review featured cases and trial results, or see the firm in the news. Attorneys seeking to co-counsel may visit the attorney referrals page.
Media Contact Information
Jason Kitchen
McKenzie Scott PC
1350 Columbia Street, Suite 600, San Diego, CA 92101
[email protected]
Phone: (619) 794-0451
Web: mckenziescott.com
Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Super Lawyers and Rising Stars are selections made by Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business.
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Kelsie Kimberlin’s Award Winning Film, “The Last Message,” Will Premiere At LA’s Royal Theater 9-13 October
LOS ANGELES, CAKelsie Kimberlin, a popular American Ukrainian singer and foundation director, traveled to Ukraine to film a movie chronicling her quest to find answers about the death of her 21-year-old cousin, Andrii Rachok, after he was killed by terrorists. Kelsie spent a month in Ukraine, including all along the frontline, amidst drones and missile attacks, to […]
LOS ANGELES, CA
Kelsie Kimberlin, a popular American Ukrainian singer and foundation director, traveled to Ukraine to film a movie chronicling her quest to find answers about the death of her 21-year-old cousin, Andrii Rachok, after he was killed by terrorists. Kelsie spent a month in Ukraine, including all along the frontline, amidst drones and missile attacks, to seek absolution and forgiveness. She realized that every Ukrainian has felt the pain of loss, but they remain committed to victory over the enemy. She tells the stories of ordinary citizens who fight the demogorgon in their own way.
Kelsie is the only international artist to be permitted to travel to the frontline to film a movie. Her music videos about Ukraine have generated millions of YouTube views, and her songs have received global radio play and thousands of articles. “Everyone needs to see my movie to understand the effect of the war on ordinary citizens,” said Kelsie. “We all need to come together to defeat the terrorists.”
After the screenings of October 9th and 10th at 7:30 and October 11th at 3:20, Kelsie will answer questions from the audience about the film and Ukraine. Tickets for the screenings are available here. https://www.laemmle.com/film/last-message
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JustFor.fans Introduces Local Payment Options Across Latin America
LOS ANGELES, CAJustFor.fans (JFF) has expanded access for fans across Latin America with new local payment options in Brazil, Mexico and Colombia, announced during the inaugural GRABBYS Latin Awards in Medellín. JFF users in Brazil can now pay through Pix, while fans in Mexico can use SPEI and Colombian users can access the platform through PSE, giving customers […]
LOS ANGELES, CA
JustFor.fans (JFF) has expanded access for fans across Latin America with new local payment options in Brazil, Mexico and Colombia, announced during the inaugural GRABBYS Latin Awards in Medellín.
JFF users in Brazil can now pay through Pix, while fans in Mexico can use SPEI and Colombian users can access the platform through PSE, giving customers who may not use credit cards a familiar way to support models on JFF. The rollout follows the platform’s recent expansion into fully translated Spanish and Portuguese experiences and comes as JFF strengthens its presence across a region with significant model and fan communities.
“This past weekend, at the award show, we launched local payments from 3 countries with major JFF fanbases: Brazil (Pix), Mexico (SPEI) and Colombia (PSE),” said JFF founder Dominic Ford. “By accepting payments via these local methods, we are making it easier for fans without credit cards to access our site and our models. Additionally, we launched the site fully in Spanish and Portuguese a month ago.”
JustFor.fans’ involvement with the inaugural GRABBYS Latin Awards builds on its strong Latin American presence, including events in Mexico such as Collab Week Puerto Vallarta, as the platform broadens its outreach to fans and models across the region.
Visit JustFor.fans and follow on X @JustForFansSite & Bluesky @justfor.fans
About JustFor.fans
JustFor.fans (JFF) is a leading premium online adult community and self-publishing platform that engages models – straight, gay, trans & non-binary – with their fans in a private and secure setting.
A leader in anti-piracy JFF was launched in 2018 by esteemed filmmaker and entrepreneur Dominic Ford (DominicFord.com) and shaped with the idea of offering a platform where entertainers have the opportunity to act as their own producers/distributors with complete control over their own artistic works and performances.
With more than 15 years of building membership sites, Ford and his team’s objective is to offer JustFor.fans models several different avenues for making money on the site, including custom video clips, live cam shows, direct messaging and an online store. “We are committed to making JustFor.fans the Number One destination for ambitious content creators.”
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San Diego Civil Rights & Criminal Defense Attorneys Tim Scott and Marcus Bourassa of McKenzie Scott PC Selected to 2027 San Diego Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists
Kelsie Kimberlin’s Award Winning Film, “The Last Message,” Will Premiere At LA’s Royal Theater 9-13 October
JustFor.fans Introduces Local Payment Options Across Latin America
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