On June 8, 2009 Federal Law No. 115-FZ dated June 3, 2009 on Amending the Federal Law on Joint Stock Companies and Article 30 of the Federal Law on the Securities Market entered into force.  The Law introduces the concept of shareholders; agreements into Russian joint stock company legislation and establishes a procedure for the resolution of deadlocks related to the creation of a sole executive body within a joint stock company and the early termination of the powers thereof.  This client memo provides a brief overview of some of the more substantial amendments.