The full-service law firm Asters has a strong client portfolio of leading national and international companies across the majority of industries and is sought after for its diverse expertise in advising on a full spectrum of employment matters. Of late the firm has been covering mobilization and martial law matters, while traditionally advising on employment structuring, conflict resolution, reorganizations, workplace safety, data privacy, immigration, and representing clients in both individual and collective labor disputes. In recent years, the team has gained significant experience advising on mobilization, conscription deferral (reservation), and a broad range of labor issues arising under martial law. Asters continues to provide ongoing advice to Molson Coors Ukraine on a wide spectrum of labor and employment, occupational safety, data protection matters related to day-to-day business of the company and ensuring its employment law compliance. In 2024, the firm’s team advised Lumos Foundation on the structuring of relations with employees and contractors in Ukraine. The practice is co-headed by the firm’s corporate partner, Vadym Samoilenko, and dedicated to employment counsel Inesa Letych.
Baker McKenzie continues its long-standing commitment to providing comprehensive labor and employment law advice, covering the structuring of employment relations, drafting agreements for executives and staff, managing terminations, and addressing issues such as data privacy, tax implications, leave entitlements, disciplinary actions, and HR policy implementation. Over the course of the past year, the firm’s dedicated employment group advised a number of large international and Ukrainian companies from agriculture and transportation, retail and consumer goods, banking and financial institutions, embassies and non-governmental organizations, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, etc. The Kyiv office advised on military-related obligations, reservation of employees, employment transfer, on labor safety issues. With the strong following among IT sector, the team also advises on implications arising in connection with obtaining Diia City residency in Ukraine and Ukrainian contractor arrangements. The office has a long-standing track record of advising numerous foreign investors, offering extensive expertise in all aspects of migration-related matters, including securing work permits, service cards, and other necessary documentation for foreign nationals working in Ukraine. Lina Nemchenko splits her time between real estate and employment and migration practices, regularly advising clients on data protection and general labor law, while counsel Mariana Marchuk is consistently referred for her long-time commitment to employment matters.
Ilyashev & Partners is a go-to legal counsel for the Ukrainian branches of multinational corporations and leading local companies, providing ongoing advisory on labor and employment, subsequent transactional aspects, and litigation, which is the firm’s calling card. Since the onset of the war, the firm’s employment practice has been consistently approached to advise on new wartime labor regulations, as well on staff relocation, and compliance policies. The team assisted Mondelēz Ukraine in reviewing and updating internal labor standards to ensure compliance with Ukrainian regulations on weight limits and occupational safety for female employees in production roles; provided ongoing legal support to the Norwegian Refugee Council in Ukraine on complex employment and conscription-related matters during martial law. The firm has notable experience advising on trade union relations, collective bargaining negotiations, and resolving conflicts with unions. Its labor disputes practice stands out due to its strong track record of representing employers across a wide range of cases. Selected clients include Coca-Cola Beverages Ukraine, UNILEVER Ukraine, TEDIS Ukraine, Dr.Reddy’s Laboratories, Volynholding, Ukrainian Red Cross Society, and others. Dedicated partner Valeriia Gudiy is recognized for her extensive experience in handling complex employment matters.
Having exceptional standing among international and leading domestic clients, Sayenko Kharenko’s labor and employment team handles a broad spectrum of matters, from transactional and day-to-day employment issues to complex litigation, with a strong focus on resolving labor disputes through amicable settlements. Clients come from a range of sectors, including banking and finance, pharmaceutical and healthcare, agriculture, retail, communications, consulting, consumer goods, food and beverages, IT, technology, manufacturing, services, publishing, and private clients industries. Over the past year, the firm advised on numerous employment issues arising from wartime conditions, including telework, mobilization, employee-contractor conversions, workplace safety during air raids, and cross-border employment law in relocation cases. The team regularly handles complex employment matters such as collective disputes, restructuring, redundancy, trade union negotiations, and discrimination cases, while also supporting multinational clients on cross-border and compliance-related employment issues. Most recently, the firm advised Trimble and AGCO on the establishment of their joint venture; guided Dyckerhoff on compliance with new Ukrainian labor law requirements related to employee transfers and notifications during a business undertaking transfer; and provided ongoing employment-related counsel to Lego Ukraine. The team also supported FPS Flexibles Ukraine on various aspects of top management employment, advised Coca-Cola on complex and sensitive employment matters, and assisted Siemens with issues including the appointment of a management board member and the legal implications of dual roles held by an employee serving in the military. The core team is led by counsel Iryna Bakina and senior associate Olga Kyriusha, with overall supervision by M&A partner Oleksandr Nikolaichyk. Dr. Svitlana Kheda, a recognized expert in labor and employment, privacy and data protection, anti-corruption, and mediation, contributes her expertise to the practice.
The labor and employment practice at ADER HABER offers tailored support across a wide range of wartime employment issues, including contracts, dismissals, inspections, and military service deferments. The practice client portfolio spans energy and natural resources, infrastructure, transport, agribusiness, retail and FMCG, insurance, and financial services. In 2024, the firm confirmed a rising number of employment disputes in its practice. For example, the firm defended the Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine in two labor disputes with its former CEO over unpaid bonuses; represents PJSC Ukrtatnafta in a complex labor dispute over reinstatement, salary recovery, and disciplinary actions. Among the most landmark engagements of the team is its recent advisory to the World Bank Group on Ukraine’s draft Labor Code, assessing its compliance with EU standards and proposing improvements to balance labor protections with post-war economic realities. Other advisory highlights covered development and update of employment agreements for MetLife’s management and key personnel, ensuring compliance with Ukraine’s insurance legislation and internal policies, and legal support of the procedure for booking employees for the period of mobilization and martial law. The practice is led by attorney Anna Movchan and supervised by partner Oleksandra Fedotova.
Dentons’ Kyiv employment team advises on the full spectrum of employment matters, including cross-border projects, internal policies, litigation, corporate investigations, and compliance, with particular expertise in restructuring, executive compensation, and mobilization-related employment law. For example, the firm advises an American multinational corporation on employment law matters related to the relocation of its Ukrainian employees, covering wage payment options, mobilization issues, suspension and dismissal procedures, mass layoffs and hires, director and staff contracts, as well as Ukrainian tax and medical device regulatory issues. The office is regularly engaged by multinational corporations to support market entry and exit strategies, including the structuring of employment relations and development of incentive schemes for key managers. Kyiv-based partner Volodymyr Monastyrskyy, the head of the employment practice in Ukraine, is the central figure, especially during the last couple of years.
During the research period, EY Ukraine was assigned to advise on structuring special working time arrangements, employee transfers under the newly introduced TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment) regulations in line with the EU Directive, and workforce restructuring in large-scale business transactions. The firm also supported companies in international initiatives focused on employing war veterans, people with disabilities, and individuals affected by the war in Ukraine, ensuring compliance with labor regulations and aligning with international best practices. In addition, the team advised businesses establishing a presence in Ukraine as Diia City residents, providing guidance on employee transfers, engagement of gig specialists, and strategies for safeguarding remuneration. In 2024, the team advised multinational companies on Ukrainian immigration compliance, personnel relocation, and cross-border immigration risks, often in coordination with its offices globally, also rendering support to private clients and their families, advising on relocation procedures, dual citizenship considerations, and residence-by-investment options in various countries. The practice has two partners on board — Olga Gorbanovskaya and Halyna Khomenko.
INTEGRITES, a full-service law firm, is rapidly expanding its employment practice, advising a strong international client base on martial law-related matters, including workforce optimization, staff redundancies, employee mobilization and reservation for conscription. The team supported international clients in relaunching operations in Ukraine, advising on staff engagement, retention, transitions from remote to on-site work, and redundancies, while also handling employment aspects of corporate restructurings and M&A, including organizational redesign and adjustments to roles and terms. Among public highlights for the research period were advising Servier on wartime labor law challenges in Ukraine, including workforce optimization, organizational changes, military duty compliance, and safe return-to-office strategies; 6 Systems, the Ukrainian subsidiary of Sixt, on staff engagement strategies and compliance with military recordkeeping and conscription laws, including support with gig contracts and employee reservation procedures. The practice is led by counsel Inna Kostrytska, who brings extensive experience in corporate restructuring and related employment matters, and has played a key role in advancing policy changes to military service regulations, including the launch of electronic conscription deferral via the Diia portal.
Kinstellar in Ukraine handles complex employment matters across a wide range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, IT and technology, FMCG, healthcare, agriculture, media, manufacturing, retail, and hospitality. The office is engaged to develop and implement strategies for the dismissal of top-level executives (CEOs, CFOs, COOs), and to manage the exit of problem employees. Given the firm’s busy corporate team, the dedicated practice team advises on employment aspects of corporate transactions, including structuring hires and terminations, drafting and reviewing internal policies, overseeing employee transfers, employment of foreign nationals, including immigration-related matters, and supporting localization initiatives for international businesses. During the research period the team was assigned to advise on military law and mobilization-related issues, employee reservation. Given the team’s strong following among IT and tech majors, the practice is approached to assist with Diia City regulation and contractor arrangements. Key publishable client names: Kyivstar, KNDS, Rheinmetall, QTerminals, EBRD. The practice is headed by counsel Maksym Tesliar.
Ante Law Firm is in great demand for employment advisory and dispute resolution, with a recent focus on providing comprehensive guidance related to mobilization and military service during the ongoing period of martial law. Among the highlights was advising pharmaceutical clients, in particular, Acino regarding employees’ reservation from mobilization issues and territorial recruitment center requests; Pharmway Trading on hiring and dismissing staff; supported AbbVie with head of representative office change in Ukraine. The firm is sought after for its long-standing presence in the aviation industry. For example, during the research period the firm advised Air Baltic on certified personnel needed for airline aircraft operator’s certificate in Ukraine, and Qatar Airways on the dismissal of all representative office staff in Ukraine. Andriy Guck, managing partner, is the practice head.
The labor law practice of the domestic law firm ARMADA demonstrates presence across advisory and dispute resolution services, with a recent portfolio covering humanitarian, telecom, tech, food, construction, and IT sectors. Highlights include advising a national food retail chain on a large-scale staff reduction plan; helping a tech company implement flexible working, remote policies, and privacy rules; and successfully defending an employer in court against a wrongful dismissal claim. The firm also represented the interests of an industrial heavyweight in litigation regarding the recovery of damages for accidents and loss of working capacity, and provided discrimination prevention training for an international corporation following internal gender bias incidents. Anastasiia Luuk, practice head, and Oksana Lelenych, lead partner, are the main contacts.
EVERLEGAL’s employment practice advises both commercial and non-commercial clients, with a rapidly expanding portfolio of international governmental and non-governmental organizations operating in Ukraine. The firm has been particularly focused on employment issues arising under martial law — such as wartime labor relations, military registration, mobilization, terminations, as well as compliance, personal data handling, and internal policies, while also handling employment aspects of corporate reorganizations, including large-scale staff reductions and executive-level separations. Other areas of recent focus for the employment team were disputes and amicable settlements. Among the firm’s public clients are the Norwegian Refugee Council, Embassy of Japan in Ukraine, UNHCR, Hero Future Energies. The practice is supervised by two partners — Yevheniy Deyneko and Oleksandr Ruzhytskyi.
Ukrainian firm EXPATPRO specializes in immigration and employment matters for foreign nationals in Ukraine, providing end-to-end support with visas, work permits, immigration approvals, and residence permits. The firm has an established track record of supporting international organizations and businesses entering or operating in Ukraine, including assistance with branch registration, tax, labor, migration, and relocation issues for foreign staff members, as exemplified in cases involving Geneva Call and Control Risks LLC. The team supported projects of technical help, in particular, Encompass LLC, with issues related to acquiring legal status for expat-employers in Ukraine. Additionally, the firm is regularly engaged by IT companies to support the relocation of IT specialists to Ukraine. The migration practice is headed by senior associate Kateryna Zatulko, with strategic oversight from partner Vasyl Cherednichenko. Selected projects are carried out in collaboration with other practice groups led by partner Tetiana Yashchenko.
Gramatskiy & Partners traditionally demonstrates strong expertise in labor law, advising clients on a wide range of employment matters, including workforce management during martial law, employee dismissals, and labor regulations compliance. Notable projects include support with employee reservation, implementation of downtime, and transitioning staff to gig contracts under the Diia City regime. In particular, the team advised DITRAN LLC on preserving employee rights during mobilization and supported reservation of key staff under the Diia City regime; drafted a compliant remote work contract for Smarttender LLC for an employee who is based abroad, addressing taxation and privacy risks. Notably, the team developed tailored policies for bonuses, workplace procedures, and vacation management during martial law. Igor Kasianov is the employment practice head.
KM Partners commands experience in employment matters — advisory, transactional, contentious, and non-contentious — with recent emphasis on labor issues arising under martial law. The firm’s labor practice demonstrates expertise across a diverse portfolio of industries, including energy, manufacturing, IT, humanitarian organizations, etc. Recent highlights include advising on employment structuring during wartime, fixed-term agreements, dismissal procedures, work permits for foreign nationals, and military-related employment matters. The firm provided first-instance legal support to a multinational computer technology corporation in a dispute over administrative sanctions for alleged non-compliance with disability employment quotas. Partner Alexander Shemiatkin heads the employment practice.
KPMG Law Ukraine’s labor and employment practice handles complex employment matters for international and domestic clients, leveraging its multidisciplinary structure to provide integrated legal, tax, and compliance support, while also advising on wartime mobilization laws and contributing to legislative initiatives. During the research period, the Ukrainian office advised a global chemical company on appointing a new head of its representative office; assisted a global food and beverage company with the legal aspects of a corporate merger and employee transfer; supported a global IT company in implementing a remote work regime for its Ukrainian staff; and advised a global agricultural company on engaging local personnel through a payroll (outstaffing) provider. The team has been supporting a UNDP project designed to enhance social support for individuals who have either lost or suffered reduced capabilities to work, which includes analyzing existing legislation, developing a new support model, amending laws, and engaging with stakeholders. Yuriy Katser is the key figure.
LA Law Firm (Legal Alliance until 2023) is a recognized legal advisor to top multinational pharmaceutical companies in Ukraine, offering versatile legal support in employment matters including contracts, work permits, restructuring, compliance, and dispute resolution. The firm assisted in providing support in complying with military service legislation and controlling the work activities of employees. The team conducted a full legal audit of its client’s global policies, adapted them to Ukrainian legislation by drafting localized policies and employment agreements, introduced safety-focused procedures for events during air raids; helped to comply with new military obligations for women in pharma roles by analyzing qualifications and providing clear guidelines for military accounting. Another recent highlight included updating engagement with the trade union during restructuring. Vitalii Savchuk, partner, heads the employment and labor practice, and is supported by Yaroslav Furiaka, senior associate.
NOBLES advises clients — primarily Ukrainian offices of multinational businesses — on internal policies, hiring and termination strategies, labor due diligence, and compliance with applicable labor regulations. During the research period, the firm actively advised on employment structuring, mobilization and martial law regulations in Ukraine, visas and work permits for foreign employees, personal data protection, and remote work arrangements. It also provided guidance on confidentiality, non-compete clauses, and intellectual property protection. The firm continues to provide comprehensive legal advice to Ferring Ukraine on a review of its remuneration policy for the local director. Among other disclosable clients are H&M Hennes and Mauritz AB, Beam Suntory. Partner Oleksandr Aleksyeyenko heads the practice.
The Kyiv office of PETERKA & PARTNERS regularly advises international companies on labor and employment matters as to their Ukrainian subsidiaries, utilizing both consulting and disputes. Since the onset of martial law, the firm advised on employee mobilization, relocation and remote work, exemptions from mobilization, and securing critical enterprise status in Ukraine. In particular, the team advises a leading global contract research organization providing clinical development services across the full continuum, on employment matters under martial law, including work condition changes, mobilization risks, and compliance with disability employment rules, and successfully secured “critically important” status for two Ukrainian subsidiaries, enabling key staff retention in wartime. The firm’s client portfolio includes companies from the IT and technology, healthcare and pharmaceutical, and industrial sectors, as well as embassies and non-governmental organizations. Given the firm’s strong client base in the IT sector, it advises on matters related to Diia City residency. The team also supports clients in complex employment disputes, primarily representing employers. Taras Utiralov, the Kyiv-based managing partner, is the main contact, while Anastasiia Kusherets and Yuliia Sereda are key contributors to the practice.
Redcliffe Partners develops its employment practice as advisory service along with covering employment aspects of corporate matters and M&A transactions, being active across energy, pharmaceuticals, IT, and financial services. In the last couple of years, the firm has developed expertise in employment regulations in wartime and martial law, advising on special labor regimes, grounds for dismissal, employer liability for war-related workplace incidents, and legal obligations concerning mobilization and employee reservation rights. Among recent highlights is advising Renaisco B.V., a Viterra group company, on its acquisition of a grain elevator complex in Vinnytsia Region, and addressed various employment matters arising from the transaction, including transfer and retention of employees, etc. The team is assigned to advise on a wide range of compliance issues, including data protection regulations, and handling labor restructuring. The practice is co-led by two partners, namely Albert Sych and Rob Shantz.
Kharkiv-based Roland Law Firm has a well-established labor and employment practice, combining extensive consulting expertise with strong dispute resolution capabilities. The team is highly experienced in representing both employers and employees in a wide range of employment-related conflicts. The firm represented a client in a fatal workplace accident case, leading to the establishment of employer liability; advising on strategic hiring and motivation policy changes for a major agricultural holding and a leading food industry producer. Additional highlights include advising on military registration compliance, staff relocation due to wartime disruptions, cross-border employment arrangements, and resolving post-crisis workforce reintegration issues. The firm’s client roster includes Astarta Kyiv LLC, Official Delegations Hall, Golden Mile Trading House, P.V. Voloshyn Institute of Neurology, Psychiatry and Narcology of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, etc. Serhiy Silchenko, the firm’s founder, is widely recognized across the legal community as a strong and experienced expert in labor and employment law.
Wolf Theiss Kyiv advises on high-profile employment matters involving top management and personnel of Ukrainian companies and local subsidiaries of international clients, drawing on experience across major industry sectors. Furthermore, the team assisted clients in organizing remote and office-based work arrangements while advising on a range of labor restructuring options. Most recently the team advised McDonald’s on employer’s obligations on providing pay information to employees/applicants and on disclosing pay equity or pay information to the government or other external reporting; assisted Aristocrat Technologies Europe Ltd on planned termination of employees of its Ukrainian subsidiary; provided legal support to Moon Active, focusing on transactions involving employment and war-related concerns to ensure their enforceability; assisted Uponor GmbH in the substitution of management for its local Ukrainian representative office, etc. Olga Ivlyeva and Olena Kravtsova are the practice co-heads. Kyiv managing partner Taras Dumych oversees the practice.
ANTIKA Law Firm offers comprehensive contentious legal support across a wide spectrum of labor law issues, spanning personnel planning, lawful termination procedures and representation in court proceedings. Most recently the firm has been advising AWT Bavaria Group, a longstanding client, on different issues in the field of labor law; delivered support to Sumska Nasosna Technika in a complex dispute initiated by a former employee who previously held the position of financial director. The employment practice is led by Dr. Oleksiy Kot, a senior partner, with key support from partner Oleksandra Fedorenko and senior associate Oleksander Tretiakov.
Prikhodko & Partners has a solid track record in labor disputes, primarily representing employees, and regularly handles cases against state authorities challenging regulatory decisions on pensions and other social payments. The firm successfully represented a military pensioner in challenging the State Pension Fund’s unlawful denial of a pension supplement, securing a court ruling for its reinstatement and compensation of losses. The firm also handles amicable resolutions. Iryna An heads the practice.