Active, Operational and Optimistic

In times of aggressive war, the legal landscape in Ukraine undergoes significant changes, presenting unique challenges for law firms and their clients. The nature of legal work has changed and the teams have shrunk. We asked Serhiy Chorny, managing partner, head of banking and finance practice, Baker McKenzie Kyiv office, to tell us about doing […]

Kick russia out of the UN

The initiative group of the Civic Hub “Kick russia out of the UN” was created and carries out its activities as an independent non-governmental and non-profit private public initiative aimed at studying the circumstances, documents and events that contributed to the entry of the russian federation into the United Nations and taking the place of […]

Top 5 Key Findings from a Survey of Ukrainian Lawyers Working Abroad

The LegalTalents.Report found that the Ukrainian legal market is stable and has a new way of operating. Law firm partners tried hard to send their lawyers to work in foreign partner law firms. This study focuses on lawyers getting foreign experience to help Ukraine’s legal market.  Who was surveyed: 53 Ukrainian lawyers working abroad. Among […]

New VAT Rules for Agri-Exporters in Ukraine

Despite the ongoing war, Ukraine remains a vital player in the global grain market and continues to export agricultural commodities via the “grain corridor” under the Black Sea Grain Initiative. However, the export proceeds from these commodity sales do not always reach Ukraine in time. According to the National Bank of Ukraine, as of 1 […]

Ukraine reforms copyright regulation system in line with EU standards

On 1 January 2023, a new Copyright Law, the Law on Copyright and Related Rights, entered into force in Ukraine. The Copyright Law reforms the Ukrainian copyright protection system and brings Ukrainian copyright legislation in compliance with EU legislation. The new features introduced by the Copyright Law relate, inter alia, to the following: A regulation […]

Minefield for the Investor

  In more than twenty years of practicing law in Ukraine and abroad, I have probably written more than thirty articles. All of these articles dealt with either legal topics and issues or business issues with a legal perspective. In writing my articles, as well as in preparing legal advice to clients, I have always […]

Ukraine further simplifies privatisation procedures and announces new privatisation auctions

Following the introduction of simplification measures for state property sales, Ukraine’s government has announced the commencement of the first round of privatisation auctions to begin in September 2022. This year’s privatisation will start with the sale of two assets: the Kobylovoloky and Marylivka distilleries owned by the state-owned alcohol producer Ukrspyrt. The initial auctions for […]

Ukraine passes law granting special rights to Polish citizens

On 28 July 2022, the Ukrainian parliament adopted the new Law On the Establishment of Legal and Social Guarantees for Citizens of the Republic of Poland on the Territory of Ukraine;. This Draft Law was introduced in response to a similar Polish Law, which established certain benefits for Ukraine citizens who entered Poland as a result of […]

Ukraine resumes and simplifies privatisation procedures

On 28 July 2022, the Parliament of Ukraine adopted a set of simplification measures aimed at resuming and simplifying auction sales of state-owned companies and assets. The re-launched privatisation processes is expected to attract investments necessary to sustain Ukraine’s wartime economy and assist with the relocation of businesses to safer regions. The new legislation includes […]

Trade liberalisation for Ukrainian export as a response to the russian-Ukrainian war

The full-scale russian invasion of Ukraine triggered the widespread reaction of countries worldwide. In the economic realm, states focused their efforts in two main directions. Firstly, they imposed numerous economic sanctions on russia restricting commodities and cash flows from and into the country. Secondly, states introduced several measures to support Ukraine in the economic field. […]

A Perfect Storm: New IP Regulations in Russia

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, more than 10 000 sanctions on Russian Federation were imposed and more than 1 000 companies have already left Russian market place. This is the answer of the world’s community to such actions, aiming to economically persuade Russia to stop the war. Russia, instead, declared all the countries, which supported or imposed […]

Ukraine introduces priority urban planning measures to overcome the war consequences

On 9 June 2022, Law No. 2254-IX of 12 May 2022 on Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on the Priority Measures for Reforming Urban Planning Activities (the Law) came into force in Ukraine, which aims to reform urban-construction regulations applicable within the martial law period and thereafter for overcoming the consequences of the Russian […]

UKRAINIAN LAWS IN WARTIME: Guide for International and Domestic Businesses, 4th edition

Baker McKenzie is delighted to present the 4th edition of Ukrainian Laws in Wartime: Guide for International and Domestic Businesses, a brief overview of the key features of wartime legislation. This issue contains updated responses to the most common questions raised and considered by international and Ukrainian businesses these days in the following practice areas: Martial Law and […]

Ukraine Expands Sanctions against Russia and its Supporters

On 20 May 2022, the President of Ukraine signed the Law of Ukraine On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine to Increase the Effectiveness of Sanctions Related to Persons’ Assets (the Law). The Law, which should become effective in the next few days, introduces a new type of sanction in the Law of Ukraine […]

Ukrainian energy system joins unified European electricity system ENTSO-E

On 16 March 2022, Ukraine joined the unified continental European electricity system ENTSO-E and completed an emergency synchronisation of its power grids with the ENTSO-E in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Synchronisation process Until recently only a small part of the Ukrainian Power System (also referred to as “Burshtyn Island”) was synchronised with the […]

Competition Regulations and Practice in Ukraine during Martial Law

Activities of AMCU during martial law Russian military aggression started on 24 February 2022. Thus, the end of February 2022 became a critical point also for the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU). AMCU then was forced to take rapid actions aimed at ensuring the safety of its personnel and the legality of the competition-related processes […]

Wartime Flexibilities for the Life Sciences and Healthcare Sectors in Ukraine

Since russia began its unprovoked large-scale armed invasion of Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers (the CMU), the Ukrainian Ministry of Health (the MoH), as well as other state bodies, have been implementing numerous legislative changes aimed at streamlining and facilitating the supply of required medicines and medical devices to Ukraine during the war and ensuring […]

WTO Reaction to Russian-Ukrainian War

The Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 ruined the lives of millions of Ukrainians. The terrible war has already killed and injured thousands of people[1], destroyed their homes, forced millions of Ukrainians to leave their hometowns or even flee the country[2]. Nevertheless, the effects of this Russian aggression are not only limited to […]

Ukraine Сlosed Four Sea Ports until Reoccupation

The Ministry of Infrastructure issued the Order #256 dd. 28 April 2022 On Closing Sea Ports, which has been registered by the Ministry of Justice. According to the Order, the Ministry closed two Ukrainian ports located in the Sea of Azov (Berdyansk and Mariupol) and two Ukrainian ports located in the Black Sea (Kherson and […]

Applying Frozen Russian Assets for the Recovery of Ukraine

Starting from the first days of the Russian invasion into Ukraine numerous states including the US, UK and members of the EU imposed severe sanctions upon the Russian Federation. A wide range of sanctions was applied targeting sovereign assets, state and privately held companies, politically exposed persons and high net worth individuals. One of the […]

Ukrainian War Bonds: Invest to Support Democracy

Every single and tremendously painful day since Russia launched its unprovoked and barbaric military invasion of Ukraine, the civilised world has been witnessing the unimaginable bravery and dignity of the Ukrainian army as well as ordinary civilians trying their best to defend the bright and democratic future of Ukraine. Despite this courage, it goes without […]

Simplified Procedures for Acquiring Uncultivated Agricultural Land

On 7 April 2022, the Draft Law of Ukraine On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine Regarding Establishing Conditions to Ensure Food Security Under Martial Law,No. 2145-IX, dated 24 March 2022, became effective. The law aims to secure crop production for the country during martial law. For this purpose, it sets out a legal framework […]

Is LinkedIn’s ban on a Ukrainian’s posts a threat to free speech?

There are many ways Ukrainians are battling Russian aggression (“How to puncture Russia’s disinformation bubble”, FT View, March 14). While my family and I have had to leave our home in Irpin, a suburb of Kyiv, I still have a chance to work, pay salaries to my employees and pay taxes to support our army. […]