The firms are placed in alphabetical order. The research period is the year 2021. Since 24 February 2022 when the russian federation started its aggressive war against Ukraine, many law firms in Ukraine have announced their termination of representing russian clients. For ethical and moral reasons, as many people have joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine and found themselves in difficult life situations, we have taken the decision not to publish ranking tables this year. We genuinely believe that we should be united as never before, and hope that you support our decision.

The full-service law firm AEQUO possesses a front-running advisory and transactional practice. The M&A team is regularly sought out to handle big-ticket deals, both domestic and cross-border. The firm boasts a solid client base active in technologies and telecommunications, real estate, construction, agrarian, energy sectors, banks, retail, pharmaceuticals and healthcare. For the last couple of years, the team is consistently preferred by private equity funds to handle high-impact multimillion deals. Another notable feature is an extensive client roster in the IT sector that required corporate advice and transactions support. The team has for many years been involved in policy shaping projects contributing to corporate reforms. The big team is guided by four partners with industry defined focus. Anna Babych, English law qualified practice head, is consistently among the strongest M&A professionals in Ukraine. Michael Lukashenko was widely admired by the market sources for his performance in private equity deals and was promoted to partner in October 2021. Universal practitioner Denis Lysenko has over 20 years of experience in the corporate space, with the recent focus on tax-driven structuring, and represents clients from energy and natural resources sectors. Banking partner Yulia Kyrpa heads M&A in the banking and real estate areas. Oksana Krasnokutska, counsel, is praised for her strong corporate experience.

Ukrainian highly-focused Alstellar Law Firm performs assignments of international corporate structuring, utilizing corporate and tax expertise. In a recent highlight the team acted as a front legal adviser for the IT group of companies EvoPlay, having advised on the restructuring of a global corporate structure and business relocation; acted as a legal adviser of a top Ukrainian producer of desserts for children called Bob Snail on corporate restructuring with regard to the extension of business to the EU market. 1+1 Media hired the firm to act as legal adviser with regard to the group’s extension on the European market, as well as on structuring the purchase of media products. Other recent clients of the firm encompass Terwin Group, Fishing Company S.A., Coal Energy S.A., Get Jet Limited, Javefinances OU. Olga Vinglovska, managing partner, is the main contact.

Andriy Kravets & Partners advises domestic clients on general corporate and corporate governance matters, shares and corporate rights sale and purchase. Clients come from the agrarian, industrial, real estate and financial sectors. Andriy Kravets and Vladyslav Lyaskovskiy are the main contacts.

Ante Law Firm provides day-to-day support to representative offices of major airlines operating flights to and from Ukraine, including registration and liquidation, opening branches, changes in management and corporate structuring. Among the team’s aviation clients are Lufthansa group (Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, Brussels Airlines), British Airways, Air France – KLM, Alitalia, Qatar Airways Group, Emirates, Bees Airline and other international airlines. Another bench of clients comes from the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors, represented by local offices of multinational companies (Sanofi, Perrigo, Servier, Aristo) and domestic companies, operating as importers and distributors of medicines, medical devices and cosmetics (Zdravo Pharmmarketing Company, Labvita). Corporate compliance assignments ensured a busy practice. Yuriy Veklenko is responsive for this practice. Andriy Guck is lead partner and key contact.

ANTIKA Law Firm is consistently preferred by energy, FMCG, trading companies. The firm has experience in a wide range of corporate assignments – business reorganization, joint activity, corporate management structuring, etc. Clients include AWT Bavaria, Zoo 12 Months LLC and IBIS. Dr. Oleksiy Kot is lead partner.

Ukrainian ARIO Law Firm that is well-known for its prominent positions in bankruptcy and insolvency practice, demonstrated significant expansion of corporate work throughout 2021. In addition to its established caseload of corporate conflicts resolution and asset protection, the team takes an advisory role, conducting corporate reorganizations, corporate rights protection and risk analysis, due diligence, equity investment support. The practice team acted on matters of corporate control and corporate rights renewal, business carve-ups, supported domestic M&A deals in different regions of the country. A lot of instructions came from the real estate, agribusiness, energy and transport sectors. The practice is led by the firm’s partners – Julian Khorunzhyi, Ruslan Sydorovich and Andrij Fylyk.

Ukrainian market heavyweight Asters is called upon to act in significant domestic and global transactions, and represents a broad range of international clients on restructuring, governance, compliance matters. The firm has a remarkable track record in handling high-impact M&A and JVs in energy, agriculture, technology, IT, telecommunications, healthcare, banking and finance sectors. Among its recent highlights is advising Enwell Energy plc, a publicly-traded British oil and gas company, on its up to USD 8.63 million acquisition of Arkona Gas-Energy, a Ukrainian company holding a license to explore, develop and produce hydrocarbons. The firm has notable expertise in banking M&A, and most recently acted as a legal counsel to Withine Investments Ltd (Cyprus), a subsidiary of Smart Holding, on the sale of 100% shares in JSC UNEX BANK to Dragon Capital Investments Limited and Ivan Svitek. The firm further acted on private equity deals. One of the recently accomplished assignments for long-standing client Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Limited (IBRC) includes squeeze-out procedures with respect to Univermag Ukraina, which is an important part of the company’s ongoing corporate restructuring. The sizeable team is guided by four partners. Armen Khachaturyan acts as a lead partner in transactions in banking and energy sectors. Oleg Boichuk is active in real estate and agribusiness, as well as private equity. Oleksiy Demyanenko demonstrated notable activity in technology and investment. Vadym Samoilenko is active in advising healthcare, technology, automotive. Oles Kvyat is active in corporate work. At the beginning of 2022 the big team announced promotion to counsel of Maksym Tereshchuk, Oleksandr Khomenko and Anna Gnyp. Counsel Olena Radko was noted for her high-level M&A performance[1].

Premier national law firm AVELLUM is traditionally seen across market-leading domestic and cross-border transactions, with big-ticket M&A and JVs as its recognized strength. The impressive deal sheet comprises energy and natural resources, finance and investments, agriculture, FMCG and retail, healthcare. Notably, the firm has a reasonable balance of international and domestic clients, and is consistently mandated by international law firms. The firm advised Kaspi.kz on acquisition of 100% shares in Portmone Group by Kaspi Pay; advised Lactalis, a French multinational dairy products corporation, on acquisition of PJSC Bel Shostka Ukraine; acted on a deal that is a landmark one for the domestic retail market, namely advising the Furshet Group on its disposal to Silpo. The team supports big Ukrainian business on outbound investment, and most recently acted as Ukrainian legal counsel to MHP on the acquisition of Braintree Meats Limited, a UK company active in the distribution of meat products in the UK. Furthermore, the team has a strong track record of private equity mandates, most recently advising its long-standing client Diligent Capital Partners acting together with the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank FMO, in connection with the acquisition of a minority stake in leading Ukrainian feed producer Edinstvo Group. During the research period the firm also handled varied pure corporate work for new investors, and continued rendering advice on shareholders’ agreements, compliance, venture capital matters. The corporate and M&A team has an unrivalled reputation on the market. Highly-esteemed Mykola Stetsenko is acclaimed as a top-M&A professional guiding the firm’s headline deals. Yuriy Nechayev constantly leads sophisticated mandates, being endorsed for his result-oriented approach. Andriy Romanchuk is a key counsel with strong visibility and positive feedbacks.

Baker McKenzie combines significant national and international presence, possessing extensive experience in working on cross-border English and US law governed deals. The Kyiv office acts on Ukrainian law matters in the course of multijurisdictional M&A, joint ventures, reorganizations, carve-outs. In light of facilitation of the M&A market in 2021, the firm was mandated for high impact deals across the major sectors in Ukraine, including IT, healthcare, agriculture and oil and gas. Among the recent highlights in its broad M&A pipeline was advising shareholders in Depositphotos, a stock photo content marketplace, on the sale of a 100% stake, including its subsidiary Crello, to VistaPrint, a global printing, design and marketing service provider; acted as the Ukrainian legal counsel to  shareholders in Acino in connection with its sale to ADQ, one of the largest holding companies in the Middle East; acting as the Ukraine legal counsel for Hitachi Ltd on its acquisition of GlobalLogic Inc., a leading multinational digital engineering services company. The team is traditionally mandated to support high-profile deals in agriculture and pharmaceuticals, as well as banking sectors, and is a point of choice for private equity firms. Baker McKenzie advised First Ukrainian International Bank (FUIB) on concluding a preliminary agreement for the purchase of Idea Bank from Getin Holding; advised A.G.R. Group, a private agricultural innovative holding, on the acquisition of two enterprises in Kherson Region from the US company AG Management Group LLC. The versatile practice team is led by dedicated partner Viacheslav Yakymchuk, referred among the strongest professionals with deep personal involvement in sophisticated deals for decades. Olha Demianiuk is constantly named as a highly-experienced professional with particular strength in healthcare M&A. Acknowledged for his extensive track record in oil and gas, infrastructure, PPP, counsel Andrii Moskalyk expanded guidance in notable transactions in IT and financial services sectors. Alyona Furda received additional praise from the market. Olga Gavrylyuk is another important member of the senior team.

СMS is represented through two offices in Ukraine.

CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang has advantages from its English law capability on the ground, running M&A deals in CEE/CIS, Central Asia and beyond from the Kyiv office. Its high- caliber deal history demonstrated one of the busiest years in terms of M&A and high-impact joint ventures, and further advisory on corporate structuring and corporate governance matters. In 2021 the team acted in the highest-profile deals in the telecom sector, having advised Horizon Capital and Datagroup (the latter being Ukraine’s leading fibre infrastructure and digital services provider), on the acquisition of the Volia group of companies, a leading cable and broadband service provider; advised leading mobile operator Vodafone Ukraine and its parent company, Neqsol Holding, on Vodafone Ukraine’s landmark acquisition of Vega Telecom from SCM Group. The team acted for Air Products on a breakthrough industrial joint venture project with ArcelorMittal for the construction of a new modern air separation unit at the ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih steel plant estimated to cost around USD 116 million. Backed by the market leading position in the energy sector, the team is front-running for energy deals, recently advised NAFTA on the acquisition of the remaining stake in a Uzhhorod gas field in western Ukraine; advised CWP Europe on the acquisition of a 73MW wind project that is in development. Tetyana Dovgan is one of the top referred M&A professionals in energy and infrastructure deals. Noted by peers for his deep methodological background, Graham Conlon, an English-qualified corporate and private equity partner, took in a leading role in the multi-jurisdictional work. Vitalii Mainarovych received market feedback for being increasingly prominent in M&A deals in 2021.

The office of CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz maintains the reputation of a go-to law firm for clients from German speaking countries. In addition to general corporate support of international clients in their day-to-day business activities, the firm is called upon for M&A work. In 2021 the office was enlisted to support the acquisition of Ukrainian companies, as well as handling Ukrainian law aspects of global transactions. The establishment of corporate governance mechanisms and corporate restructurings also fall within its remit. The two partners are the key contacts. Maria Orlyk is widely known for her active practice and role in professional community. Anna Pogrebna is another port of call.

The Kyiv corporate and M&A practice of Dentons commands international experience and global network, often being mandated for cross-border M&A, joint ventures, compliance, regulatory. Its industrial expertise spans energy, agriculture, FMCG, life sciences, chemicals, construction materials, IT and technology. The team advised Eksim Yatirim Holding on energy matters related to the acquisition of a wind project in Ukraine; advised Ciklum, a global product engineering and digital services company, on its acquisition of CN Group, a Czech-based software development firm, from Genesis Capital, one of the leading private equity funds in CEE. The team handled advice to a Danish provider of financial services and technologies based on decentralized protocols in relation to the launch of its product in Ukraine, corporate structuring and regulatory framework for business activity. US-qualified partner Adam Mycyk has the reputation of being a strong transactional lawyer, and was highly active across major deals in 2021. Office managing partner Oleg Batyuk is one of the veterans on the market and is noted for his client retention role.

In 2021 the corporate practice of ESQUIRES was focused on outbound investment structuring. The team also renders general corporate support and representation in litigation. The client list, among other clients, includes Alpha Strategies Pte Ltd, Robocash Investment Robot, United Arab Emirates Airlines. Bogdan Prysyazhnyuk is lead partner.

Eterna Law is a popular choice among companies coming from the IT, gambling, real estate, construction, investment industries. The firm has a growing presence on the IT sector, supporting transactions, investment structuring, R&D centers development. The team advised Ukrainian outsourcer Perfectial during its acquisition by Avenga, an international IT group; acted as a legal counsel to Nayax during the audit of operations in Ukraine and on the development of its R&D center; represented ITernal, a company producing complex software solutions, in the course of its sale to US-based UST. The firm advised Bastion Group on acquisitions of corporate rights and real estate in Ukraine of Island Capital and the Sputnik Group of Companies. Oleh Malskyy, corporate and M&A partner, increased his involvement in projects involving venture funds and investments in the IT sector. Artem Kuzmenko led corporate work for clients from gambling and IT. Senior associate Marharyta Tatarova was another active team member. 

EUCON Legal Group acts on behalf of reputable Ukrainian and Polish clients, seeking bilateral market access. The practice benefits from having offices in Kyiv and Warsaw, and gained the reputation of being a legal hub for Ukrainian business in Poland. The focus of the team recently includes international corporate structuring, investment structuring, share deals, and intra-group deals. The firm supported reorganization of its long-standing client Plastics Ukraine and acquisition of LLC Tupleks Ukraine; advised OPOS LLC, a company involved in the export and import of meat, on purchase of shares in a number of agricultural entities. Clients include Kness Development Polska, software developer Reinvestors, Black Sea Commodities Sp. z o.o., Rodina Europe Sp. z o.o., STA Logistic, TWIST ROBOTICS Sp. z o.o. and others. The team further advised Milkiland, one of the biggest dairy producers in Ukraine, and its earlier established Milkiland EU Sp. z o. o. in Poland, on its further international corporate structuring. Partners Yaroslav Romanchuk and Andrii Romanchuk lead the practice from two offices, respectively.

EVERLEGAL, a strong domestic law firm, advises a roster of prestigious Ukrainian and international corporates, handling transactions, corporate disputes and protection of businesses from corporate raids. Its expanding industry focus spans energy, IT, real estate and construction, food processing, investment and private equity. The team is known for its work in the renewable sector, and recently acted for UDP Renewables, one of the largest Ukrainian renewable energy developers on its divestment of 75% in a portfolio of 6 solar power assets in Ukraine to Nebras Power, a global power development and investment company. The transactional portfolio also covered cross-border assignments on acquisition of Ukrainian companies, intra-group transfer of stakes, corporate restructuring. The firm’s standout feature is its engagement in projects on construction and development of innovation parks in Ukraine. Selected client names include Louis Dreyfus Company Ukraine, UNIT.City, the first Ukrainian innovation park, Main Group Europe, China Electric Power Equipment and Technology, Hero Future Energies, etc. Dedicated partners Yevheniy Deyneko and Andriy Olenyuk received praise for their pragmatic approach and performance.

The global name of EY, coupled with multidisciplinary capabilities, is the first port of call for leading foreign and domestic businesses, subsidiaries of multinationals. The Kyiv team renders ongoing corporate advice, corporate secretarial support, intragroup restructuring, and is involved in projects with state-owned and municipally-owned companies on development of their corporate governance and internal control systems. Over the course of 2021, EY assisted Rozetka with a number of matters, including a large-scale intragroup restructuring; acted on transformation of governance system at the National University of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. The Kyiv office confidently expanded its presence on the M&A arena, especially in private equity and venture capital transactions. The team represented its anchor client, Horizon Capital, in acquiring a minority stake in Avrora, the leader in the Ukrainian dollar store market, operating circa 650 stores, and its joint USD 68 million investment with Volition Capital in the Creatio group of companies, an IT product company with worldwide operations originating from Ukraine. The M&A team enhanced its presence in IT, e-commerce, agro, real estate. Noted for involvement in concession projects, Bogdan Malniev is also seen on the M&A front. Partner Borys Lobovyk acts as head of EY’s law practice in Ukraine.

Attorneys’ Association Gestors provides coverage of corporate matters of its established clients, such as PJSC Donetskoblgaz and McDonald’s Ukraine in the course of their activities and various projects. Andriy Tsvyetkov and Vitalii Makhinchuk are lead partners.

GOLAW has a solid corporate advisory practice retained for comprehensive support of foreign companies entering the Ukrainian market, including shareholders’ agreements, distribution of dividends, disclosure requirements, corporate governance. The firm boasts a diverse client base from renewable energy, agriculture, retail, healthcare, IT, telecom, gaming. In a recent highlight the firm supported Mularski Group, a Polish agro holding, on structuring of investments to Ukraine. The team also increased the profile of its transactional engagements – acted for Be’er Itzhak Energy in the purchase of a sunflower seed oil plant. The firm developed its financial restructuring practice, which entails M&A work within comprehensive projects, in particular, it acted for the Export Guarantee and Insurance Corporation (EGAP) in the sale of an elevator complex, which was previously acquired as a result of a foreclosure procedure. Furthermore, the firm advised TIU Canada on the conversion of debt into the share capital of Ecotechnik-Nikopol, a solar power plant. Max Lebedev is lead partner.

Gramatskiy & Partners ensures stable workflow of corporate instructions spanning general corporate matters, corporate compliance and new disclosure requirements, corporate structuring, intra-group transactions, corporate share deals, squeeze-out, corporate governance, privatization. Given strong client adherence in the real estate and construction sector, the firm is often called upon to support transactions in this field. The firm represented Scorpio Real Estate on the USD 160 million sale of Global Space Management Limited and Hyden Investments Limited to a syndicate of private investors. Domestic mid-cap M&A is another area of focus: acting for VPG Agro Plus LLC on the  purchase of corporate rights of Kossack Solar LLC; assisting Arjuna LLC with acquisition of Kachanivsky brick factory LLC in Vinnytsia Region. The firm assisted Plant Quant PJSC with the renewed function of its supervisory board. Yegor Ignatichev is in charge of the firm’s corporate practice. Ernest Gramatskiy guided privatization projects and post-closure work.

In 2021 Ilyashev & Partners expanded its transactional practice catching up M&A, establishment of JVs, corporate restructuring, privatization; shareholder’s agreements and confirmed its front-running dispute resolution handling corporate conflicts and shareholder disputes. The firm added a series of significant M&A in the industrial sector, notably advising Latvian company Lu Invest on the sale of its 49.99% participatory interest in the Ukrainian agro holding Golden Sunrise Agro; represented shareholders of Zavalyevsky Graphite Plant on the sale of 70% of participation interest to the Australian public mining company Volt Resources Limited. The firm advised a consortium of investors UDP and A Development in the process of acquiring a 100% stake in the First Kyiv Machine-Building Plant JSC (formerly the Bolshevik Plant) at a privatization auction. The team also assisted the Kryvyi Rih Cement with preparation and implementation of a road map for its comprehensive reorganization. Notable projects included carrying out due diligence to establish a joint venture called ANTONOV India in the Aerospace Special Economic Zone (SEZ) – Devanahalli Bengaluru with JNR in India. Among the dispute highlights was representing PrJSC Poltava Mining under claims on the invalidation of the sale and purchase agreement of its shares. The practice head is partner Yevgen Solovyov. Leonid Gilevich, counsel, is another key practice name.

The corporate and M&A practice of INTEGRITES expanded its transactional market presence and notably added to its reputational strength. The firm is preferred by foreign companies seeking expansion of business in Ukraine, while this past year the team demonstrated a distinct focus on M&A advice, being mandated for cross-border assignments. Notably, the firm further gained particular experience working with equity investors and investment funds, and enjoyed an increasing following of businesses in Asia. The industry focus of recent transactional work spans the automotive, banking, financial services, IT, technology, renewable energy, agribusiness, real estate and construction, infrastructure sectors. The landmark JV project was advising Kovalska Group, a leading construction materials manufacturer and property developer of Ukraine, on the creation of a joint venture with Unit Holdings on construction of commercial premises at Unit City, the first innovation park in Ukraine. The team represented interests of the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine and state-owned Ukrgasbank on the inclusion of the International Finance Corporation into the bank’s share capital. The team continued acquiring global mandates as a Ukrainian counsel, and advised Logoplaste, Portuguese producer of rigid plastic containers, on the preparation of Ukrainian assets for an IPO; advised Avia Solutions Group on issuance of new shares at group level for the purpose of further expansion on the market. DiDi Chuxing Technology (China), the world’s leading mobile transportation company, hired the team to assist with entering the Ukrainian market and organization of ride-hailing business. Lead partner Illya Tkachuk was increasingly prominent on the M&A front, and received praise for exceptional expertise in general corporate matters and investment funds. Dr. Julian Ries, Munich-based partner, focuses on business development function and acts as lead partner for the firm’s German-speaking clients. The senior team includes Anton Babak, who is focused on transactions; Vasyl Yurmanovych working on corporate assignments; and Inna Kostrytska commanding expertise on stock market regulations.

The Kyiv office of Jeantet, a French law firm, possesses a portfolio of European, particularly francophone clients, catching up queries from general corporate and commercial support, corporate structuring, to divestment and M&A. The team advised French agricultural company Malteurop, the world’s leader in producing of malt, a natural, grained-based ingredient, on the sale of a 100% stake in PJSC Dmytrivka Grain Processing Plant to a Ukrainian agricultural company; arranged full legal advice to French investor Formens, a leader in producing suits for men, with regard to the acquisition of PJSC Berdychiv Clothing Factory from the Romanian shareholder Zigy Kereskedelmi KFT. The team advised Uniferon on the restructuring of its activities in Ukraine and in particular the closing of its water irrigation area of activity. Other recent clients include Dr. Theiss Naturwaren GmbH, Ubisoft, Ateliers de France, Verallia, Alten Group. The corporate practice is headed by partner Bertrand Barrier, supported by the senior team of Anna Bukvych, Olga Galaka and Maria Marunyak.

Odesa-based law firm Jurline has a confident position in Southern Ukraine, which secures long-standing following among respective leaders in infrastructure, transshipment and transportation services, real estate and commercial property, retail, culture and education, wineries. The team is called upon in international corporate structuring, corporate rights acquisition and sale. The area of expertise also encompasses problematic issues of privatization of Ukrainian enterprises and other forms of public-private partnership. Jurline advised Fedcominvest Monaco SAM and Alekszej Fedoricsev on allotment of a new legal entity, TIS-24 Berth LLC from TIS-Container Terminal LLC (now – DP World TIS Pivdenny), to create and develop a separate port facility – the 24th berth in the port of Pivdenny for transshipment services; advised City Initiative Green Theater in connection with the purchase of rights to the buildings and structures of the Theater – one of the most cultural and eventful places in Odesa. Another project to note is the provision of legal support for the opening of the museum-apartment of Mikhail Zhvanetsky, one of the most popular satirical writers in post-soviet countries, as well as the non-government organisation Mikhail Zhvanetsky foundation. TIS-Grain, TIS-Mindobryva, PJSC Odesavinprom, PTK Shabo, Kadorr Group, PJSC Severtrans, PJSC Odesavtotrans, SK Petroleum, Teka (Sarmont group holding), Arus Trade LLC are all notable clients. Volodymyr Zubar and Maxim Kapelist are lead partners.

Kinstellar enhanced its market position after its merger with DLA Piper Ukraine in June 2021. In addition to the big 4-partner corporate and M&A practice, the firm has best friends’ relations with DLA Piper globally. Among distinguished features of the M&A team is an industry focus within the technology sector, strong performance in telecommunications, aerospace and defense areas, infrastructure, energy, consumer goods. The big practice remained active in large multijurisdictional M&A deals, and advised Polhem Infra on the Ukrainian aspects of its SEK 9.4 billion acquisition of the Swedish telecommunication services provider Telia Carrier from the Telia Company; advised Stillfront Group AB, a leading free-to-play powerhouse of gaming studios, on the acquisition of a 100% stake in Game Labs Inc, a rapidly growing independent game studio. Another landmark deal of the past year was the full legal support to 4i Capital Partners, a leading Ukrainian-based private equity firm, on the sale of its controlling stake in the Ukrainian online payment platform Portmone.com to Kaspi.kz, Kazakhstan’s largest financial technology firm. The team was directly involved in major corporate governance reform projects in Ukrainian SOEs supported by international development institutions, continually advising the first-ever independent supervisory board of Naftogaz of Ukraine. Another highlight was a concession of the Black Sea Port of Olvia, where the firm represents QTerminals WLL. The practice is co-chaired by partners Galyna Zagorodniuk and Iryna Nikolayevska. Alla Kozachenko is lead partner for complex cross-border M&A transactions. Olena Kuchynska, Kyiv office’s managing partner, is head of ESG and specializes in complex corporate and corporate governance matters. Anastasiya Bolkhovitinova, counsel, focuses on technology, telecommunications, aerospace and defense.

In addition to its recognized strength in tax, KM Partners has a corporate and commercial advisory practice, and also acts in a due diligence capacity. This past year the firm conducted legal due diligence of an oil-extraction plant and transshipment terminal of vegetable oils and grain products. Among public transactions was representation of IDS Borjomi in the sale of its business on extraction, production, and sale of the natural mineral water under the Truskavetska trademark to Dragon Capital. The firm was also recently involved in business spin-off and property security matters, disclosure requirements. Alexander Minin and Maxim Oleksiuk are lead partners.

Domestic law firm KPD Consulting has a notable following of German business and supports clients in mid-cap transactions, joint ventures, general corporate matters related to their business presence in Ukraine. For example, the team assisted Werner Wirth GmbH (Germany) in founding a joint venture with a Ukrainian partner; represented Linde Material Handling GmbH, KION GROUP AG (Germany) as the seller in M&A transaction with respect to a Ukrainian subsidiary. The firm is customarily active in the real estate sector, and also led M&A in the renewable energy sector. In particular, the practice team supported EEPro GmbH, a company involved in renewable energy development, construction and maintenance, in the acquisition of 4.5 MW renewable energy project in Cherkasy Region, for further development. Vitaliy Patsyuk is lead partner.

KPMG Law often acts as a part of a multi-disciplinary team that is especially called upon by foreign businesses. The firm is traditionally addressed with issues of launch, termination and restructuring of presence in Ukraine, with a growing number of recent queries on UBO disclosure compliance. The team is also regularly enlisted in a comprehensive tax and legal due diligence capacity in the course of anticipated deals. For example, the team conducted legal due diligence of the target in course of acquisition of Vega Telecommunications Group by Neqsol Group; conducted the comprehensive tax and legal due diligence of one of the largest cement plants in Ukraine, which also operated relevant subsoil areas and provided recommendations for the draft SPA (from the buyer’s side). The firm is known for large-scale privatisation projects in its pipeline. The team led a consortium of advisers to the State Property Fund of Ukraine in the course of privatization of the First Kyiv Machine-Building Plant (known as Bilshovyk), as the auction was held on 27 October, 2021. The firm recently supported E-Group to exit the Ukrainian renewables market through the sale of its 50% stake in the operational Ukrainian solar project. Yuriy Katser, director, heads the practice. Oksana Olekhova, partner, advises on tax matters, due diligence and deal structuring. Maksym Zavalnyy and Victor Shekera are key team members.

LCF Law Group continued developing its corporate practice, and was frequently retained by big domestic businesses on corporate reorganizations and governance matters. The team further gained instructions for structuring inbound foreign investment. The firm supported Finance Real s.r.o. on corporate governance matters,  protection of investments in its solar power projects, and new investment structures. First energy cooperative Solar City received assistance with corporate matters. Industry expertise spans renewable energy, gambling, financial advisory, retail. Clients include Fozzy Group, SCATEC Solar Solutions Ukraine, AVK Confectionery, Greenteco SES. Sergiy Benedysiuk is lead partner.

The corporate offering provided by MK Legal Service is focused on comprehensive support of its established clients in telecommunications and HoReCa. The firm handles complex legal support for Gastrofamily, namely Dmytro Borysov’s family of restaurants. For example, it advised on the implementation of an investment project with Dragon Capital — the opening of Lviv Food Market, a new gastronomic location in Lviv; advised on the implementation of cooperation with Kolo mini markets, the Sport Life chain of fitness clubs and the WOG chain of gas stations. The team also advised MHP-Retail LLC, a project of the agro-industrial complex MHP (Myronivskyi Hliboprodukt), on the launch of the Myasomarket chain of stores. Other HoReCa clients include Ukrainian restaurant chain Chernomorka and burger network Yudgin Burger. GigaGroup, an established client of the firm, is a prominent player on the Ukrainian telecommunications and technology market, enlisted the team to advise the launch of a foreign branch of the cloud operator GigaCloud in Poland by transferring assets between non-residents and legalizing activities abroad, etc. Maksym Kurochko, managing partner, is the key contact.

MORIS added significant corporate mandates to its portfolio, including corporate restructuring and governance matters, corporate disputes resolution, and extended its visibility in the M&A market, advising in such industries as mining and natural resources, real estate, food and beverages, agriculture, healthcare. In 2021 the firm was involved in industrial M&A projects; handled comprehensive legal support on corporate restructuring of Ivano-Frankivskcement group of companies; supported Promprylad.Renovation LLC on developing a corporate structure given an innovative mechanism of investment, and its further implementation; advised Invest-Active Asset Management Company LLC in its project to build a modern healthcare center. The team acts for Carton Mill Limited in a settlement of a corporate conflict and assisted with a shareholders’ agreement with the new investor. Maryan Martynyuk is lead partner.

Nobles, a Ukrainian law firm with well-established connections with international law firms, enjoys a strong following of sound brand names, seeking support in M&A, corporate restructuring, shareholder agreements, corporate governance, expansion and outbound investments, setting up joint ventures, including highly cross-border regulated industries, corporate housekeeping. The team is regularly hired to handle the Ukrainian part of multijurisdictional portfolio transactions. In 2021 the team acted as Ukrainian law counsel to Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, a global private equity firm, on acquisition of the Creditinfo Group. The firm further broadened its offering with settlement of corporate disputes. The clients roster spans retail, e-commerce, media, IT, technologies, food and beverages, agriculture, real estate. The practice has two partners on board. Volodymyr Yakubovskyy focuses on the clients from the US, the UK, Australia and Canada, while Alexander Weigelt, a German-qualified lawyer, retains clients from German-speaking jurisdictions.

Pavlenko Legal Group renders corporate structuring, reorganizations, general corporate day-to-day and transactional support. The firm had a stable range of domestic clients, among others, the SvitAgro group of companies, Eridon, Dispomed, TAS Group, PAEK Group, Odesa Film Studio JSC, Data Science UA, Electrum Payment System LLC. Its M&A practice supports domestic mid-cap transactions, establishment of joint ventures, shareholder agreements. In a recent highlight the firm acted on the buyer side when it supported the acquisition of a 100% stake in Iceberg Logistics LLC, which owns a land plot for the construction and maintenance of public buildings for the maintenance of office and warehouse premises; supported the acquisition of a 100% stake in Tesa Plus LLC, which owns a land plot for the construction and maintenance of physical culture and sports facilities. In 2021 the team carried out a series of M&A deals across agricultural machinery, construction, mining, IT, financial services, pharmaceuticals, wholesale trade. Denys Maistrenko is lead partner. Sergii Shepeliak is a key member of the team.

Peterka & Partners, a Czech law firm with offices throughout the CEE region, including Ukraine, commands a database of international clients. The office is retained by CEE clients for corporate matters of their subsidiaries in Ukraine, establishing presence and liquidation, assisting with corporate documents, joint ventures, due diligence within corporate deals. The firm provided complex legal assistance to Mammoet in connection with the title transfer of heavy lifting equipment, related corporate, and tax implications, increase in the charter capital of the Ukrainian subsidiary; comprehensive legal assistance to 3Dees Industries s.r.o., a Czech company selling 3D printing technology, on the establishment of a joint venture with their Ukrainian partner. Clients include the Czech Centre, PEKM Kabeltechnik s.r.o., ACO Industries k.s., Steelcase, Amesz Enterprises, part of AG Recruitment Group, Mekoprint, LUCKBOX. Taras Utiralov, partner and director for the Ukrainian office, leads the corporate practice.

Redcliffe Partners, a Ukrainian law firm with the legacy of having close ties with international law firms, retains a focus on transactional work. The firm secured an inflow of multijurisdictional transactions acting as a Ukrainian law counsel, and also commands English law capabilities on the ground. In 2021 the firm notably increased its workflow of private equity and venture capital, and extended industrial expertise across oil and gas, renewable energy, IT, gaming, agriculture, financial institutions, pharmaceuticals. The M&A team acted as English and Ukrainian law counsel to Nebras Power on its acquisition of a stake in several solar projects operating under the feed-in tariff from UDP Renewables; acted as Ukrainian legal counsel to a US private equity firm Graham Partners, Inc. on its majority investment in BrightSign, the global market leader in digital signage media players. In addition, the team was further mandated for cross-border restructuring and joint venture establishment. The team also demonstrated involvement in privatization projects, and advises the State Property Fund of Ukraine (with Concorde Capital as lead privatization counsel) on the proposed privatization of the President Hotel. English law qualified partner Zoryana Sozanska-Matviychuk heads the M&A practice. Rob Shantz, a US-qualified partner, heads corporate and compliance practices. With extensive involvement in significant oil and gas mandates, founding partner Dmytro Fedoruk guided corporate work in the sector.

Cherkasy-based Rezultat Law Firm assists clients with incorporation and corporate structuring, sale and purchase of corporate rights, including transactions with non-residents. Its clients include Dressler Consulting, Global Berry, Titanium Technologies Group. Liliia Goncharova and Maxim Polishkevych are the main contacts.

The Ukrainian full-service heavyweight Sayenko Kharenko commands a well-balanced practice accommodating corporate and M&A, wealth management and compliance areas. The dedicated team consistently advises on high-stake transactions, supports Ukrainian impact-investment initiatives, and extends its offering beyond transactional work. In a recent highlight the team advised Creatio Inc. in connection with the USD 68 million minority investment raised from the US and European growth equity funds; acted for Volia, a leading Ukrainian Pay-TV and broadband service provider, on the sale of its holding company Volia Limited to Datagroup. The firm historically retains work in banking M&A, and most recently advised Getin Holding S.A. in the course of the sale of Idea Bank Romania Group to BANCA TRANSILVANIA S.A, the sale of Idea Bank Belarus to Belarusian MTBank, execution of the sale-purchase agreement in relation to Idea Bank Ukraine with FUIB. The team was sought after by private equity funds, most recently advising Horizon Capital on the sale of its minority stake in Dobrobut. Additionally, corporate governance matters became a stand-alone offering, marked with supporting the Supervisory Boards of state-owned PrivatBank, Ukreximbank and Oschadbank. Three partners on board the team possesses significant market capacity. Oleksandr Nikolaichyk manages the practice, and is praised for his strong transactional experience. Alina Plyushch is focused on M&A with English law elements and performs deal management function, and also heads the wealth management practice. Vladimir Sayenko is a relationship partner with recognized legacy. Sergiy Kazmirchuk and Dmytro Korbut make up the counsel line. The senior team included Oksana Daskaliuk, Tymur Enkhbaiar, Dmitriy Riabikin and Ilhar Hakhramanov.

The Kyiv brunch of SBH Law Offices, a Belarusian firm, extended its following of IT business and private equity from Belarus. In 2021 the office continued to render advice on corporate structuring matters when the company entered the Ukrainian market, having acted for such companies like Qulix Systems, Expert Soft, Melsoft Games, Currency.com, Zubr Capital. The firm was also active in angel and venture fund investment deals. For example, the office acted for the investor Adventures Lab., a Ukrainian venture capital fund, in the course of investment rounds raised by start-ups Ducky and Narrative. The firm also advised TA Ventures on investing in Ukrainian IT start-ups, as well as on building relationships between investors. In September 2021 the firm opened an office in Cyprus, which is focused on the IT business. Marina Makarova joined to head IT and corporate direction. Alexander Bondar, partner in Belarus, is another key contact.

Sytnyk & Partners assisted foreign companies on their entering the Ukrainian market. It also handled corporate structuring and deals. In 2021 the firm was active in the gaming area, and also represented a major insurance company on closing a new share purchase agreement and shareholder agreement with minority shareholders, post-closing restructuring. Denys Sytnyk is the main contact.

Ulysses Law (previously operated under the brand name Marchenko Partners) focuses on high volume sophisticated transactions, being notably present across mining, energy, construction materials, infrastructure and logistics, agriculture sectors. After representation of DP World in acquisition of a controlling stake in the major Ukrainian stevedoring operator TIS Container Terminal, throughout 2021 the team was involved in post-completion work that included fulfilment of various post-completion obligations by the parties and integration. The firm advised a Mexican boutique investment firm on an acquisition of a mid-sized Ukrainian company operating in the FMCG sector. The firm further took in assignments on corporate restructuring, corporate governance, spin-offs. Selected clients include Holcim, EnergoGroup, Morgan Furniture, Subway. Roman Shulyar chairs the transactions practice and enjoys a strong market reputation.

Wolf Theiss is an entry point for many foreign investors coming to Ukraine, and handles corporate structuring and M&A mandates. The Kyiv team advised Ukrmilkinvest on structuring and introducing a dairy project across Ukraine;  advised DSM Nutritional Products AG on the corporate restructuring of its Ukrainian group companies. The firm acted as a Ukrainian and Austrian law counsel to Uniqa Real Estate on the sale of its Ukrainian subsidiary holding, a 3,690 sq. m. office building in the historic part of the center of Kyiv, to NEST, a leading Ukrainian real estate developer. Managing partner Taras Dumych is the practice head, and has notable experience in corporate governance and transactions.

Arzinger, one of the largest full-service law firms in Ukraine, was noted on the M&A market by representatives of other law firms[2]. The market also notes presence of Law Office of OMP in handling work in the agricultural sector. Deloitte, a member of the “Big Four”, was also noted by market insiders for its presence in legal due diligence work.

 

 

 

[1] She left the firm at the end of 2021 and joined AEQUO.

[2] The firm has not submitted information for the current research.