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.

AEQUO has reinforced its multifaceted IP practice encompassing patents, trademarks, copyrights, advisory and deal support. The team is followed by sound clients from pharmaceuticals and life sciences, agrochemicals, biotech, IT, telecommunications, and media. The firm has strong patent litigation credentials, exemplified with incoming queries for representation and victories in court. In particular, the firm secured two important victories for Darnitsa, the top Ukrainian pharmaceutical firm, in two patent litigation cases against a competitor in the pharmaceutical industry called Zdorovye; successfully represented DuPont, one of the world’s largest chemical companies, in an IP litigation case in court regarding a hostile attempt to invalidate one of its core patents in Ukraine. The team has an active trademark prosecution and litigation practice. The firm represented Bosca Cora in two disputes on trademark protection and invalidation of well-known status to a competing mark; acted for Raiffeisen Bank International supporting registration of trademarks for an innovative project called Fairo neobank in various jurisdictions in accordance with national procedures, as well as the Madrid system for international trademark registrations. Within the framework of the acquisition by Onit Inc, the leading supplier of workflow automation systems, of Axdraft, a SaaS platform for automating legal documents, the firm supported the transfer of rights to IP assets both in Ukraine and abroad. The enviable clients list includes global and domestic leaders, inter alia, Google, Novartis, Sandoz, Philips, Lego, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Dragon Capital, Naftogaz of Ukraine. Since October 2021, IP practice co-heads Nataliya Dryuk and Tetiana Kudrytska have been promoted to partners. Mykola Kovinya is another key figure.

Ante Law Firm advises on brands and trademarks, copyright and related rights – registration, fair usage, transfer of ownership, taxation, protection of IP rights. Given the firm’s presence in the pharmaceutical industry, the team advised the Zdravo company on all IP issues related to the import and sale of medicines, dietary supplements in Ukraine, including contractual support, compliance of advertising, fight with counterfeit products. Furthermore, the firm conducted a preliminary audit of IP rights of NK Ukraine LLC, a group of companies, which develop the DJEK project – software and services for unions of houseowners, housekeeping companies and individuals; acted as legal counsel to Bees Airline LLC regarding the protection of IP rights and registration of trademarks for the newly-created airline. The highlight project of 2021 was continued advisory, clearance of copyright and related rights and creation of contract framework for the Theatre 360 degrees project – creation of a video version of a premier theatrical play called The stone host at the Theatre on Podil, accompanied with music and 3D effects. Kateryna Ishchenko, counsel, heads the practice.

Market heavyweight Asters maintains a longstanding presence on the Ukrainian IP market, acting as a standalone practice and arising from other practices. The offering encompasses trademark and patent rights prosecution, transfer and protection of IP rights, anti-counterfeiting and IP disputes. The firm advised PrivatBank, a leading Ukrainian bank, on patent protection of various computer technologies for the use in banking; advised its consistent client Ferrero, one of the world’s biggest confectionery manufacturers, on combatting illegitimate use of its trademarks on imitations of the client’s famous Ferrero Rocher products; investigating the opponents and combatting the illegitimate selling of imitations of well-known Tic Tac mints and infringing the use of its trademarks. The practice team regularly acts on the IP aspects of corporate deals, IP assignment and licensing. The firm’s extensive client portfolio includes global brands and major companies from a wide range of industries, including agricultural, art, automotive, banking, consumer goods, fashion, foods and beverages, construction, energy, entertainment, IT, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, retail, sports, TMT. To name a few – Biosphere Corporation, INTERCERAMA, Mahle International GmbH, Millennium & Copthorne, Soremartec S.A., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. The team is led by the reputable IP partner Julia Semeniy.

AVELLUM has developed an extensive IP offering encompassing the filing and prosecution of trademarks and patents, IP litigation, contractual issues and IP due diligence within M&A transactions. The firm advises Sulphur Mills Limited, an Indian agrochemical company, the world’s leading manufacturer of sulphur and its formulations, on patent filing and prosecution, trademark searches and filing in Ukraine; represented WIZZ Air, a low-cost Hungarian airline, in a court dispute with the National Intellectual Property Authority regarding registration of the client’s pink color trademark in Ukraine; advising Burning Man Project, an organization that annually plans, manages and arranges the Burning Man festival in northwestern Nevada, in connection with protection of its trademark rights in Ukraine. Being a legal counsel to Kaspi.kz JSC on the acquisition of 100% shares in Portmone Group, the firm performed legal due diligence of Portmone’s IP (including trademarks, web-sites, computer programs and domain names). The team also handled management of a client’s IP portfolios and assignment of IP rights. Clients include sound local and international brands – Roshen Confectionery Corporation, UPL Limited, Kaufland Dienstleistung GmbH, GSH Trademarks Limited, Miniso Hong Kong Limited, Lactalis. The head of the IP practice until February 2022 was Anton Polikarpov[1].

International law firm Baker McKenzie is constantly at the top of the IP market, being well-placed to deliver a full-circle offering, including IP portfolio management, protection and enforcement matters, structuring transactions related to IP assets and negotiating contracts. The Kyiv practice team continued advising BAT Group on all aspects of trademark protection in Ukraine; represented Sberbank in complex trademark litigation proceedings involving three interconnected proceedings regarding invalidation of a list of international and Ukrainian trademark registrations. The global brands prefer to use the firm for designing market entry strategies, trademark enforcement in Ukraine, anti-counterfeiting campaigns. The enviable client bench includes global leaders from IT and technologies, energy, FMCG, fashion and luxury goods, cosmetics, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals. Renowned IP partner Ruslan Drobyazko leads the team. The strong IP team includes Oleksiy Stolyarenko, Myroslava Koval-Lavok, Anton Kapitonenko.

CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang enjoys its international network, as the Ukrainian team covers both domestic and cross-border transactions/assignment, handling transfer and structuring of IP assets, IP aspects of commercial agreements, licensing matters. Most recently the firm supported StakeLogic with proper structuring of its relations with a Ukrainian team of developers, including IP rights matters. The Kyiv team was strengthened with its merger with the top life science and healthcare law experts Danevych.Law, thereby boosting its sectoral offering. The team, as led by Borys Danevych, has been advising Eli Lilly and Company on various IP matters associated with the conduct of clinical trials of their medicines in Ukraine, negotiating with counterparties, introducing amendments to the clinical study agreements in Ukraine, including on IP provisions; provided assistance to Swiss multinational healthcare company Roche with an anti-counterfeiting and anti-illicit trade campaign. Other IP requests handled by the team include privacy/data protection advice, trademark infringement, transactional IP within acquisition deals. The IP practice is led by two partners – Olga Belyakova, who is CEE co-head of the technology, media and communications sector group, and Borys Danevych, head of life science and healthcare practice in the Kyiv office (joined in November 2020).

The global presence of Dentons made it the preferred legal counsel for big multinationals seeking advice on their regional trademark affairs and local IP matters, both non-contentious and contentious. The office advises on trademark protection in Ukraine, copyright, and also assisted with litigation strategies. Furthermore, the firm has a great following from the TMT sector, assisting intellectual property law matters in connection with the contracting of Ukrainian software developers. The practice also covers due diligence and IP elements of transactions supported by the firm. The core figures are Oksana Horban, counsel, and Oleg Batyuk, the Kyiv-based managing partner.

Being an internationally recognized IP boutique, Doubinsky & Osharova is one of the oldest players on the market. As a port of choice for global multinationals and top domestic leaders, the firm is called upon to assist with effective brand strategies and support their enforcement. The firm has exceptional expertise in prosecution, including registration of patents and trademarks as well as in contentious work. One of the core focuses is complex infringement cases in life sciences and pharmaceuticals, as well as in the food and beverages, tobacco, heavy industry. In 2021 the team successfully represented McDonald’s International Property Co., Ltd in a range of cases. For example, a dispute with Ascania-Trading on complete invalidation of the title documents of protection for the Mc’Corn and MacCorn trademarks. The firm is also known for its victories in disputes regarding protection of rights to well-known trademarks for various international and domestic clients and especially for Jack Daniel’s Properties Inc. The past year the firm was successful for R&A BAILEY & CO in a UAH 3.3 million competition case for illegal use by Kotnar-M LLC of the name and the design of liqueurs “O’DAILYS”, which are similar to the name and packaging of BAILEYS liqueurs without the permission of the international company R&A BAILEY & CO. Among other clients to disclose are Amazon, HP, The Coca-Cola Company, Three Bears LLC, Tiffany, Sotheby’s, Trek Bicycle Corporation, American Petroleum Institute, Tupperware. The founding partners, Michael Doubinsky and Irina Osharova, are recognized luminaries. Victoria Sopilnyak is one of the top IP litigators with a strong focus in the pharmaceutical sector. Anton Koval is highly proficient in cases in recognizing trademarks as well-known. Tatyana Shpakovich heads the patent and trademark department. Olga Sopilnyak is the rising practitioner. The team was strengthened by Taras Vishnevsky, who is an experienced IP practitioner.

EUCON Legal Group handles IP rights registration, acting both in Ukraine and internationally. The firm has a roster of long-standing clients that empowered the firm to register its trademarks in Ukraine and other countries, and enforcement and defense. In addition, the team conducted IP due diligence. Clients include Plastics Ukraine LLC, UPme LLC, Tuplex LLC. Patent attorney Tetiana Sventozelska joined as a partner and practice head.

Ukrainian law firm EVERLEGAL is called upon by Ukrainian brands and start-ups, as well as international companies to register, enforce and protect (including in courts) rights to intellectual property objects, unfair competition, preparation of different license agreements. In a recent highlight the firm advised Whirl Software, a large software developer on registration of copyrights for computer programs and registration of a trademark in Ukraine; NARBUTAS International, a Lithuanian-based company with a global outlook, designing and creating furniture for the modern workspace, on unfair competition issues (illegal use of a registered trademark and domain name); UNIT.CITY, the first Ukrainian innovation park on preparing software development and software license agreements. Yuliia Tantsiura heads the IP practice. The practice lead partner is Oleksandr Ruzhytskyi.

The sizeable team at the Gorodissky & Partners IP boutique in Ukraine commanded a substantial workload spanning prosecution and enforcement. The firm was consistently preferred by big multinationals for trademark and patent applications in Ukraine, litigation, assignment of IP rights, tax advice. The firm represents the interests of Facebook, Inc. in a number of lawsuits dedicated to protecting the intellectual property rights to the globally-known Facebook logo as well as LIKE & Thumb Design logo; represented Spartan Race, Inc. in the course of filing a number of trademark applications with the use of the mark SPARTAN RACE in Ukraine. The team was also active in representing pharmaceutical companies in patent infringement cases. Among publishable clients – Instagram LLC, LEGO Juris A/S; Uber Technologies Inc., HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., Amsted Industries Incorporated, The Estate of Marilyn Monroe, Consistex S.A. The firm’s key IP practitioners are Maksym Bocharov, Olena Biloshuk, Maksym Kravchenko, as led by Oleg Zhukhevych[2].

Gramatskiy & Partners handles both non-contentious and contentious IP queries, particularly trademark prosecution, copyright protection of industrial designs, comprehensive franchising and licensing projects. The firm is highly-regarded among software developers, and possesses a respective hands-on IP offering for the IT sector. The firm represented Eastern Beverage Trading LLC in a dispute Jack Daniel’s Properties Inc v. Booklet-South Limited Liability Company, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine and Eastern Beverage Trading LLC, third party – Hetman Research and Production Enterprise LLC, on invalidation of certificates for marks for goods and services. Danfoss instructed the firm to protect its trademarks in the Internet; Labs Technology Services (UK) was supported in its organization of a software development center. Borys Karas and Ernest Gramatskiy are the main contacts.

Ilyashev & Partners benefits from its well-established demonstrable track record, being a renowned litigation firm with IP expertise, supporting clients from aviation, heavy industry, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, software development, show business and TV production. The firm defended the interests of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society in matters on termination of violations related to the use of the Emblem of the Red Cross in the activities of the Medical Center Asklepiy Plus LLC. The team delivered legal support to A Company (Hungary) in its claim to recover indebtedness in accordance with an agency agreement distribution of a film on the territories of CIS states. Another series of cases include protecting the rights of Zaforpo Ventures Limited on the trademarks MEDOFF, МЪРНАЯ, НАША МАРКА, АРКТИКА, ХУТОРОК. In addition, the IP team is enlisted to advise on sponsorship and advertising, licensing, handling IP due diligence. The client list includes Ascania Group, State Enterpise Antonov, Xiaomi, TikTok, Takeda, Kraft Heinz. Dmytro Nikulesko is highly active on the IP disputes scene.

IPStyle Patent Law Company is a domestically and internationally recognized Ukrainian boutique acting across a full range of prosecution, enforcement and litigation. In addition, well-established connections enable the team to act on multijurisdictional IP matters. The firm has actively developed its patent practice, increasing the number of PCT applications filed, as well as protecting the innovations of clients. For example, the team acted for VELTA HOLDING US Inc., RD and Titan Group LLC to develop a patent protection strategy in Ukraine and the US to a technical solution. The boutique is renowned for its long-standing experience of trademark work, with the recent growth in trademark opposition following. In a recent highlight the firm successfully protected BlackBerry Limited in a trademark infringement claim brought by a leading Ukrainian company operating in the energy sector – DTEK Holdings Limited – involving the registered trademark “DTEK” of DTEK Holdings Limited and the client’s “BlackBerry DTEK50” and “BlackBerry DTEK60” smartphone models. Additionally, IPSTYLE is also assisting the client with its anti-counterfeiting strategy. The firm’s extensive caseload includes a variety of cases including transactions with IP rights assignment, copyright and design cases. The team is chosen by a roster of sound names, to name a few, Nova Poshta LLC, Forest Stewardship Council A.C., Consejo Regulador del Tequila, A.C. Mariya Ortynska, managing partner, who is highly visible on the IP market, advises on IP protection strategies. Partner Iryna Ortynska has longstanding expertise in patent enforcement, protection and know-hows.

The IP practice of INTEGRITES is sought after for protection against trademark and patent infringement, IP aspects of various contracts and regulations, acquisition/management/alienation of IP rights. In addition, the firm assists clients with combating gray imports, counterfeit production and registering trademarks with the customs register; use of trademark (logo) in marketing activities in Ukraine. The firm successfully represented the interests of Dominoni, an Italian manufacturer of agricultural machinery, in an unfair competition case. The client base includes renowned names from IT, media and telecommunications, energy retail, pharmaceuticals. The practice is led by Dariya Ganzienko.

Juscutum Law Firm has its sights on advising on IP issues in the technology industry, being enlisted for both contentious, non-contentious and IP contracts matters. The team advised on the development and launch of the first legaltech product, Patentbot, for trademark registration through a bot. In a recent highlight the team handled registration of intellectual property and copyright objects of Eco-Snack LLC and supported a case on unfair competition in Belarus; registration of IP rights for restaurateurs Leonid Ostaltsev (“Veterano”), Dmytro Zakhodyakin (“Bread”), Misha Katsurin (Eastern cuisine restaurant chain); registration of IP rights for the well-known coffee brand Aroma Kava. Furthermore, the team is popular among celebrities and show business people. The firm handled registration of objects of intellectual property and copyright and representation of interests of Oleksiy Durnev, Ukrainian showman and a TV presenter, in court in the case of invalidation of Certificates of Ukraine for trademarks and business support; supported the business activity, registration of IP rights and copyright of Anton Ptushkin, YouTube travel blogger, and the Ukrainian rapper Alyona Alyona. Vladislav Belotsky is lead partner.

In June 2021, Kinstellar acquired DLA Piper Ukraine, preserving “best friends” relations with DLA Piper globally. The team is a point of choice for global multinationals on trademarks searches, filings, developing their filing strategies, managing Ukrainian IP portfolios, as well as IP structuring and IP due diligence within transactions. In 2021, the office rendered IP support to Vista, a world leader in mass customization, with its acquisition of the online graphic design editor Crello and stock photo marketplace Depositphotos; delivered IP support to an Australian-based global software developer Nuix Limited on the Ukrainian IP law implications of its acquisition of Topos Labs; IP support to Stillfront Group AB in the acquisition of Game Labs, Inc. and GameLabs LLC engaged in developing gaming software, and conducted due diligence of the target, prepared and managed the process of IP clean-up. The firm is also called upon to handle enforcement matters, advising on pre-court procedures, customs enforcement, negotiations, cease and desist letters, etc. Counsel Natalia Kirichenko is the head of both local intellectual property and technology practice of the Kyiv office and Kinstellar firm-wide practice.

LCF Law Group developed its IP practice on advisory services, trademark and patent infringements disputes, domain name litigations. The firm develops strategies of IP rights protection abroad and management of IP portfolio, as well as licensing issues, software and mobile applications, parallel import, copyright. Furthermore, the team attracted solid clients from the FMCG, retail, confectionery, technology, fashion industries. Alexander Molotai acted as lead partner.[3]

Legal Alliance Company has a strong industrial focus on providing legal advice to pharmaceutical and other life sciences companies. The firm is called to advise on inventions and utility models, naming of medicines and other products, counterfeit and piracy protection, IP aspects of contractual models, and is highly active across sound representations in trademark and patent disputes. Publishable clients include Movi Health GmbH, Modern Clinics, Inc., Lekhim, US Pharmacia International. The practice is led by Illya Kostin, partner, and Vitalii Savchuk, associate partner.

The rapidly growing Ukrainian boutique firm Mamunya IP has a full-circle offering spanning strategic advice on trademark and patent prosecution, litigation, regulatory advice, matters involving anti-counterfeiting, data protection and matters at the intersection of advertising law and IP. The firm is chosen by top-tier international clients for brand protection strategies and enforcement matters, managing their anti-counterfeiting campaigns, as well as handling multijurisdictional IP disputes as a Ukrainian counsel. The firm renders ongoing support to GoPro, Inc., a well-known American technology company manufacturing wearable action cameras., in trademark prosecution and trademark portfolio management; filing and registration of a number of trademarks in the name of Grupo Bimbo, S.A.B. de C.V., a Mexican multinational bakery company, managing its trademark portfolio and representing before the Ukrainian PTO and the National Intellectual Property Office. The firm’s expertise of patent matters is one of the team’s strong competitive advantages. The firm successfully represented Synthon B.V., an international, science-centered pharmaceutical company specialized in developing and manufacturing high-quality generic and hybrid medicines, in a litigation case aimed at invalidation of the opponent’s patent for medicinal product for treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. The boutique has rapidly expanded its client base, which includes Jeunesse Global Holdings, Mistral Capital Management, Jelly Belly Candy Company, CO 100% life, Finik.Pro, Donelli Vini. The firm has two dedicated partners, Оleksandr Mamunya and Ganna Prokhorova, both of whom are highly active in high-profile cases.

MK Legal Service provides an IP offering across the key sectors of its clients’ presence – IT, telecommunications, media, advertising, retail, HoReCa. The firm represented BIGMAG, a chain of stores for repairing and selling Apple equipment and accessories, in a peaceful settlement of the incident with McDonald’s Ltd due to the client’s improper use of the TM “Big Mac”. Franchising is a significant part of firm’s workload. The team acted for GigaGroup, a prominent player on the Ukrainian telecommunications and technology market, on development of a legal scheme for launching franchises in Europe for its own business. The firm is sought after by a range of HoReCa clients, ensuring IP assistance. In particular, the dedicated team assists Gastrofamily, Dmytro Borysov’s family of restaurants, with franchise matters; IP issues in the course of development of a series of marketing programs together with Mastercard, as well support for resolving a conflict regarding the illegal use of the client’s trademarks. The firm also delivered comprehensive legal support to Chernomorka, a Ukrainian chain of restaurants, protecting the intellectual component of this business. Maksym Kurochko, managing partner, is the key point of contact.

The intellectual property practice of Nobles was established with the arrival of the team, as led by Oleksandr Aleksyeyenko from Marchenko Partners, in autumn 2021. The team is retained for multidisciplinary cases, including issues at the intersection of IP and antitrust, resolution of domain name disputes (via newly available UDRP for Ukraine), assistance with developing IPR strategies, and also developed a new offering, using criminal law tools to oppose IP rights infringements (including illegal parallel import and unfair/abusive registrations of IP rights with Ukrainian patent authorities). The IP team advised Carlsberg Ukraine, part of the Carlsberg Group, one of the world’s leading breweries with a large portfolio of beer and other beverage brands, on a potential unfair competition case. The firm’s clients include Carlsberg, EVER Neuro Pharma, NEXT Retail, NEXT PLC, Matrize Handels, Growth Technologies, MHP. Oleksandr Aleksyeyenko is lead partner and head of the IP and antitrust and competition practices.

As the preferred IP counsel for over 100 famous multinational brands, Pakharenko & Partners is a top reputable IP firm providing support for obtaining IP rights to patents, utility models, industrial designs, trademarks, plant varieties and other IP rights subjects, enforcement at the customs border and in court cases within administrative, criminal and commercial proceedings. The firm possesses highly successful border protection practice, and is one of the to-go teams for arranging anti-counterfeiting campaigns. A highlight project related to enforcement of rights of a regular client, a US-based multinational producer of sportswear and footwear, was carried out in cooperation with the police and was considered in court for more than two and a half years. Furthermore, the firm acted in the interests of a regular client, one of the largest European pharmaceutical companies with a portfolio of more than 140 different medical drugs, a project was carried out related to court protection of a client’s trademark rights in the case regarding the invalidation of the entire certificate of Ukraine for a mark for goods and services. Managing partner Antonina Pakharenko-Anderson is a recognized authority with vast experience in the field of IP covering all issues of strategy and tactics of acquisition and protection of IP rights in Ukraine and around the world. Alexander Pakharenko is a leading expert in anti-counterfeiting and judicial protection of rights, both within the country and at the border as far as customs procedures are concerned. Elena Shamrina provides support in IPR registration issues, licensing, assignment of IP rights, copyright and related rights, customs and contract law.

Peterka & Partners advises on IP rights creation, protection, exploitation and enforcement. The Ukrainian office successfully represented Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac (BNIC), an authority authorized to protect French geographical indications outside France, in registering the French “Cognac” geographical indication with the Ukrainian Customs Register of Intellectual Property Rights and on protection in Ukraine of the “Cognac” geographical indication; legal assistance to a French government agency called Institut national de l’origine et de la qualité (INAO), in initiation of a court proceedings on invalidation of the “Montelly” trademark which is very similar to the French “Monthélie” geographical indication. The firm handled complex legal assistance to 3Dees Industries s.r.o. in registering 3Dees trademarks in Ukraine. The senior team includes Stanislav Koptilin and Yuliia Sereda. Taras Utiralov is lead partner and the main point of contact.

Rezultat Law Firm, which is based in Cherkasy, provides for advisory on IP rights protection and use, dealing with trademark and patent prosecution, copyright on software and algorithms. In addition, the firm has established offerings for IT companies. In particular, it handles trademark prosecution in the EU, UK, USA, Georgia, and also deals with subsequent opposition. In 2021 the firm represented AnyML in its application to register a copyright to an algorithm with the United States Copyright Office; supported Snack Family in obtaining a patent on industrial design; assists DEVrepublik, an on-line IT education school, in trademarks prosecution in Latin American nations. Liliia Goncharova is the practice head.

Sayenko Kharenko rapidly expanded its sizeable IP practice and versatile offering, including national and international IP matters. The firm is enlisted by the leading brand owners for managing complex IP portfolios, developing design and branding strategies, negotiating IP agreements, and is particularly referred for its strengths in complex IP disputes. In a recent highlight the firm represented the Scotch Whisky Association in opposing several Ukrainian trademark applications and against unfair competition; acted for Bayer on protection of infringed IP rights to an invention; successfully defended the interests of Bacardi & Company Limited at the Supreme Court in an unfair competition case concerning a look-alike of Martini Bianco; advising Luigi Lavazza in two design patents invalidation actions due to infringement of its trademarks. The IP team has successfully defended the interests of Ukrainian scientists-inventors and obtained in court the collection of royalties running to several million hryvnyas. Furthermore, the team is enlisted to assist with combating parallel imports, unfair competition, IP due diligence and related aspects of M&A supported by the firm. With the firm’s flourishing presence in the IT sector, it possesses sector specific IP advice. The practice is led by well-known litigator Yaroslav Ognevyuk. The senior team includes Oleg Klymchuk and Pavlo Kovalchuk.

The Kyiv office of SBH Law Offices has a well-established following among IT companies, ensuring their incoming IP queries. The firm advised iLogos Game Studios on IP issues in Ukraine, software development and transfer of intellectual property rights in software; conducted legal due diligence (including IP aspects) of the Project Wave group of companies on the side of the Softline – international IT company. The practice was strengthened with the arrival of Alexander Padalka, a well-known IP practitioner. Marina Makarova is the head of the IT and corporate front in Ukraine.

Synergy IP Law Agency, a Ukrainian boutique, lauded for its consistent support with registration of IP objects, was enlisted to advise on business transactions with intellectual property and to develop strategies on the protection of IP rights under pre-trial and court procedure. The agency possesses recognized expertise in tax, structuring of assets and development of tax models using IP objects, and is notable for supporting IT- and Internet-projects. In 2021, the company filed about 800 applications for the registration of trademarks in Ukraine and abroad. It also handled opposition cases. Its clients include Rozetka.ua – the biggest Ukrainian online-store, Fozzy Group, Fonbet Corp., National Complex Expocentre of Ukraine (VDNH), Prom.ua, Favbet group of companies. The firm represented Animagrad LLC and KRUNMER Holdings Limited on protection of IR rights, against violators of rights for TM Mavka, which used the word Mavka in domain names, on web-sites, Facebook, Instagram in their logos and on goods. Both partners Viktoriia Ostapchuk and Anna Kravchuk are active in the IP community.

The Kyiv office of Wolf Theiss is particularly noted for IP matters within contracts in the IT sector and for transactional IP within M&A transactions. Over the last couple of years, the team became a point of choice for foreign IT companies, most recently having advised Elopage, a German software developer, and Stuzo, a US software developer, on IP issues arising out of their relations with Ukrainian IT specialists. The firm advised Nvidia, an American technology company designing graphics processing units for the gaming and professional markets, on their contracts, particularly with respect to IP rights, and on related cross-border issues; advised Maxbet on issues related to the transfer of domain names and purchase of trademarks in Ukraine, revising relevant IP transfer and licensing agreements. The office’s managing partner, Taras Dumych, is the main contact.

The partners of the IP practice at Arzinger, Kateryna Oliinyk and Taras Kyslyy, are consistently noted by the market for their extensive practices.

 

 

 

[1] Anton Polikarpov established Polikarpov Law Firm in March 2022.

[2] Since the russian invasion, major parts of the team of Gorodissky in Ukraine halted further cooperation with the russia-based company and quit the firm. The team of lawyers and patent attorneys continues to operate under the brand ADVANCE PARTNERS, which is headed by Oleg Zhukhevych.

[3] In January 2022 he established Molotai & Partners.