Military law addresses the rights, duties, and responsibilities of military personnel, issues related to military command, economic and business activities of military units and organizations; mobilization and military registration. Legal services in the defense sector encompass a wide range of areas, including regulatory compliance, security clearances, government contracts, export controls and sanctions, cybersecurity and data protection, intellectual property, etc.
ADVANQ is well-versed in the complexities of public defense procurement and provides comprehensive legal support for both emergency defense contracts and long-term procurement and logistics agreements, ensuring regulatory compliance and strategic guidance throughout the process. The firm provides ongoing legal support to Valtex LLC, a Ukrainian manufacturer specializing in the production of specialized footwear for state organizations, including the National Guard of Ukraine, State Border Guard Service, State Emergency Service of Ukraine, and rail operator JSC Ukrzaliznytsia, to secure contracts through public procurement processes. The team also assisted a number of clients, including UNITECH-UKRAINE LLC, a Ukrainian company specializing in the production of spare parts for military transport vehicles, in obtaining critical enterprise status and securing military reservation of employees. Olga Gonchar and Daria Kotova are the main point of contact.
ARMADA developed strong capabilities in supporting enterprises through the process of obtaining critical industry status and reserving employees under martial law. The team advises major national companies and international entities on the management of military records, compliance with mobilization regulations, and military transport obligations. In 2024, services related to employee reservation and critical enterprise status have become a regular part of the firm’s practice. The firm also provided consultations for veterans, assisting with status recognition, access to benefits, and protection of their rights under current military law. Anastasiia Luuk, partner, and Iryna Zinchenko, counsel, are the main contacts.
The dedicated military and defense industry group at Asters provides legal support to both international and local clients on a wide range of issues arising under martial law, including mobilization, employee reservation, and military registration. The team advises on defense procurement procedures, export controls, and regulatory restrictions related to the supply of military goods and services into Ukraine. It also supports clients involved in demining activities, offering guidance on accreditation, financing, and procurement. The team provides pro bono legal assistance to Tech Force in UA (TFUA), an association that brings together leading private military technology companies, on issues of martial law, public advocacy and representing its members in dialogue with the government. During the research period, the firm’s client portfolio boosted with assignments from the defense tech actors. The multidisciplinary team is headed by partner Yuna Potomkina (interaction with state authorities and alternative dispute resolution), and counsel Anton Sintsov (international regulation, trade and export control). Other partners involved in fronting the projects are Oleksiy Demyanenko and Vadym Samoilenko, and firm’s BD partner Tetiana Tyshchenko.
AVER LEX has established a dedicated practice to resolve legal issues of members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and their families, including matters related to military service, compensation for injuries or death, establishing legal facts in court, and defense in military criminal cases (handled pro bono). The firm supports efforts in collaboration with the Coordination Headquarters to secure the release of military and civilian captives and locate missing persons, working in coordination with state institutions and families. This work includes providing legal assistance in criminal proceedings, preparing numerous appeals, and maintaining continuous engagement with the families of detainees and the disappeared. Vitaliy Serdyuk, senior partner, represents the interests of families of missing and captured servicemen, and in criminal proceedings and urgent legal actions. Among those provided with legal assistance are families of foreign citizens who have come to the defense of Ukraine. The practice is led by Andriana Fozekosh, with Vladyslav Ignatyev, Volodymyr Malysh, and Kateryna Pugach.
Ilyashev & Partners provides legal support related to Ukraine’s martial law, including representation in military administrative cases, labor issues, and employee reservation procedures. It also assists families of fallen soldiers in securing financial support, with all services for military personnel and their families offered pro bono. The firm provides legal assistance to employees of the Northern Regional Office of the Norwegian Refugee Council in Ukraine on issues related to mobilization legislation. The team also advises on cross-cutting areas such as public procurement, cybersecurity, export control compliance, representation in administrative investigations, and intellectual property within the defense context. The firm renders pro bono legal assistance to State Enterprise Plant 410 Civil Aviation with the aim of bringing to justice officials of non-resident companies who grossly violated the terms of foreign economic contracts and recovering funds in favor of state-owned enterprise. The international arbitration team has a busy pipeline of disputes involving debt recovery under military goods sale contracts, non-performance of supply agreements, and the enforcement of arbitration awards in foreign jurisdictions. Roman Marchenko, senior partner, oversees the practice.
INTEGRITES offers multidisciplinary support to the defense sector, with a focus on the regulatory framework of martial law. It advises a wide range of corporate clients on maintaining employee military records, reserving key personnel from conscription, and meeting other legal obligations during martial law. The firm provided pro bono legal assistance to a severely injured war veteran who was denied rightful military compensation. The firm acted as Ukrainian law counsel to KNDS, a major German-French defense manufacturer, on the establishment of a joint venture with a Ukrainian partner for the maintenance, refurbishment and overhaul of Gepards, which are self-propelled anti-aircraft guns. The firm also acts as an arbitration counsel in the international arbitration proceedings involving defense contracts. The key practitioners guiding the projects are partners Illya Tkachuk (corporate and M&A), Oleksandr Onishchenko (litigation), Olena Perepelynska (international arbitration), and counsel Inna Kostrytska (employment).
Kinstellar advises global defense contractors and military tech companies on joint ventures with Ukrainian state-owned enterprises, procurement, export controls, and regulatory compliance, supporting foreign clients in navigating Ukraine’s defense sector, including sales contracts and investment structures. Among the highlights of the team’s work is assisting KNDS, the Franco-German military land systems manufacturer, in establishing a subsidiary in Ukraine to support cooperation between the Ukrainian government, the Ukrainian armaments industry and KNDS in equipment maintenance, production of spare parts and ammunitions, and advised on export control and other regulatory requirements (e.g. advertising on munitions, certification of weapons). The firm also provides legal support to BAE Systems, the world’s largest aerospace, defense and information security companies, in connection with its operations in Ukraine. The team also provides legal guidance on employers’ mobilization-related obligations, employee reservation procedures, and cross-border travel under wartime regulations. It also assists in securing critical enterprise status and interpreting social guarantees for families of those serving in the military. The multidisciplinary practice is led by four partners: Anastasiya Bolkhovitinova heads defense and security sector and fronts corporate mandates; Daniel Bilak is involved in GR; IP partner Natalia Kirichenko acts on defense tech assignments. Counsel Maksym Tesliar covers employment matters.
Miller Law Firm is actively expanding its military law practice, offering comprehensive legal support to service members, veterans, defense-sector companies, and state-affiliated entities. The firm handles landmark cases at the intersection of human rights, national security, and criminal law. One notable highlight is the defense of Colonel Illia Lapin, who was secured from custody while contesting charges of negligence and unauthorized retreat by emphasizing the operational necessity to preserve troops under overwhelming enemy force in Kharkiv. Beyond litigation, the firm advises on mobilization and military compliance. It also represents Ukraine’s largest drone manufacturer, defending it against overreach by law enforcement. The practice is led by senior associates Anna Kalynchuk, Illia Vorobiov, and Viacheslav Kolomiichuk, and is strongly shaped by the personal and professional experience of Masi Nayyem, a combat veteran, lawyer, and co-founder of the firm.
MORIS provides legal support to a broad spectrum of clients in the defense sector, including the highest military command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (in retirement), active servicemen and their families, mil-tech start-ups, international corporations, and state arms manufacturers. Its services cover military criminal defense, business establishment and operation, intellectual property protection, compliance for dual-use goods, demining regulations, and martial law. The firm advises a key Ukrainian military unit on establishing its legal service during its transformation from a brigade into a corps-level formation — one of the first wartime restructurings within the National Guard under Ukraine’s ongoing military reform. As a partner of the #SaveUkraineNow Coordination Center, the team provides legal support for the procurement, import, and delivery of critical military equipment, including drones and anti-drone systems, electronic warfare and reconnaissance systems, and communication equipment. The firm also provides legal assistance in a big number of cases with reference to the fallen soldiers of the Azov Brigade. The team has expertise in military criminal defense. For example, it represented Bohdan Krotevych in initiating criminal proceedings over alleged military negligence during the defense of Mariupol, successfully appealing against the State Bureau of Investigation’s inaction and securing a court order to open the case. The team also contributes to legislative initiatives, including efforts to re-establish the military justice system and improve legal protections for the families of fallen defenders. The team includes Andriy Savchuk, partner, Artem Luchnikov, special advisor, Major General of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (at reserve), Olga Gryshchenko, counsel.[1]
Sayenko Kharenko provides comprehensive legal support to domestic and international defense and dual-use technology companies operating in Ukraine. The firm advises on market entry, operational support, risk mitigation, and strategic partnerships. The team developed its expertise in defense procurement, technology transfer, and supply chain operations. During the research period the firm provided legal guidance to D3 throughout their investment in a Ukrainian start-up focused on developing and producing stealth drone technologies. It also advised Avia Ventures, Ukraine’s first licensed provider and future manufacturer of Bayraktar TB2 and Akıncı UAVs, on tax and regulatory matters related to its operations under the 2022 Ukraine – Turkey Framework Agreement, including VAT and CIT risks, investment project registration, and competition law compliance. Partners leading respective projects are Vitaliy Odzhykovskyy (tax), Oleksandr Nikolaichyk (corporate and M&A), and Oleg Klymchuk (IP).
Antika Law Firm advises on military law and defense industry matters, including regulatory compliance, defense procurement, and government contracting. Its work also covers legal support related to export controls, customs-related matters, and cross-border defense transactions. Under martial law, the firm provides guidance on mobilization procedures, military service registration, deferments, and employee reservations. The team has built practical experience in navigating the legal complexities of defense supply chains and state contracting, with recent focus being on executing contracts with foreign manufacturers. Dr. Oleksiy Kot, senior partner, is the key contact.
Gramatskiy & Partners has a focus on complex contracting, regulatory compliance, and certification processes under both Ukrainian and international standards. In 2024, the firm advised on the intersection of military needs and private sector capabilities, including structuring a non-commercial equipment rental agreement for a Ukrainian military engineering unit under martial law. It supported a multinational defense technology project involving drone systems, providing legal guidance on export control compliance, IP-sharing, and certification under Ukrainian and NATO standards. The team also represented clients in procurement negotiations with the Ministry of Defense, addressing contract risks, anti-corruption safeguards, and blockchain-based accountability mechanisms. Volodymyr Dziadevych is the key executive. Ernest Gramatskiy and Denis Boginych are involved in fronting projects.
KM Partners provides legal advice on military registration, mobilization, obtaining critical enterprise status, employee reservation, and vehicle mobilization. They assist with document preparation and communicating with the Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Centers on these matters. The firm is particularly known for its tax advice, most recently having advised on military transport duty. Alexander Shemiatkin is lead partner.
KPMG Ukraine advises international defense companies, particularly European producers, on entering the Ukrainian market and structuring their operations in compliance with national security and regulatory requirements. Its services include support with joint ventures, corporate structuring, licensing, and drafting contracts, etc. The team also provides legal guidance on contracts within Ukraine’s defense sector. Yuriy Katser, director, and Bogdan Shyshkovskyi, senior counsel, are the key contacts.
MK Legal Service provided legal support on mobilization and employee reservation, securing critical infrastructure status, launching defense manufacturing and tech ventures, as well as participating in tenders and public procurement processes. Given the firm’s active involvement in advising the IT sector, the team is vivid in defense tech, and most recently rendered legal support of business launch of IT start-up Arms Club for the production and sale of FPV drones. Maksym Kurochko, managing partner, is the main point of contact.
NOBLES advises on martial law and mobilization regulations, including employee reservation procedures, proper maintenance of military records, and legal responses to requests from state authorities. The firm also supports clients in obtaining recognition as enterprises critical to the national economy. Its work recently expanded to include corporate structuring and joint venture support within the defense sector. Alexander Weigelt acts as lead partner.
Our market research highlights law firms which, despite not submitting information for the current study, are vivid in practicing military law and advising the defense industry.
Ukrainian law firm AEQUO*[2] is a visible market player in the defense industry, being noted for its significant corporate mandates, and presence in the defense tech field. According to public sources, the firm advised military tech start-ups with a focus on developing drones on various commercial, regulatory, and IP matters. Partners Michael Lukashenko is visible in the defense sector.
Arzinger* is mentioned with respect to its expertise in related IP and export control matters. Vasil Kisil and Partners* was referred for representing the interests of military personnel, and assisting foreign companies entering the Ukrainian defense market.
[1]Managing partner Andriy Romanchuk has officially become a military personnel of the 2nd Khartia Corps in November 2024.
[2]The firms marked with asterisk (*) have not submitted information for the current research.