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- Law Firms Profiles
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- Archive
- Dmytro Aleshko (LA Law Firm)
- Tetyana Gavrysh (ILF)
- Andrii Gorbatenko (LA Law Firm)
- Andriy Guck (Ante Law Firm)
- Oleksandr Mamunya (Mamunya IP)
- Vitalii Savchuk (LA Law Firm)
- Victoria Sopilnyak (Doubinsky & Osharova)
- Olha Sviatenka (Baker McKenzie)
- Igor Svitlyk (Dentons)
- Alla Tsymanovska (Ilyashev & Partners)
Asters advises pharmaceutical/biotechnology and medical device manufacturers and suppliers on a large variety of Ukrainian law matters, providing multidisciplinary approach that utilizes high-profile regulatory, antitrust and commercial practices, IP issues, cross-border trade and customs, anticorruption compliance. The firm traditionally acts as a legal counsel to IFIs providing finance to Ukrainian pharma sector in wartime, and advises on corporate deals in the sector. The further scope of expertise encompasses product liability matters, clinical trials, donation of pharmaceutical products in Ukraine. The team advised Leda Health Corporation, an American digital health company dedicated to revolutionizing sexual assault prevention, on donation of emergency contraception pills to victims of sexual violence, as well as rape kits for collection of evidence from sexual assault cases. During the research period the team assisted Management Sciences for Health, a global health non-profit organization implementing the Safe, Affordable, and Effective Medicines for Ukrainians (SAFEMed) Program in Ukraine, with regulatory, corporate, antitrust, tax, labor and real estate aspects in connection with reorganization of State Enterprise Ukrmedpostach of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, a strategic supplier to the Ukrainian medical system; represented Novo Nordisk A/S and Novo Nordisk Health Care AG before the courts challenging the AMCU decision to impose the highest fine in the series of pharma cases; assisted Pharmagate in protecting its trademarks by successfully challenging unauthorized use and securing the taking down of a domain name, preventing customer confusion and safeguarding the client’s reputation on the market. The firm’s partners, namely Vadym Samoilenko (corporate), Julia Semeniy (IP), and Igor Svechkar (competition) lead sectoral clients through their respective assignments.[1]
Baker McKenzie’s Kyiv office provides comprehensive legal counsel to multinational pharmaceutical and medical device companies engaged in research. The firm specializes in high-value services, including complex transactions, tax, intellectual property, antitrust, and compliance investigations. Known for its expertise in handling significant sector-specific transactions, including global deals, and supporting major local pharmaceutical firms with their international investment strategies, the team is also assigned for providing advice on tax and legal ramifications in relation to the operating model in Ukraine, including challenges posed by wartime and martial law limitations; competition law issues which may arise relating to various arrangements with its distributors in Ukraine; trademark and patent protection; extensive scope of regulatory matters, among others, clinical trials. Olha Sviatenka is a regulatory lawyer specializing primarily in healthcare matters. Partner Viacheslav Yakymchuk took over the leading role on M&A deals in the healthcare sector. Other partners leading assignments are Oleksiy Stolyarenko (IP), Oksana Simonova (antitrust), Hennadiy Voytsitskyi (tax), Mariana Marchuk (labor), and others.[2]
LA Law Firm (previously – Legal Alliance) is a specialized firm with a distinctive focus on pharmaceuticals and the healthcare sector, supporting domestic and global players in Ukraine, and notably in Central Asia. The firm is endorsed for extensive regulatory expertise and a comprehensive offering spanning corporate, antitrust and commercial practices, intellectual property, etc. The team is regularly assigned by international organizations. The firm most recently rendered legal support to an international project on technical assistance to the Government of Ukraine, the Ministry of Health to increase the transparency of the pharmaceutical system in Ukraine, having advised on the establishment of the National Medicines Verification System in 2023. Another regulatory highlight includes participation in the preparation of drafts of normative legal acts regarding the development and implementation of the medical devices reimbursement system in Ukraine. During the period under research the firm represented a group of pharmaceutical companies in an investigation and contributes to the development of anti-counterfeiting procedures for pharma companies and law-enforcement agencies in Ukraine; assisted with licensing agreements for the use of a dossier on medicines for one of the biggest pharmacy chains in Ukraine; legal support of a global pharmaceutical company for the transfer of IP rights due to expansion of the sales markets in the Baltic States; assisted with the placing on the market the Stethophone medical device in Ukraine; advised a global pharmaceutical company on the restructuring of its business in Kazakhstan. The solid client base includes Abbott, Adamed, Delta Medical, Dila Laboratory, EVER Neuro Pharma, GSK, Jadran, J&J, Lekhim, KRKA, Meda, Movi Health, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi, Servier, Takeda, Zentiva and others. The practice has three partners on board – Dmytro Aleshko (corporate, regulatory), Andrii Gorbatenko (antitrust and competition) and Vitalii Savchuk (IP, employment).
Ante Law Firm has a robust client base from the pharmaceutical sector. The practice workload for the research period encompasses antimonopoly investigations, commercial and corporate transactions, IP issues, labor and regulatory consultations. The firm represented Sanofi-Aventis Ukraine in a dispute with its distributor regarding supplying of vaccines and in a precedent-making investigation against the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, which resulted in recognizing of the ministry’s violations while forming the nomenclature for Gaucher disease medicines. During 2023 Ante supported a few pharmaceutical companies – AbbVie, Sanofi-Aventis Ukraine LLC, Opella Healthcare Ukraine, Perrigo Ukraine, Harwind – in obtaining the status of critical companies for the Ukrainian economy and reserve of employees from military service; supported Zdravo within a few procurement claims procedures. Other clients include Aristo, Acino, Zdravo, Pharmway. Andriy Guck is highly-active across pharmaceuticals sector matters.
Dentons’ life sciences and healthcare group in Ukraine provides guidance to both local and multinational companies within the sector on regulatory compliance, corporate mergers and acquisitions, employment, taxation, and commercial matters. The firm advised Farmak, Ukraine’s leading pharmaceutical company, on a series of strategic acquisitions from a portfolio company of the Novator private equity house. The firm renders support on daily legal matters, for example, due diligence of and review of contracts with suppliers, review of promo materials. The dedicated team offers specialized expertise on biobanking and the regulation of biobanks in Ukraine, addresses regulatory requirements for innovative medical devices and software as medical devices, provides guidance on clinical trials, and navigates data protection and data privacy, as well as public procurement. The advisory team for life science clients is guided by Volodymyr Monastyrskyy, partner, and Igor Svitlyk, counsel.
Doubinsky & Osharova, a prominent Ukrainian IP boutique, specializes in handling complex infringement cases within the life sciences and pharmaceutical sectors, being especially endorsed for representing original pharmaceutical producers. The agency represented Sandoz Pharmaceuticals AG in terms of concluding a peaceful settlement where AstraZeneca recognized its rights to a patent; supported Lekhim LLC in a filing for the cancellation of an opponent’s similar trademark registrations in Ukraine, which was amicably resolved with a settlement agreement. Victoria Sopilnyak is recognized for her extensive experience representing clients in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors.
Ukrainian law firm ILF historically advises various landmark projects in the healthcare sector. The firm works closely with medical institutions of various forms of ownership and, in particular, supports the economic activities of hospitals, provides advice on current issues to management teams, drafts contracts and helps with implementation, and acts as legal advisers to healthcare transformation projects. During the research period the team advised territorial community leaders and municipal healthcare institutions on developing healthcare systems, healthcare worker compensation, and implementing collective agreements, funded by the International Renaissance Foundation; assisted individual entrepreneurs and municipal non-profit enterprises with obtaining and amending medical practice licenses. The team is currently actively involved in a project aimed at increasing the transparency of the National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU), developing procedures for monitoring compliance with healthcare service contracts, and drafting amendments for more effective cooperation between the NHSU and healthcare providers, with an updated system set for launch nationwide in 2024. The firm is notably involved in developing the Concept for the Restoration of the Ukrainian Healthcare System in De-occupied Territories. Olexiy Holovin, senior associate, curates the firm’s practice. Tetyana Gavrysh, managing partner, plays an influential role in transformative healthcare projects across Ukraine.
Ilyashev & Partners handles a wide range of legal services in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors, including intellectual property, antitrust, public procurement, regulatory matters for pharmaceutical companies, and representing both patients and healthcare institutions in high-profile claims. The team defended Macleods Pharmaceuticals’ rights to the “Solargin” trademark in Ukraine by developing a defense strategy for its distributor, Farmatrade, against Farmak JSC’s claim of trademark similarity with its drug “Sargin”, as both contain arginine; advised Biopharma Plasma LLC on challenging tender documents within the framework of the procurement announced by Lviv Regional Clinical Hospital. The healthcare practice has a solid portfolio of cases of representing private clients against private clinics in connection with inadequate provision of medical services and clinical negligence. Among other highlights were advising the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) on the Ukrainian legal framework related to sexual and gender-based violence, and on the legal regulation of the Mobile Medical Teams program established by the URCS to support primary healthcare centers with family doctors. The team has experience in advising on clinical trials. For example, it advised PRESSI LLC on conducting clinical trials, drafting documents for cooperation with a medical institution for the purchase (receipt) of biomaterials. The firm currently supports Zelena Dibrova Children’s Sanatorium in a case regarding environmental pollution of the territory of the children’s sanatorium as a result of waste water discharges by Terrrafood LLC. Olena Sereda acts on IP protection cases in the pharma sector, and Alla Tsymanovska leads the high-profile medical cases.
The Kyiv office of Kinstellar advises international pharmaceutical, biotechnology, healthcare and medtech companies, distributors, international organizations on a broad spectrum of services; particularly regulatory and compliance, antitrust, corporate and M&A, IP, data protection. The firm also advises on commercial practices and distribution of pharmaceuticals in Ukraine, and on public procurement issues. The firm’s multidisciplinary team is often assigned to act at the intersection of technology and healthcare matters. Among recent highlights are giving advice to Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc on local requirements to dispensing investigational medicines, including from abroad to Ukraine, dealing with certain legal issues related to the conduct of clinical trials in wartime; advising Nobel Ilac Sanayii ve Ticaret A.S., a Turkish pharmaceutical company, on Ukrainian competition law issues, regulation on vertical concerted actions, assessment of antitrust compliance matters related to commercial practices and distribution of pharmaceuticals in Ukraine. The team is also advising the International Rescue Committee (IRC) on the importing of medicines and medical equipment as part of humanitarian support, review of supporting documents provided by beneficiaries, drafting/revising MOUs and other legal documentation. The workload is led by two partners – Anastasiya Bolkhovitinova (corporate, regulatory) and Natalia Kirichenko (IP).[3]
Boutique firm Mamunya IP is sought after by major foreign innovative and generic pharmaceutical manufacturers, as well as by Ukrainian patients’ organizations. The firm supports by providing patent and trademark prosecution, enforcement, including litigation, anti-counterfeiting, regulatory advice, protection from unfair competition, advertising regulations, cancellation of marketing authorization of pharmaceuticals based on IP infringement, and supplementary protection certificates litigation. The firm represented Synthon International Holding B.V. in a pivotal Ukrainian litigation that invalidated an opponent’s patent related to treating relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, facilitating the global implementation of their generic product, culminating in a Supreme Court victory; represents CO 100% life in a complex litigation seeking to invalidate two Ukrainian patents and their Patent Term Extensions. Novo Nordisk A/S, Berlin-Chemie/A. Menarini Group, Synthon International Holding B.V., Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Jeunesse Global Holdings, LLC are among disclosable clients. Oleksandr Mamunya, founding partner, boasts a proven record in pharmaceutical patent litigation.
Gramatskiy & Partners maintains its presence in the healthcare area, which is new for the firm. During the research period the firm advised on IP rights protection, employment matters, insurance claims and regulatory disputes. The firm protected the rights of Provizor LLC in a case regarding the need to conclude employment contracts with pharmaceutical employees; acted in a case regarding the distinction of grounds for receiving insurance payments in case of illness or death of medical workers due to infection with acute respiratory disease COVID-19. Ernest Gramatskiy oversees the practice.
Throughout 2022-2023, INTEGRITES took on cases from the pharmaceuticals and healthcare sector, primarily dealing with corporate, employment, and antitrust issues stemming from the imposition of martial law in Ukraine and the industry’s adaptation to wartime conditions. The firm continues advising long-standing client Vamed on three projects – the reconstruction of the Children’s Specialized Hospital Okhmatdyt (Kyiv), development of the university clinic (Kyiv/Lviv), and development of the rehabilitation center (Lviv) – are of national interest to Ukraine. The Ukrainian subsidiaries of two pharmaceutical companies – Servier and Glenmark – sought the firm’s advice on labor law issues during martial law. Further expertise encompasses regulatory disputes and compliance. Among the clients are Acino Ukraine and Market Universal. The multidisciplinary workload is led by the firm’s senior partners, namely Vyacheslav Korchev, head of antitrust and competition, and Illya Tkachuk, corporate and M&A.
KPMG Law Ukraine provides interdisciplinary offering for pharmaceuticals and healthcare sector, acting on complex transaction support, legal and tax structuring, antitrust, representation before counterparties and state authorities, etc. The team assisted ROHTO-MENTHOLATUM (Vietnam) Co., Ltd in acquiring a market-leading cosmetics and pharmaceuticals producer in Asia. Yuriy Katser, head of legal services, is the main contact.
Sayenko Kharenko provides comprehensive legal advice to both international pharmaceutical and healthcare companies and local enterprises in Ukraine on a broad spectrum, including establishing a commercial presence, research and development, importation, distribution, intellectual property enforcement, advertising, promotion, drug safety, quality control, and other commercial activities on the Ukrainian market. The firm’s strong antitrust team is called upon by sectoral clients for advising on relevant matters. The firm’s intellectual property practice successfully defended the rights of the inventors of the hemostatic agent “Krovospas,” which transferred their intellectual property, know-how, and technical documentation to TETERIV Production Association LLC in 2015, granting the company the right to produce and sell the product; and was defending Bayer in a Ukrainian court case against a major pharmaceutical company for importing products that allegedly infringe Bayer’s patent on the active substance “Rivaroxaban,” which is used in the drug “Xarelto.” The firm advised Berlin-Chemie and Médecins Sans Frontières on employment-related matters. The IP workload was led by partner Yaroslav Ognevyuk (before his departure in October 2023). Anzhela Makhinova handled trade and customs matters; Vladimir Sayenko and Valentyna Hvozd lead competition matters.
AEQUO* is noted for its expertise in representation of pharma and life sciences companies in trademark and patent disputes.[4]
Arzinger*, with its dedicated partner Lana Sinichkina, is a prominent market player, frequently endorsed for substantial expertise in the pharmaceuticals industry and formidable client base.
Borys Danevych, partner and head of life sciences and healthcare practices at CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang*, is referred for his extensive expertise and strong reputation in the field.
[1] Viktoriya Podvorchanska, counsel, left the firm at the end of October 2023.
[2] Olha Demianiuk became a partner in Baker McKenzie Switzerland corporate M&A team and is the head of the Swiss Healthcare & Life Sciences Industry Group. Since September 2022, she is based in the Geneva office.
[3] Galyna Zagorodniuk left the firm in July 2023.
[4] The firms marked with an asterisk (*) have not submitted information for the current research. Their market presence was explored and commented during in-depth interviews.