Ante Law Firm stands as the premier legal advisor for major airlines and a broad array of aviation-related entities in Ukraine. The firm has amassed a wealth of experience providing comprehensive legal services to a diverse client base that includes international and Ukrainian airlines, financiers, aircraft lessors, insurers, aircraft manufacturers, airports, duty-free operators, and agents involved in air cargo transportation and passenger services. During the research period the firm represented Amber Assets LAS (former Privatbank AS, Latvia) in an aircraft sale agreement, complicated as the aircraft for sale was stuck at Boryspil Airport; advised Swiss Interaction in its aircraft leasing financing project. Ante represents Air France – KLM in a court case regarding meteorology services fee, and supported the airline with the Bees Airline trademark sale. Noteworthy, the firm represents relatives of PS752 flight of Ukraine International Airlines that was shut down in the sky over Tehran. Another hallmark case concerns the possibility of converting and transferring funds from airline ticket sales abroad – the NBU finally made changes and allowed airline representative offices to transfer up to EUR 5 million per month. Among other clients of the firm are Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo, Lufthansa Technik, Austrian, Qatar Airways, Aviareps, Baltic Air, Danylo Halytsky International Airport Lviv. The team additionally possesses expertise in drones market development. Andriy Guck, highly-experienced in aviation law, has recently expanded his focus to aviation leasing and insurance matters. Maria Tereshchenko is focused on litigation and passenger claims.

For many years ECOVIS Bondar & Bondar Law Bureau demonstrates expertise in aviation law, handling a diverse range of cases and transactions. During the research period this included advising the sale of shares in the Ukrainian flag carrier by private investors; acquiring European airline operators and airport services providers; settling claims related to the tragic incident of the downing of Flight 752 near Tehran in January 2020 and resulting death of the crew and passengers; representing private airport services providers in restructuring public-private partnership projects at Boryspil Airport. Among other areas of firm’s focus are aircraft lease and restructuring of lease agreements. Among the clients of the firm are Ukraine International Airlines, AEROHANDLING Group, Busin Insurance company, Flyyo Group, AerroDirekt Airways (Romania). Partners Oleg Bondar and Oleksandr Povar bring extensive experience to advising the aviation industry, with a longstanding presence in the field.

Ilyashev & Partners holds strong positions in the aviation and defense sectors, handling high-profile disputes. Throughout the research period, the firm was enlisted to manage insurance claims related to the invasion. For example, the firm advised Liberty Mutual Insurance Group on a claim by Wizz Air Hungary Limited for compensation under a War Risk Insurance Policy, where the claim involves the loss of three aircraft at Kyiv Airport and restricted use of one aircraft at Lviv Airport due to the Russian invasion. Another notable case includes advising XL Insurance Company SE (UK), part of AXA Group, on Ukrainian law in two English court litigations initiated by Wind Rose Aviation Company LLC (Ukraine) and Overstar S.R.L. (Republic of San Marino) concerning the recovery of insurance indemnity following the grounding of Wind Rose’s aircraft due to the closure of Ukrainian airspace. The firm’s partner Roman Marchenko, aviation practice head, serves as a Ukrainian law expert for the defendant’s English lawyers. In addition, the firm renders pro bono legal assistance to Civil Aviation Plant 410 SE in order to bring to justice the officials of non-resident companies that violated the terms of foreign economic contracts and recover funds in favor of the state enterprise. The maritime and shipping practice is based in the firm’s Odesa office, and represents shipowners, P&I Clubs, traders, maritime insurance companies. The team acts on cases related to cargo claims, charter party disputes, maritime injury claims, port claims, and advises on international shipping regulations, martial law implications and maritime risks in Ukrainian seaports. The team advised GAREX, an insurance company providing insurance coverage to shipowners against maritime war risks, in connection with a claim for abandonment (total loss) of the Puma and Comet vessels and a claim for compensation for the value of the vessels in the amount of USD 16 million and USD 2.25 million. The firm represented Louis Dreyfus Company Ukraine in settling a maritime dispute involving the arrest of the m/v NORD VIGO at Pivdennyi port, due to the shipowner’s refusal to issue a bill of lading, facilitating the export of cargo under the Grain Initiative. Sergey Nedelko, office head, is one of the strongest maritime lawyers. The firm also advises on matters involving fees for the use of wagons and storage of cargo, as well as various logistic issues.

Asters historically boasts a solid client base in the aviation industry, comprising both Ukrainian and international cargo and passenger airlines, aviation insurers, and aircraft leasing companies. The firm is called upon in transactions, regulatory issues, and dispute resolutions specific to the aviation sector, most recently related to compensation for loss of property, insurance, reimbursement, etc. In 2023, the team under the guidance of firm’s senior partner Armen Khachaturyan, acted as Ukrainian legal counsel to the Ukrainian Export Credit Agency, aiding in the establishment of a pioneering war risk insurance mechanism for Ukrainian exports via the Black Sea, formalized through an agreement with major underwriters and facilitated by significant financial arrangements with Ukrainian state banks, enhancing the security and continuity of critical exports during wartime. The partners of the firm guide the projects in the aviation transportation area – Gleb Bialyi, Oleksiy Demyanenko and Vadym Samoilenko.

INTEGRITES continued advising clients from the transport and logistics industry on a range of specific regulatory matters, as well as corporate and M&A, antitrust and competition, dispute resolution.  The firm has recently been acting for aviation leasing company in the course of bankruptcy of Ukrainian airlines; acts on the ongoing dispute regarding payment of the insurance indemnity in relation to the two aircraft, which were grounded at Boryspil International Airport in Kyiv due to closure of Ukrainian airspace in light of safety concerns following the Russian invasion. In addition, the firm represents an aerospace business group in Ukrainian courts, obtaining interim measures for two aircrafts and initiating enforcement proceedings after securing an arbitral award in favor of the client against a UAE entity under the Vilnius Court of Commercial Arbitration rules. In the research period, the firm acted on corporate deals and lease matters in the railway sector. Dr. Oleksiy Feliv, firm’s managing partner, is the main point of contact.

Kinstellar possesses aviation lease and financing expertise, international arbitration and enforcement practice, sanctions advice, rendering advice to automotive business, regular carriage operators, leasing companies and drones manufacturers. The firm acted as a joint legal team acting for the relatives of victims of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crash advising on Ukrainian law matters before the Hague District Court, to secure a verdict and an award of EUR 16 million in moral damages to the relatives. The firm also advises on a multi-million insurance claims arising out of alleged aircrafts losses due to the war in Ukraine. Another highlight is an extensive legal support to an American company Zipline International Inc. that designs, manufactures, and operates delivery drones in connection with market entry and expansion. The Kyiv office partners leading the projects are Oleg Matiusha, head of the local infrastructure and transportation sector, and Olexander Martinenko, head of the firm-wide dispute resolution services.

Anna Sisetska, partner at Vasil Kisil & Partners*, is noted for her expertise is aviation leasing and insurance matters.[1] 

Based in Odesa, ANK Law Office is a prominent legal advisor in maritime law and port infrastructure. The firm consistently advises shipowners, ship managers, crewing companies, shipping agents, tug service providers, P&I Clubs and insurers, further solidifying its expertise in the maritime sector. For example, the firm successfully represented Shipping Company Ukrferry across multiple court levels, including the Supreme Court, in a dispute with the State Property Fund of Ukraine, ultimately securing a favorable judgment that upheld the company’s stance against a claim in alleged debts and losses under a lease agreement; represented the owners of m/v SES-1 in a case involving the recovery of losses due to cargo damage. During the research period the firm advised deals of purchasing vessels. The team rendered legal support to RUSAGRO-PRIM (Moldova) on purchasing of m/v TAHITI and m/v HIROSHIMA for transportation of cargoes on the Danube; River port Orlivka on purchasing of the tug for towing operations on the Danube River. The key maritime lawyers are Artem Volkov and Kostiantyn Moriakov, both acting across significant matters. The firm’s founder, Oleksandr Kyfak, is known for his extensive knowledge and leadership in establishing the firm’s strong reputation.

Based in Odesa, the Ukrainian law firm Interlegal operates a series of offices throughout the Black Sea Region. The firm boasts extensive expertise in handling a wide range of shipping and maritime matters for a diverse international clientele. The big team is known for advising large world shipowners on Ukrainian law matters, legal support in the purchase and sale of vessels. The team customarily acts on a variety of shipping disputes, inter alia, debt recovery for shipped goods, cargo damage recovery and storage fee claims, demurrage charges recovery, ship arrest and release from arrest, etc. Recently the firm won a dispute to remove obstacles to grain use and get back the demands of the line. Among the clients of the firm are Orom Imexрo, BayWa, Risoil, MaxiGrain, MTBS, Sungrain, CYE Petrol, Omega Bunker, Monjasa, Thyssenkrupp, Cockett Marine, Octava Trading. Partners Arthur Nitsevych and Nikolay Melnykov are engaged in client development work. Oleksii Remeslo works on matters arising out of international trade contracts. Associated partner Karyna Gorova is a vivid practitioner in transportation and shipping matters. The market singles out Taras Dragan and Nikita Kocherba for their performance within the research period.

The Odesa-based law firm LEGRANT boasts a well-established clientele consisting of shipowners, shipping agents, and port operators. Over the past year, the firm has achieved notable victories in the maritime sector, including successfully settling disputes related to unjust fees, cargo damage, and demurrage charges. These successes also extended to defending against unfounded claims of unseaworthiness and managing a precedent-setting case exempting a client from freight payments under martial law conditions. The caseload includes cases challenging the demand of the State Audit Service of Ukraine for reimbursement of granted discounts on tonnage and pilotage dues; acted for the marine agent in a dispute regarding the unjustified collection of additional fees for services; compensation for the losses incurred by the client due to the damage of cargo equipment by a ship. Tatyana Titarenko, managing partner, is the main point of contact. Yaroslav Dabizha has been praised by peers for his effective handling of maritime cases.

AGA Partners has seen a substantial increase in maritime disputes, largely due to non-compliance by Russia with its obligations under the Grain Initiative. Throughout 2022-2023, the firm managed cases included representation in London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA) proceedings, successful cancelation of vessel and cargo arrests, and demurrage calculations. The firm represents Swiss trading companies focusing on soft commodities from the Black Sea region in a London-seated ad hoc arbitration related to a voyage charter agreement, involving disputes over demurrage, additional war risks, and contract termination by the goods’ buyer. The case, which includes complex jurisdictional and due process issues, is marked by the successful procurement of an arrest order in Italy. Among the clients of the firm are Alberta Corp. LP., Millcorp Geneve SA, Sunflower Resources Ltd, MK Merchants and others. Partners Ivan Kasynyuk and Iryna Moroz lead the main practice. Associate Pavlo Lebediev has earned commendation from industry peers.

During 2022-2023, Gramatskiy & Partners assisted Ukrainian and international exporters, importers, and carriers with projects involving the trade and forwarding of goods via sea, inland waterways, and road transport. The firm ensured protection of the rights of MGT Black Sea LLC in a case concerning the amount of port dues for vessels operating under a foreign flag; contracts of carriage by sea and cargo insurance and freight forwarding contract in mixed traffic. Ernest Gramatskiy is the main point of contact.

Sergeyevs’ Law Office, an Odesa-based boutique firm, specializes in maritime law, representing manning/crewing agents, shipowners, ship management companies, seafarers, and their families. During the research period the firm was enlisted for drafting, advising, and negotiating international commercial contracts for the largest shipowners of the world: V. GROUP, V. SHIPS UK, CMA SHIPS SINGAPORE PTE. Ltd., Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, Danaos Shipping Co. Ltd; legal support provision in insurance claims settlement negotiations (compensation by P&I clubs and shipowners in connection with the disability and loss of life cases for the total amount of UAH 20 million). The office recently delivered notable legal achievements, including the successful execution of a Supreme Court judgment awarding UAH 3 million in compensation for the death of a crew member from the vessel GAS AEGEAN; securing a demurrage non-payment case through arbitration preparation and negotiation; and negotiating disability settlement for a master seafarer with shipowners and a P&I Club. Additionally, the firm has expertly handled complex cases involving Ukrainian seafarers, provided guidance on new Ukrainian seafarer employment mediation procedures, and supported claims challenging the Ministry of Infrastructure and Maritime Administration of Ukraine regarding the implementation of international norms into national legislation. Yuriy Sergeyev has a long-term commitment to  maritime law, while Svitlana Sergeyeva practices mediation.

The Odesa-based law firm Jurline* has a traditional presence in the maritime and shipping sector, managing legal issues related to seaports, terminals, and road and rail transportation. Volodymyr Zubar, managing partner, is the main contact.

[1] 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.