Competition in Ukraine
Aequo
Practice head(s):
Mariya Nizhnik
Other key lawyers:
Sergey Denisenko; Yevgen Blok
Testimonials
‘The team is highly experienced and client-friendly.’
‘Sergey Denisenko is a real professional ready to assist the client most efficiently.’
Key clients
ArcelorMittal
Bunge
National Gas Transmission Operator
Hutchison Ports
Philip Morris
Perrigo
Smart Holding
European Business Association
Darnitsa
Dragon Capital
Epicentr-K
Novo Nordisk
Novus
Derzhvuhlepostach
OLX
Sierentz Global Merchants
Cosmopolite Group
RISOIL
Work highlights
- Assisted the client with an expanding of the retailer alliance by adding new members.
- Assisted the client with elaborating a comprehensive package of state aid measures for the re-boosting of Ukrainian shipbuilding industry.
- Advised Vodafone Ukraine on seeking approvals from the AMCU.
Ante Law Firm
Practice head(s):
Andriy Guck; Yuriy Veklenko
Testimonials
‘The team is simply exceptional.’
‘Andriy Guck is exceptional. He grasps key issues and provides practical balanced guidance. Yuriy Veklenko is always a reliable and skilful associate.’
‘Ante has an established track record of success in even the most complex competition and antitrust cases.’
Key clients
Sanofi-Aventis Ukraine LLC
Zdravo LLC
Harwind LLC
Deutsche Lufthansa
Austrian Airlines
Qatar Airways Group Q.C.S.C.
British Airways PLC
Alitalia
Perrigo Ukraine LLC
Lutsk Foods LLC (Runa trademark)
Air France – KLM
Bees Airline LLC
Aviation measuring center LLC
Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport
Work highlights
- Represented a global pharmaceutical company Sanofi, in an investigation regarding the violations of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.
- Represented Bees Airline in obtaining the right to use air routes.
- Represented the Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport in an investigation proceeding.
Arzinger
Practice head(s):
Timur Bondaryev; Sergii Shkliar; Lana Sinichkina
Other key lawyers:
Oleksander Dyakulych
Testimonials
‘Arzinger is a full-service law firm, and their banking and practice benefit from close cooperation with other practices within the firm. Arzinger law office is very competent and practical in their legal services. They maintain a great core team of lawyers.’
‘Arzinger is uniquely positioned to provide merger control support in an otherwise unfamiliar jurisdiction. Arzinger has been particularly effective in explaining the unique structure of Ukraining merger control regime.’
Key clients
Imperial Tobacco Ukraine
Shell International
Ford Motor Company
SK Innovation
Development Construction Holding
ZEONBUD LLC
Patients of Ukraine Charity Foundation
Sanofi-Aventis Ukraine
Servier Ukraine
Roche Ukraine
GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceutical Ukraine
Work highlights
- Advised SK Innovation and Ford Motor Company on merger clearance for innovative and several billion USD worth transaction.
- Represented Zeonbud LLC in an ongoing extremely high-profile & complicated abuse of dominance case and challenging the fine in the courts.
- Represented two Ukrainian subsidiaries of Imperial Tobacco group in the court proceeding related to the cancellation of the decision with the record fine imposed by the AMCU.
Asters
Practice head(s):
Igor Svechkar
Other key lawyers:
Oleksandr Voznyuk; Tetiana Vovk
Testimonials
‘Aster’s competition practice is unique in terms of expertise as such, as well as ability to address the variety of side aspects and issues being a part of the big law firm with different practices that may be involved in serving the client.’
‘Professional and personal values of Igor Svechkar make the client stick to his practice, receiving timely comprehensive professional advice with friendliness and rapport.’
‘The team provides clear and prompt responses to clients’ requests.’
Key clients
BASF
Bosch
GE
L’Oréal
Metro
Microsoft
Philip Morris
Sanofi
Stellantis
Visa
Work highlights
- Assisted Visa with obtaining antitrust approval for implementation of memorandum between Visa, MasterCard, and the National Bank of Ukraine.
- Represented Philip Morris in a state aid case regarding $24m tax settlement with the Ukrainian Government under the investment arbitration procedure.
- Assisted AT&T’s WarnerMedia and Discovery with the merger clearance for the merger.
Avellum
Practice head(s):
Mykyta Nota
Other key lawyers:
Mykola Stetsenko
Testimonials
‘Avellum has a premium competition team with exceptional expertise and particular strength in competition litigation, merger control and investigations. The team handles highly complex matters with multiple stages and works very well throughout them.’
‘Mykyta Nota is an excellent competition partner with a very broad background. He has been instrumental in guiding us through some unique and complex issues clearly and concisely.’
‘Avellum has an excellent antitrust team – at the very top and with the best and unique expertise and experience, which are second to none. They can use their expertise and experience to provide practical and hands-on advice, which is very useful.’
‘Partner Mykyta Nota is a true professional, leads the team very well and is very helpful. He is an outstanding practitioner, with deep knowledge of the regulator’s practice, explores all possible aspects, provides possible solutions, and is outstanding.’
‘Avellum is one of the top-notch competition law firms in Ukraine. The team uniquely combines litigation and competition skills. The practice also provides sharp advice on the whole range of competition matters and is brilliant in handling high-profile and complex merger control filings. The team has great relations with competition authorities – understanding the way that they work.’
‘Mykyta Nota is doing a fantastic job. He brings incredibly comprehensive knowledge and knows how to handle delicate situations.’
‘Avellum enjoys a superb reputation for work across all aspects of Ukrainian competition law. The quality of advice is consistently excellent. The team offers exceptional merger control capabilities, often leading high-profile and complex filings. Also, the team has a market-leading competition litigation practice that distinguishes it from the rest of the market.’
‘Mykyta Nota has a wealth of experience in competition law. He is excellent in both his process and results. He has always been a key factor in our work with competition law. He has a keen sense for finding solutions for complicated situations.’
Key clients
Mondelez
The Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company
National Power Company “Ukrenergo”
Interstarch Ukraine
Quarter Partners
Ufuture
Continium Group Ukraine
JSC “Kaspi.kz”
Diligent Capital Partners
JSC “CNVCIF “Greenville” and NEST
Work highlights
- Represented Interstarch Ukraine in case against the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine regarding the alleged abuse of dominant position by Interstarch Ukraine.
Baker McKenzie, Kyiv Office
Practice head(s):
Oksana Simonova
Other key lawyers:
Olga Mikheieva
Testimonials
‘Team is very reliable and proactive. Knows the environment well and can advise strategically.’
‘Team is very focused on practicalities trying to give the best result for the clients.’
‘Oksana Simonova, a partner of competition practice, who personally keeps an eye on ongoing matters of a client.’
Key clients
Acino
Brunswick Corporation
Depositphotos Inc.
GlaxoSmithKline
Metinvest Holding
Sika AG
Silver Lake
Sumitomo Corporation
Tedis
ZF Polpharma SA
Work highlights
- Advised Brunswick Corporation on a merger control filing relating to the acquisition of Navico, a marine electronics company.
- Advised GlaxoSmithKline on merger control and concerted actions filings related to disposal of its cephalosporin antibiotics business to Novartis and Phase II.
- Advised Acino on the merger control filing related to divestment of Acino group to ADQ.
CLACIS
Practice head(s):
Antonina Yaholnyk
Testimonials
‘Clacis is a Ukrainian law firm specializing in antitrust and merger control matters, led by Antonina Yaholnyk. We are very satisfied with the services, legal advice and representation offered to us by Clacus and Antonina in particular. The team is very client focused, offers relevant and practical advice, is highly conscientious of the tasks that need to be performed and thinks out of the box in finding solutions to issues arising.’
‘Antonina Yaholnyk is the managing partner of the Firm. She is highly knowledgeable of Ukrainian antitrust and merger control law. She always provides practical, relevant and commercial advice and is very strong on the legal assessment underling her advice.’
Key clients
A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S
HHLA Group
British American Tobacco
COSCO
Group “T.B. Fruit”
InBev
MasterCard
PepsiCo
Terex Corporation
Work highlights
- Assisted Grand Dragon Investment Enterprise Limited (COSCO Group) with AMC’s merger control approval for acquisition of the shares of HHLA Container Terminal Tollerort GmbH.
- Represented Mastercard in obtaining the approval for reduction of domestic interchange fee rates in Ukraine before the Antimonopoly committee of Ukraine.
CMS
Practice head(s):
Olga Belyakova; Maria Orlyk
Other key lawyers:
Borys Danevych
Key clients
Air Products
Vodafone/NEQSOL Holding
Eli Lilly and Company
Zoetis
Johnson & Johnson, Janssen
Teva
Novo Nordisk
Work highlights
- Advised Air Products on obtaining the required clearances for the transaction of establishment of a joint venture with ArcelorMittal.
- Advised Vodafone Ukraine and Neqsol Holding, its parent company on Vodafone Ukraine’s landmark acquisition of Vega Telecom from SCM Group.
- Advised Eli Lilly and Company on compliant selection of distributors, commercial terms and conditions of collaboration with local distributors.
Dentons
Practice head(s):
Volodymyr Monastyrskyy
Other key lawyers:
Igor Svitlyk
Key clients
Roku
Volkswagen AG
Work highlights
EVERLEGAL
Practice head(s):
Yevheniy Deyneko; Andriy Olenyuk
Testimonials
‘The team is well experienced and has good knowledge of the antitrust area. They propose innovative and creative approaches in difficult situations. The team has at least two partners who can advise within the area.’
‘Yevheniy Deyneko and Andriy Olenyuk are partners who advise on antitrust matters. I am happy with their overall work and approach even though matters we worked on together were quite unusual.’
Work highlights
Ilyashev & Partners
Practice head(s):
Oleksandr Fefelov
Key clients
UPD Holdings Limited
COFCO Agri Ukraine
Bunge
Ivano-Frankivsk Cement Plant
The Association of Cement ProducersUkrcement
Tribo Group
BIOPHARMA
Ukrrichflot
BTA Bank
PZU Ukraine
SE Antonov
Omnifarma
International Airport Kyiv (Zhulyany)
Master-Avia
Reikartz Hotel Management
CRH Ukraine
CLAAS KGaA GmbH
Kyivspetstrans
Danube Stevedoring Company
Work highlights
- Assisted the client with obtaining the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine permit for the acquisition of shares of a number of regional companies on gas supply and gasification under privatization.
- Assited teh client with obtaining 6 merger clearances during restructuring of holdings of international investment industrialgroup.
- Represented a polish insurance group PZU in obtainment of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine merger clearance for a number of concentrations.
Integrites
Practice head(s):
Vyacheslav Korchev
Testimonials
‘The firm has extensive and longstanding experience in cartel and market investigations, abuse of dominance, antitrust litigation, merger control and unfair competition. The firm handles prominent cases on the domestic market and is well regarded through all industries.’
‘As the firm’s client, I’ve been largely satisfied with the performance of the lawyers and partners involved in our assignments. They are ethical, professional and well-versed in the real estate development and construction sector.’
‘Integrites has been our go-to advisor for many years. Their knowledge of domestic law is impeccable. I’m impressed with their attitude and commitment to us as a client. They are a great team of bright minds, know their job and do it great.’
‘Vyacheslav Korchev is our point of contact with Integrites. I’ve known him as a talented mind, superb at negotiating complicated issues, dependable and in tune with the market. He always supervises the case until it’s resolved. He’s got a firm grasp of the key points in the case and beyond.’
‘The team is ready to act even before we make any commitments. Responsive and reliable.’
‘The firm is known for dealing with and supporting the most complicated projects in oil & gas, energy, heavy and chemical industries. The firm is also known to have good expertise in pharma and retail, FMCG sector. The team works closely with reputable international and domestic economic experts.’
Key clients
Starokostiantyniv dairy plant
Market Universal LTD
Wärtsilä
Ecosoft
InVivo, Soufflet Group
General Commerce LLC/Q Partners
Work highlights
- Represented InVivo and Soufflet Group in obtaining merger clearance in several FSU jurisdictions.
- Advised Market Universal Ltd on obtaining two merger clearances on the acquisition of 100% of shares in FARM-SOYUZ LTD and acquisition of 100% of shares in DA SIGNA LVIV LTD.
- Advised Starokostiantyniv dairy plant on challenging the AMCU’s decision to impose the biggest fine for unfair competition in Ukraine in the last years.
Kinstellar
Practice head(s):
Galyna Zagorodniuk
Key clients
4i Capital Partners
Vista
QTerminals
Nobel
Chinese investors
Work highlights
- Advised 4i Capital Partners on obtaining a merger control clearance within the sale of its controlling stake in the Ukrainian online payment platform Portmone.com to Kaspi.kz.
- Advised Vista, a Cimpress company on obtaining a merger control clearance within the acquisition of the online graphic design editor Crello.
- Advised QTerminals on obtaining of a merger control clearance for Olvia Port Concession.
Legal Alliance Company
Practice head(s):
Andrii Gorbatenko
Testimonials
‘The team has an exceptional knowledge of the subject matter and result-oriented approach.’
‘Andrii Gorbatenko is a professional you can always rely on in any difficult situation regarding antitrust-related questions.’
Key clients
Abbott
Acino
GlaxoSmithKlein
Mylan
Servier
Work highlights
- Represented an international pharmaceutical manufacturer in a series of parasitic claims from a competitor, which were related to allegations of unfair competition.
- Assisted a client with the implementation of the model of exclusive distribution of certain veterinary drugs in Ukraine.
- Advised a client of possible models on conducting tender business in Ukraine.
LLC “Deloitte & Touche Ukrainian Services Company”
Practice head(s):
Dmytro Pavlenko
Key clients
PJSC “CENTRAVIS PRODUCTION UKRAINE”
DANIDA
Work highlights
- Advised Centravis Production Ukraine PrJSC on competition law issues.
- Advised DANIDA on complex integrity assessments and diagnostics of the two municipally owned enterprises – water.
Pavlenko Legal Group
Practice head(s):
Anna Hryshchenko
Key clients
PAEK Group
TAS Group
Kernel Group
Techinservice Limited
Odessa Airport Development
SvitAgro
Elektrozavod Group of Companies
Skif-96 LLC
Pharmacy“Dobroho dnya”
Nest Group
Work highlights
- Assisted Pharmacy“Dobroho dnya” with obtaining a concentration permit by purchasing a stake in Astoria-Pharm LLC and FC Budte Zdorovi LLC.
- Assisted Agrolife Group with obtaining permits to concentration by purchasing stakes/shares of Astra and Arvid companies.
- Assisted Nest Group with obtaining permission for concentration by purchasing a share in Reitarske LLC. Accompaniment.
Redcliffe Partners
Practice head(s):
Anastasia Usova; Yuriy Terentyev
Other key lawyers:
Nataliya Kovalyova
Key clients
Allegro
Aspect Energy
Bayer
Black Sea Trade and Development Bank
Chipita
Frulact
HENSOLDT
International Food & Fragrances
J.P. Morgan
Leonardo
Lesaffre Ukraine
Louis Dreyfus
Mondelēz
Myronivsky Hliboproduct
Neopharmed Gentili
Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
Scientific Games
SigmaBleyzer
Unilever
YayPay
Work highlights
- Assisted CVC Capital Partners with obtaining merger and concerted practices clearances from the AMCU.
- Assisted Mondelēz International PLC and Chipita S.A. with obtaining merger and non-compete clearances from the AMCU.
- Assisted Louis Dreyfus Commodities and Energy Holdings N.V. with obtaining merger and concerted practices clearances in Ukraine.
Sayenko Kharenko
Practice head(s):
Vladimir Sayenko; Maksym Nazarenko; Valentyna Hvozd
Testimonials
‘The team of Sayenko Kharenko provides outstanding competition law advice, always to the point and on time. They are very agreeable to work with and incredibly responsive and fast. They are reliable and very experienced in merger control proceedings.’
‘I strongly recommend Maksym Nazarenko and Igor Pomaz to whom the above description applies.’
‘Sayenko Kharenko is an outstanding firm in competition law. Their advice is always to the point and practical, and they are well-connected to the authority. Even in very challenging times, they have been able to assist. It is a true pleasure to work with them.’
‘I have worked with Maksim Azarenko. He is outstanding and a friendly guy.’
‘Maksym Nazarenko is a superb support regarding detail and depth of analysis and response time.’
‘Sayenko Kharenko is my favourite law firm in Ukraine. They are very experienced and provide excellent legal advice. They are also pragmatic when it comes to cutting through possible red tape.’
‘Valentyna Hvozd and Maksym Nazarenko are excellent practitioners and have provided us with complex strategic advice on some matters.’
‘The team is highly professional, responsive, engaged and delivers excellent results.’
Key clients
APMT
Avenga
BC Partners
Bel Group
BC Partners
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
ENNA
International Flavors & Fragrances
Japan Tobacco International
LANXESS
Mayr-Melnhof Group
Novartis AG
Polskie Górnictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo S.A.
SANOFI
STADA
Work highlights
- Represented Japan Tobacco International Group of companies in invalidating the headline-making decision of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine before Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.
- Advised Avenga on the acquisition of Perfectial Group.
- Advised Bel Group on obtaining Ukrainian merger clearance for the disposal of its Ukrainian business to Lactalis
Sergii Koziakov & Partners
Practice head(s):
Mykola Podpalov; Nataliia Isakhanova
Testimonials
‘Mykola Podpalov and Nataliia Isakhanova are very professional in this sphere.’
‘Great experience in complex cases gives them a huge competitive advantage. They are very cost-efficient and swift.’
‘Mykola Podpalov is a great advisor.’
Key clients
Nibulon LLC
Subsidiary Enterprise “Lactalis Ukraine”
PJSC “Lactalis Nikolaev”
The State of Ukraine
LLC “Interpipe-Ukraine”
Subsidiary Enterprise “Itron Ukraine”
PrJSC “Itron Ukrgas Meters Company”
Budhouse Group
“Municipal Mechanized Transportation and Loading Distance” LLC
Lenovo group
State Enterprise “Ukrspyrt”
Chinese Commerce Association
Fifth guard LLC
Fortive Inc
Work highlights
- Represented State of Ukraine in ICSID investment arbitration connected with $40m fine imposed on Philip Morris group.
- Represented “Interpipe Ukraine” LLC in litigation against the AMCU regarding anticompetitive concerted actions.
- Represented SC “Lactalis Ukraine” in challenging the AMCU decision on unfair competition with the penalty up to $1.3m.
Wolf Theiss
Practice head(s):
Olga Ivlyeva
Key clients
Uniqa Real Estate
Vienna Insurance Group
Glovo
NIS a.d.
Work highlights
- Advised Uniqa Real Estate Property Holding GmbH on its merger filing to the Ukrainian competition authority.
- Advised Glovo on its planned acquisition of Zakaz.
- Advised Vienna Insurance Group on Ukrainian competition law issues in connection with several contemplated M&A transactions.