The Legal 500

Providing a ‘one stop solution for all legal needs,’ clients feel that Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited ‘outranks the local competition by a heavy margin.’ The three-partner team is commended for its ‘high quality of service, perfect client attitude, and quick turnaround.’ Managing partnerames Hitch heads the department, which boasts 25 assistants, and two highly rated local partners: the recently promoted Mykola Stetsenko and Viacheslav Yakymchuk. Recent highlights include advising SAB Miller on its acquisition of Sarmat, one of Ukraine’s largest brewers.

Formerly known as Shevchenko Didkovskiy & Partners, Asters rebranded in February 2008. The name has changed, but quality partners like managing partner Oleksiy Didkovskiy, Oleksandr Padalka, Andriy Vishnevsky and Vadym Samoylenko remain. The practice worked on several major takeovers in the banking sector, and also advised Smart Holding, one of Ukraine’s largest financial industrial groups on the acquisition of two Bulgarian steel plants from Ferrexpo, and the merger of the group’s mining and metal assets with Metinvest. Major international clients include Nissan, Coca-Cola and Swedbank.

Andrew Mac’s highly rated two-partner team at Magisters is praised for ‘always knowing what we want and giving spot-on answers with which you can work,’ and its ability to ‘successfully marry western legal standards with knowledge of the very intricate and at times contradictory local legislation.’ During a busy 2008, the team advised Intesa Sanpaolo on the €493m acquisition of Pravex-Bank, as well as representing the main shareholders of Studio 1+1 on the sale of $219.6m worth of shares to Central European Media Enterprises.

Sayenko Kharenko’s ‘responsive, resourceful and knowledgeable’ team is headed by the ‘very solid’ Volodymir Sayenko, who ‘understands very well how multinational companies operate, which makes him very easy to work with.’ The expanding practice advised on several major deals, including work for Evraz Group, one of Russia’s largest steel and mining companies, on its $3bn acquisition of five major Ukrainian production companies. On the private equity side, it represented SigmaBleyzer on the sale of Volia Cable, Ukraine’s largest cable TV operator, to Providence Equity Partners.

Chadbourne & Parke LLP has a three-partner office headed by managing partneraroslawaohnson. The practice has a very strong track record in the region and in 2008 was involved in several major transactions in the financial services sector, such as representing Marfin Popular Bank Public on its $138m acquisition of Marine Transport Bank and three affiliates, and advising Bank Hapoalim on its $136m acquisition of Ukraine Bank Innovation.

CMS Cameron McKenna LLC’s managing partner Adam Mycyk and senior partner Olexander Martinenko are both highly rated corporate lawyers, and their practice is making an increasing impact on the market. Recent highlights include advising ING on its acquisition of a Ukrainian life insurance company.

DLA Piper Ukraine LLC’s ‘responsive’ managing partner Margarita Karpenko heads the firm’s corporate practice, which is praised for its ‘excellent standards.’ The team has several major technology and energy clients, such as Gazprom, and recently advised the fashion distributor Inditex on its entry into the Ukrainian market. The team also represents clients in the hotel sector such as InterContinental Hotels and Fairmont Raffles Hotels.

Headed by managing partner Oleg Batyuk, Salans.’ ‘excellent’ corporate practice is recommended for its ‘great team and reasonable rates.’ The firm has invested heavily over the past year and promoted partners Volodymyr Monastyrskyy and Ihor Mehedynyuk. The work covers sectors including private equity, natural resources, agriculture and mining.

Denis Lysenko heads the ‘very helpful and knowledgeable’ team at Vasil Kisil & Partners which is praised for its ‘responsive and expert’ advice. A recent highlight was advising SEB International on its $120m acquisition of Factorial Bank. The practice has also been very active in insolvency matters. Clients recommend senior associate Mariya Nizhnik.

Andriy Kravets & Partners enjoys a strong reputation for corporate work and has an impressive array of clients, including Lafarge, TNK-BP, Glencore and AES. Name partner Andriy Kravets heads the practice.

Bate Toms and Taras Dumych at B C Toms & Co both enjoy very strong reputations for corporate work, especially in areas such as energy and natural resources.

Felix Rackwitz heads the Kiev office of German firm Beiten Burkhardt which regularly represents its international clients on investments andoint venture agreements in Ukraine.

Ilyashev & Partners advises an even mix of foreign and domestic clients and has good referral relationships with several major international law firms. Name partner Mikhael Ilyashev enjoys a very strong reputation. Major clients include Metro Cash and Carry, Golden Telecom, Eli Lilly and the Antonov Goup.

The ‘very professional’ AS Consulting 
Law Firm, LLC receives strong feedback for its ‘clear, concise and easily understood 
advice.’ Managing partner Andriy Tsvetkov is praised for his ‘impeccable manner’. Clients include the Finnish company, Alma Media Interactive, Poland’s Tle-Fonika Kable Handel, and RG Securities.

Astapov Lawyers International Law Group managing partner Andrey Astapov and partner Tatyana Kuzmenko are recommended for their corporate expertise, advising clients such as Bayer and Ferrexpo.

Arzinger & Partners.’ expanding practice was boosted by the arrival of partner Volodymyr Shkred, who was previously general counsel at MTS Ukraine and SUN Interbrew. Highlights for the German firm include representing the Austrian company Wiener Stadtische Allgemeine Versicherung on the acquisition of several Ukrainian insurance companies.

Gide Loyrette Nouel with Karl Hepp de Sevelinges heading the office and also the main corporate partner, officially opened in Spring 2008. A recent highlight was advising Groupama and Axa on their respective takeovers of two Ukrainian insurance groups.

Grischenko & Partners.’ name partner Dmitri Grischenko enjoys a strong reputation for corporate law and is regularly referred work by major international firms. The practice is backed up by a very strong litigation and arbitration team.

Integrites.’ corporate department is headed by senior associate Olena Zaitseva, who is ably supported by a strong team of lawyers, including managing partner Vyacheslav Korchev. Recently the practice advised Ukrainian oil producer, Ukrnafta, on aoint venture in Nigeria.

Dr Mansur Rafsendjani heads Nörr Stiefenhofer Lutz tov’s Kiev office, which advises a mix of German and Ukrainian clients on inbound and outbound investment.

According to client feedback, the ‘highly productive’ Law Firm Paritet is a ‘truly client-oriented firm’ that provides ‘comprehensive legal advice within fast timeframes.’ Boris Danevych is singled out for his ‘vast expertise.’ Recently it advised on the corporate restructuring of a Ukrainian group of companies prior to a private equity investment by Dutch company Milkiland.

Peterka & Partners LLC is a major Czech firm that also has offices in Slovakia and Bulgaria. Monika Hoskova heads the ‘excellent’ office, which recently advised French electrical engineering company SNEF on its acquisition of a Ukrainian company.

Schönherr’s two-partner Kiev office is headed by Ilona Zekely and works closely with experienced Austrian-based partner Alexander Popp. Most of its clients are international, and recently it advised Uniqa Insurance on the acquisition of Credo Classic Insurance, Ukraine’s sixth largest insurance company. Mariya Sukhan is also recommended.

Peter Teluk heads Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P.’s two-partner, nine-lawyer office, which advised the US power company, Contour Global, on regulatory issues relating to its combined heat and power plant in Ukraine. Helen Kryshtalowych is recommended.

International firms and clients also use firms such as Legal Alliance Company Lexwell & Partners Salkom and Volkov Koziakov & Partners for their corporate and M&A work.