The Legal 500

Magisters merged with Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners to create the largest law group in the CIS. Alexey Reznikov and Serhii Sviriba are among Ukraine’s most respected disputes lawyers.

Ilyashev & Partners is ‘technically excellent and results-driven’. It advised mobile network operator Kyivstar GSM’s dispute over interconnection tariffs. Eli Lilly, ProCredit Bank and Naftogaz are also clients. Mikhail Ilyashev has ‘a sharp mind and good breadth of knowledge’, and the ‘responsive, effective and commercial’ Roman Marchenko is ‘an impressive operator’.

Vasil Kisil & Partners’ head of litigation Oleksiy Filatov is greatly respected for work that includes a $458m shareholder buyout dispute for BNP Paribas France, and a $150m caseload of disputes for Swedbank against Ukrainian borrowers. Oleg Makarov and Yaroslav Tekyluk are also highly recommended.

Dispute resolution specialist Arbitrade has a reputation for ‘fast responses and deep industry knowledge’. This ‘very strong team of true professionals’ includes ‘experienced arbitration specialist’ Yuliya Chernykh, who is ‘particularly good in international arbitration, always giving creative solutions’, and the highly recommended Pavlo Trytenichenko, Andriy Shulga and Denis Kosmin. The firm represented Austria’s Alpha Projektholding in the first case to recognise an ICSID arbitration award in Ukraine.

Arzinger is ‘a bright spot in the Ukrainian legal market’: the firm is much sought for its ‘excellent communication and negotiation skills’, and ‘efficient and solutions-driven advice’. Clients include Raiffeisen Bank and Bunge Ukraine. Senior partner Sergy Shklyar heads the team.

‘Responsive and very good value for money’, Oleksiy Didkovskiy’s team at Asters advised a syndicate of banks on investors’ rights and acted for a large European agribusiness regarding import licensing and tax disputes.

EnGarde Attorneys at Law is ‘first port of call for complex litigation’ for certain international banks. Managing partner Irina Nazarova (‘a chess player’s attitude, always in control’) and Andriy Vyshnevsky (‘a strategic approach, understands the motives of the client and the opposition’) are highly recommended. Nazarova is an ICC-appointed arbitrator in a $60m dispute.

Grischenko & Partners’ Dmitri Grischenko and Sergei Voitovich are ‘highly recommended for their experience’. Voitovich represented the Ukrainian government in an ICSID arbitration.

Sayenko Kharenko is ‘flexible, innovative and fast to respond with a high level of professionalism’, and is increasingly popular among local and international clients. New head of international arbitration Tatyana Slipachuk joined from Vasil Kisil & Partners.

Andriy Kravets & Partners represented Nokia Siemens Networks in the commercial courts. Andriy Kravets and Vladyslav Lyaskovskiy are known for domestic litigation and international arbitration.

Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited’s top-quality lawyers include Svitlana Romanova and Olga Shenk, who have recently represented foreign investors in disputes with state entities.

Salans’ highly regarded international arbitration group has been acting in major energy sector disputes. Oleg Batyuk and Myron Rabij are the key names.

Salkom’s Evgen Kubko is ‘experienced in protecting his clients’ interests in Ukrainian courts and international arbitrations’.

Antika Law Firm’s Alexey Kot is ‘responsive, helpful and gives practical responses’, and Andrey Kuznetsov is ‘a good, reliable adviser’. The team recently advised Heitman International in a claim against a large Ukrainian bank.

Astapov Lawyers International Law Group is ‘very good for international arbitration’. Managing partner Andrey Astapov and Oleh Beketov have ‘deep knowledge of the local market that London firms might lack’. Clients include Glencore Grain.

Avellum Partners’ Kostiantyn Likarchuk (‘committed to quality’) acted in a complex LCIA arbitration regarding Kiev’s Sky Mall shopping centre.

B C Toms & Co’s highly rated Bate Toms advised Homburger in disputes with a Ukrainian company and represented Maritime House in a claim for non-payment by a glass company.

CMS Cameron McKenna LLC’s ‘vastly experienced’ senior partner Olexander Martinenko advised Krym Petroleum in a complex, multi-party ICC arbitration, and the state of Ukraine in a $23bn dispute with a Russian investor.

Gvozdiy & Oberkovych Law Firm’s Valentyn Gvozdiy represented Bauer in a debt dispute, and PSG-International in a €2m case against a Ukrainian contractor for defaulting on a power plant development.

Integrites International Law Firm’s managing partner Vyacheslav Korchev represented OTP Bank in a $31m dispute with a large Ukrainian retailer, and advised telecoms company Eutelsat SA in a $14m ICAC case.

Jurimex Legal Solutions has a solid reputation in construction, energy, telecoms and media disputes with state bodies and foreign entities. Managing partner Yuriy Krainiak heads the practice.

KM Partners is ‘highly recommended for tax disputes’. Alexander Minin and Alexander Shemiatkin are among the best in Ukraine for tax and customs-related cases.

LCF Law Group advised agribusiness Nibulon in dispute with a port authority, and acted for insurer QBE in a $2m dispute. Anna Ogrenchuk is ‘responsive and co-operative’, and achieves ‘a high rating for her professionalism and profound knowledge’.

Lavrynovych & Partners’ ‘young, flexible and dynamic’ team of ‘well co-ordinated and well qualified’ lawyers includes Stanislav Skrypnyck and Igor Siusel. The group acted in an international arbitration regarding construction of a bridge across the Dnieper River, and represented Ukrnafta in a gas supply dispute with Naftogaz.

Okhrimchuk Grushyn Khandurin Law Firm’s Denis Okhrimchuk and Andriy Grushyn are experienced litigators. The team often works with international law firms such as SNR Denton.

Law Firm Paritet has ‘very professional lawyers’ including Igor Kyrylyuk, who advised a large Russian transport company on the enforcement of a $3.5m arbitral decision by Russia’s Maritime Arbitration Commission, compelling a Danish company to pay its debt.

Peterka & Partners LLC’s Alexander Poels advised PC-CZ Group in arbitration, and acted for ED&F Man Cocoa in a trade dispute with a Ukrainian seller.