The Legal 500

Headed by Ruslan Drobyazko, Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited’s top-notch IP practice has an even split between contentious and non-contentious work. While about 30% of the firm’s disputes work is in the pharmaceuticals sector, it is especially active on the trade mark front, where it has been representing 3M Company on infringement issues relating to its filter cartridges. Other major clients include British American Tobacco and Nissan.

The seven-partner IP boutique Doubinsky & Osharova has a first-class reputation in the market, and few dispute its position as the top patent and trade mark specialist in the country. The firm offers the full range of patent and trade mark advice, including applications, enforcement, unfair competition and licensing. Managing partner Michael Doubinsky and senior partner Irina Osharova are highly recommended, as is Tatyana Shpakovich.

Pakharenko & Partners is an IP boutique with an excellent reputation. The firm’s team of ‘skillful attorneys’ is headed by Antonina Pakharenko-Anderson. The firm has a very good track record in patents and trade mark enforcement and prosecution.

Oleksandr Padalka heads the IP team at Asters, which boasts an enviable list of clients, including Coca-Cola, Telenor and Nissan. The firm is particularly active in trade mark enforcement, registration and protection.

On top of its excellent disputes practice, IP forms a core part of Grischenko & Partners’ firm-wide offering. Maya Lgova is a qualified patent attorney, and regularly advises on trade mark and licensing issues. Natalia Boyko is recommended for copyright matters, while founding partner Dmitri Grischenko is also highly experienced.

Ilyashev & Partners has a very good reputation for IP, particularly on the pharmaceutical side, where Irina Kirichenko is highly recommended. The firm has an impressive array of clients including Eli Lilly, Lundbeck and the Association of Pharmaceutical Research and Development. Practice head Mikhail Ilyashev is also recommended.

Konnov & Sozanovsky’s versatile team acts for an impressive range of clients, including Ferrero, whose IP rights it defended before the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine. Other clients include Microsoft and Film.UA. Julia Semeniy heads the three-partner practice.

Senior Associate Taras Kyslyy is the main point of contact at Magisters, which continues to advised UEFA on the protection of IP rights during the upcoming 2012 European Football Championship. Other major clients include Viasat and Matvil.

‘The quality and speed of work is excellent’ at the IP boutique Mikhailyuk, Sorokolat & Partners, which boasts a team of ‘very professional’ patent and trade mark attorneys, who offer the full range of services to clients. The ‘excellent’ Anna Mikhailyuk is particularly well regarded.

Law Firm Paritet handles a large quantity of copyright work in the media and entertainment sector, while also remaining active in pharmaceuticals and life sciences for several major client including Bayer and Merck. Borys Danevych heads the highly regarded two-partner team, which includes Igor Kyryluk.

Oleksiy Filatov heads a very strong team at Vasil Kisil & Partners, whose clients include Du Pont, which it has represented on several patent disputes, as well as EuroSport, which instructed the team on a trade mark cancellation matter. Yaroslav Teklyuk is also recommended.

CMS Cameron McKenna LLC has been active in the food and agribusiness sectors, and recently represented an agricultural seed producer in criminal proceedings against a counterfeiter. Senior associate Oleksandr Molotai heads the team.

Senior associate Natalia Pakhomovska heads the team at DLA Piper Ukraine LLC, which is praised for being ‘very responsive, and, considering the time difference, are available for calls late into the evening’. The firm has been active in the IT and tourist industries. Clients include Carlsberg, MIH Group and InterContinental.

‘Response times are short’ at Gide Loyrette Nouel’s well regarded IP practice, where group head and managing partner Karl Hepp de Sevelinges is praised for his ‘extensive networks’ and ‘overall understanding of the procedures’. The firm is very experienced in trade mark protection, regularly advising major clients in the fast moving goods sector.

Sayenko Kharenko has made great strides following the recruitment of the qualified patent attorney Dariya Valiavska from Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited. The firm is active on the transactional front and represents TUI Travel, Credit Suisse and Ferrexpo.