Firm Profile > Wolf Theiss > Kiev, Ukraine

Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 2

Wolf Theiss' team is led by the experienced Oksana Volynets, who is well versed in high-value, cross-border finance transactions, as well as regulatory, currency control and security enforcement matters. The team's diverse workload includes large-scale sales of NPL portfolios, cross-border loans and financial monitoring compliance. Among its clients are large corporates such as Uber Technologies and Google, as well as financial institutions such as UniCredit Bank and the EBRD.

Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 2

The practice at Wolf Theiss consists of 'very competent, experienced and reliable lawyers' and works 'in a highly efficient and effective manner'. The firm has been active advising on both inbound and outbound investments in a range of sectors, including banking, insurance, renewable energy, mining and agriculture. Taras Dumych leads the practice, which frequently works with other offices in the firm's European network to handle global M&A transactions. Munich Re, Rent24 and China Electronics Technology Group are among its key clients.

Competition Tier 2

Wolf Theiss has been increasingly active advising clients in the manufacturing, retail, energy, telecoms, pharmaceuticals, banking, IT and insurance industries on merger clearance filings. Lead partner Olga Ivlyeva has extensive experience acting for Ukrainian and foreign companies, including representing clients before the Antimonopoly Committee and in court proceedings. Clients include Munich Re and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Dispute resolution Tier 3

Wolf Theiss has a small litigation practice but it acts for an impressive multinational client base in high-value cross-border matters. Among its clients are Apple and Aviva. Taras Dumych leads the practice, which acts for both international and leading Ukrainian companies in disputes in Ukraine and abroad. It frequently opposes governmental authorities and agencies on behalf of foreign and domestic investors.

Employment Tier 3

Wolf Theiss frequently handles the employment law aspects of large-scale M&A transactions and restructuring projects, as well as advising on employment issues relating to its corporate, regulatory, finance and tax work. Associates Olga Ivlyeva and Olena Kravtsova are the key practitioners. They count international companies such as A1 Telekom Austria, Snap and China Electronics Technology Group Corporation among their clients.

Intellectual property Tier 3

Wolf Theiss frequently handles the IP aspects of cross-border M&A transactions, many of which involve companies from German-speaking jurisdictions. It is also involved in its clients' e-commerce projects and advises on the formalisation of IP rights and portfolio management. The practice led by corporate partner Taras Dumych also assists with the protection of trade marks on the internet, notably with regard to domain names.

Real estate and construction Tier 3

Wolf Theiss handles real estate due diligence projects as part of cross-border M&A deals, transactional matters and, more recently, real estate disputes for mortgage holders, property owners and construction companies. Managing partner Taras Dumych advises on corporate, finance, real estate, energy and litigation matters; his team acts for international clients including A1 Telekom Austria and China Electronics Technology Group Corporation.

Tax Tier 4

Wolf Theiss handles tax structuring for corporate clients setting up businesses in Ukraine, as well as ongoing compliance matters and tax disputes. Mykhailo Razuvaiev's practice focuses on corporate and personal taxation, including tax structuring, transactional support, corporate rights and derivatives, the taxation of non-profit organisations, and the taxation of research and development and IT or IP-related activities. Among the firm's key clients are Munich Re, Uber Technologies and China Electronics Technology Group Corporation.

Diversity/Community

At Wolf Theiss, we strongly believe that in a global marketplace, a company that employs a diverse workforce (both men and women of several generations and from ethnically and racially diverse backgrounds) is better able to understand the marketplace it serves, offers better and more unique perspectives and thus, is better equipped to thrive in that marketplace than a company that has a more limited range of employee demographics.

For us, uniting people in a region where, in some cases, it has previously experienced first-hand war-time prejudice and overcoming cultural divisiveness is part of our philosophy. By respecting each other, we have created a unique workplace camaraderie that spills over into our daily lives. Wolf Theiss considers itself to be politically liberal, not biased in any direction and imposing no restrictions on its workforce in terms of political view, religion, way of life, race, language and sexual orientation.

Our leadership team is comprised of 22% female partners and 60% of our senior associates are women. We strive to stand at the forefront in the region, when it comes to gender diversity. We were one of the first law firms in the region to implement a maternity policy.

Wolf Theiss is proud to have been recognised as “Best in Austria” at the European Women in Business Law Awards 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 & 2012, “Best in Croatia” at the European Women in Business Law Awards 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 & 2013 and “Best in Romania” at the European Women in Business Law Awards 2016, 2015 & 2014.

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

At Wolf Theiss we believe that success is a two-way street. Our financial success depends in large part on our doing quality work for our clients, so they come back to us and recommend us to others. But our success also depends on the support of the local communities where we live and work. They provide us with a great deal of input and impulses, including the talented lawyers and assistants who make it possible for us to do what we do. We all think it is essential that we give something back to the community.

One way to show our commitment to the community is by providing legal advice on a pro bono basis to clients who need legal help, but are unable to pay for our services. Our pro bono work is directed at clients whom we consider to be very deserving or who face legal issues that we believe are especially important to our communities or to society as a whole. We are proud that Euromoney Legal Media Group honoured us with the ‘2014 Best National Firm for Pro Bono Work’.

Diversity

At Wolf Theiss, we strongly believe that in a global marketplace, a company that employs a diverse workforce (both men and women of several generations and from ethnically and racially diverse backgrounds) is better able to understand the marketplace it serves, offers better and more unique perspectives and thus, is better equipped to thrive in that marketplace than a company that has a more limited range of employee demographics. 

For us, uniting people in a region where, in some cases, it has previously experienced first-hand war-time prejudice and overcoming cultural divisiveness is part of our philosophy. By respecting each other, we have created a unique workplace camaraderie that spills over into our daily lives. Wolf Theiss considers itself to be politically liberal, not biased in any direction and imposing no restrictions on its workforce in terms of political view, religion, way of life, race, language and sexual orientation. 

Our leadership team is comprised of 25% female partners, one of them within our management board, and 53% of our senior lawyers are women. We strive to stand at the forefront in the region, when it comes to gender diversity. We were one of the first law firms in the region to implement a maternity policy. Innovation initiatives at our firm are driven by female talent. We also encourage our lawyers to spend part of their daily work on firm-wide non-billable initiatives. 

Wolf Theiss is proud to have been recognised as “Best in Austria” at the European Women in Business Law Awards 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 & 2012, “Best in Croatia” at the European Women in Business Law Awards 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 & 2013 and “Best in Romania” at the European Women in Business Law Awards 2016, 2015 & 2014. 

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 

At Wolf Theiss we believe that success is a two-way street. Our financial success depends in large part on our doing quality work for our clients, so they come back to us and recommend us to others. But our success also depends on the support of the local communities where we live and work. They provide us with a great deal of input and impulses, including the talented lawyers and assistants who make it possible for us to do what we do. We all think it is essential that we give something back to the community. 

One way to show our commitment to the community is by providing legal advice on a pro bono basis to clients who need legal help, but are unable to pay for our services. Our pro bono work is directed at clients whom we consider to be very deserving or who face legal issues that we believe are especially important to our communities or to society as a whole.