Wolf Theiss > Kyiv, Ukraine > Firm Profile
Wolf Theiss Offices
5A/10 Ihorivska St.
04070 Kyiv
Ukraine
Wolf Theiss > The Legal 500 Rankings
Ukraine > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 2
Practice head(s):
Oksana Volynets
Key clients
KKR
Pharo Management (UK)
DC Administration Services, Inc.
Perigon
Bank of America Corporation
VakifBank
Work highlights
- Advising KKR on the Ukrainian aspects of a multinational transaction and the acquisition of the Ukrainian subsidiaries of Hero Future Energy.
- Advising VakifBank International on Ukrainian banking laws.
Ukraine > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 2
Practice head(s):
Taras Dumych
Testimonials
‘The Ukraine team literally came out of bomb shelters to deliver the work for us.’
‘Good ability to explain local rules and make things happen.’
‘The firm has wide coverage in Central and Eastern Europe. They are able to provide sophisticated legal advice in every country where their 13 offices are located. This is crucial for international businesses.’
‘The firm’s employees with whom I worked always provided very thoughtful and client-oriented solutions.’
Key clients
KKR
ASTORG
Ukrmilk
Biomin
Accountor
Frey Wille
EP Commodities
Vienna Insurance Group
VASS Consultoria De Sistemas SL
SMOK Ventures II Coöperatief U.A.
Axon Enterprise
Work highlights
- Advising KKR on the Ukrainian part of a multinational transaction and the acquisition of the Ukrainian subsidiaries of Hero Future Energy.
- Advising Accountor, which specialises in software and services for financial and HR management, on the corporate restructuring of the shareholding in its Ukrainian subsidiary.
- Advising European private equity firm Astorg on Ukrainian corporate law issues applicable to the planned demerger of Fastmarkets from Delinian, formerly known as Euromoney Institutional Investor plc.
Ukraine > Competition Tier 2
Practice head(s):
Olga Ivlyeva
Key clients
KKR
Agrofert
Centurion Holdco S.a.r.l.
MiddleGround Capital
Work highlights
- Obtained merger clearance for the potential acquisition of sole control over the nitrogen business of Austrian-based Borealis Group by Czech-based Agrofert Group.
- Advising KKR on the Ukrainian competition regulations application to the international acquisition transaction of a major renewable energy group.
- Assisted the Be Shaping companies with antitrust due diligence in connection with their potential acquisition by Centurion Holdco.
Ukraine > Dispute resolution Tier 3
Practice head(s):
Taras Dumych
Key clients
Somkhishvili, Tamaz
DSM Nutritional Products
Work highlights
- Representing a British investor in a major investment dispute with the city of Kyiv and its municipal authorities concerning compensation for the client’s losses sustained as a result of the cancellation by the Kyiv city authorities of an investment project.
- Representing DSM Nutritional Products in litigation initiated by the Ukrainian subsidiary of the company against a client in view of the failure by the latter to pay the full purchase price for supplied products.
Ukraine > Employment Tier 3
Practice head(s):
Olga Ivlyeva; Olena Kravtsova
Testimonials
‘Potential clients looking for a practice that is deeply embedded in the Ukrainian context, and one that prioritises exhaustive research, transparency, and tailored solutions, will find a dependable partner in Wolf Theiss. Their commitment to innovation, whether in billing, technology, or people management, further cements their position as leaders in their field.’
‘Whereas other firms might lean heavily on legacy solutions or pre-defined strategies, Wolf Theiss is adaptive, agile, and anticipatory. They do not just respond to challenges, they anticipate them, using their deep understanding of the unique Ukrainian context to stay ahead of the curve.’
‘The Wolf Theiss team stands out distinctly in the crowded marketplace of legal and consultancy practices, particularly due to its unyielding commitment to an individualised approach. Unlike many firms that may employ a ‘one-size-fits-all’ strategy, the Wolf Theiss team endeavors to understand the nuances and specifics of each client’s issue, ensuring tailored solutions that fit precisely to individual needs.’
‘Recognising the complex challenges posed by the rapidly evolving socio-political landscape in Ukraine, especially with the imposition of martial law, the team never underestimates the power of in-depth research. While many might opt for superficial solutions or resort to previously tried methods, Wolf Theiss delves deep into fundamental research to ensure that every recommendation and strategy is rooted in current realities and foresight.’
‘The Wolf Theiss practice acknowledges that when it comes to intricate problems, there’s rarely a singular solution. By providing clients with multiple options and clearly articulating the potential risks associated with each, they empower clients to make informed decisions. This transparent approach not only builds trust but also ensures that clients are never caught off-guard, having been apprised of all potential outcomes.’
Key clients
Biomin
Valuesoft
Nvidia
Flex (formerly Flextronics)
Snap
Uponor
Vouvray Acquisition Limited
TangoMe
Underdog Fantasy
Centurion Holdco S.a.r.l.
Yazaki Europe
RingCentral
Axon Enterprise
Work highlights
- Advising the Ukrainian subsidiary of Snap Inc on employment matters with respect to the company’s employees and executives.
- Advising Nvidia Corporation, a major technology company manufacturing graphics hardware (GPUs and SoCs) for gaming and professional markets, mobile computing and automotive markets, on various employment matters related to the operation of its IT business in Ukraine.
- Advising Uponor, a Finnish company specialising in mass production of water supply systems, on employment-related issues.
Ukraine > Intellectual property Tier 3
Practice head(s):
Taras Dumych
Key clients
SMOK Ventures II Coöperatief U.A.
Nvidia
Eckes-Granini
Snap
Crocs
Perigon Inc., Delaware
Apalon LLC, Delaware
Centurion Holdco S.a.r.l.
FIDIA PHARMA POLSKA SP. Z O.O.
OBI
Accountor
Axon Enterprise
RingCentral
Yazaki Europe
Work highlights
- Advising SMOK Ventures II Coöperatief U.A. on IP rights and contracts with key personnel.
- Advising Snap on its IP rights.
- Advising Nvidia, an American technology company which designs graphics processing units for the gaming and professional markets on its IP rights, particularly in relation to cross-border issues.
Ukraine > Real estate and construction Tier 3
Practice head(s):
Taras Dumych
Key clients
KKR
World Central Kitchen (WCK)
Stuzo
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
Somkhishvili, Tamaz
TangoME
Work highlights
- Assisting World Central Kitchen, a US-based NGO devoted to providing meals in response to natural disasters and humanitarian crises, with the lease of real estate premises in Western Ukraine.
- Advising IRC, a global humanitarian aid, relief, and development NGO, on issues related to the lease of real estate objects in Ukraine.
- Advising TangoMe on the lease of a Class A office business centre in Kyiv.
Ukraine > Tax Tier 4
Wolf Theiss > Firm Profile
The firm: Wolf Theiss opened its first office in Vienna in 1957 and soon established a reputation as one of the region’s leading law firms. The firm has since grown into a multinational team of approximately 390 lawyers, making it one of the largest integrated law firms in the region. It has offices* in Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Ukraine.
This presence on the ground is one of the firm’s key strengths. It works in a fast-moving part of the world that requires deep local knowledge and experience. By combining expertise with a strong international network, the firm is well-placed to handle complex cross-border transactions with a high degree of speed and flexibility.
Apart from its local offices in 13 CEE/SEE countries, Wolf Theiss also offers extensive regional experience in other countries in the region, such as Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia.
*The firm has regulatory frameworks within which it needs to comply. So by ‘presence’, we mean a legal form that is in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations in that country.
Areas of practice: Wolf Theiss’ full range of services covers financial services, competition and antitrust, compliance and investigations, corporate/mergers and acquisitions, employment law, energy and infrastructure, intellectual property and information technology, litigation and alternative dispute resolution, real estate and construction, regulatory and procurement, and tax. The firm’s dedicated practice teams provide in-depth specialist knowledge in their respective areas and collaborate closely to provide clients with seamless advice.
Ukraine: Opening an office in Kyiv was a strategic move which reflected the growing importance of the Ukrainian legal market for Wolf Theiss. The Kyiv office undertakes work in all areas of corporate and M&A activity, including infrastructure and energy projects, as well as real estate and banking and finance. The Ukrainian office is led by Taras Dumych and comprises seven lawyers (including one partner).
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banking and finance | Oksana Volynets | oksana.volynets@wolftheiss.com | +38 044 3 777508 |
| Competition and antitrust | Olga Ivlyeva | olga.ivlyeva@wolftheiss.com | +38 044 3 777575 |
| Corporate/M&A | Taras Dumych | taras.dumych@wolftheiss.com | +38 044 3 777517 |
| Corporate/M&A | Sergii Zheka | sergii.zheka@wolftheiss.com | +38 044 3 777559 |
| Corporate/M&A | Olga Ivanova | olga.ivanova@wolftheiss.com | +38 044 3 777500 |
| Dispute resolution | Taras Dumych | taras.dumych@wolftheiss.com | +38 044 3 777517 |
| Dispute resolution | Olena Kravtsova | olena.kravtsova@wolftheiss.com | +38 044 3 777518 |
| Employment | Olga Ivlyeva | olga.ivlyeva@wolftheiss.com | +38 044 3 777575 |
| Employment | Olena Kravtsova | olena.kravtsova@wolftheiss.com | +38 044 3 777518 |
| Employment | Olga Ivanova | olga.ivanova@wolftheiss.com | +38 044 3 777500 |
| Energy, natural resources and mining | Taras Dumych | taras.dumych@wolftheiss.com | +38 044 3 777517 |
| Energy, natural resources and mining | Sergii Zheka | sergii.zheka@wolftheiss.com | +38 044 3 777559 |
| Intellectual property and IT, hi-tech and venture capital | Taras Dumych | taras.dumych@wolftheiss.com | +38 044 3 777517 |
| Private equity | Taras Dumych | taras.dumych@wolftheiss.com | +38 044 3 777517 |
| Private equity | Sergii Zheka | sergii.zheka@wolftheiss.com | +38 044 3 777559 |
| Real estate | Taras Dumych | taras.dumych@wolftheiss.com | +38 044 3 777517 |
| Real estate | Olena Kravtsova | olena.kravtsova@wolftheiss.com | +38 044 3 777518 |
| Real estate | Olga Ivanova | olga.ivanova@wolftheiss.com | +38 044 3 777500 |
| Regulatory and procurement | Oksana Volynets | oksana.volynets@wolftheiss.com | +38 044 3 777508 |
| Tax | Taras Dumych | taras.dumych@wolftheiss.com | +38 044 3 777517 |
| Renewable energy | Sergii Zheka | sergii.zheka@wolftheiss.com | +38 044 3 777559 |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Mr Taras Dumych | Partner; specialised in Corporate Governance, Insolvency and Restructuring. Private Funds, Real Estate… | View Profile |
|
Ms Oksana Volynets | Senior Associate, specialised in Corporate/Mergers & Acquisitions, Banking & Finance, Securities Regulations,… | View Profile |
|
Mr Sergii Zheka | Senior Associate with over ten years of legal experience in various areas… | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers : 390 at this office : 6Languages
Albanian Bosnian Bulgarian Croatian Czech English French German Hungarian Italian Polish Romanian Russian Slovak Slovenian Spanish UkrainianMemberships
European Business Association Ukrainian Bar AssociationOther
Contact : Taras Dumych (local managing partner) Other offices : Belgrade Other offices : Bratislava Other offices : Bucharest Other offices : Budapest Other offices : Ljubljana Other offices : Prague Other offices : Sarajevo Other offices : Sofia Other offices : Tirana Other offices : Vienna Other offices : Warsaw Other offices : ZagrebDiversity
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 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 35% female partners, one of them within our management board, and 48% 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 awarded the Best in Central Europe Award at the European Women in Business Law Awards 2023 and to have been recognised as “Best in Austria” at the European Women in Business Law Awards 2022, 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.
Legal Briefings
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Sustainable construction and ESG reporting in the commercial real estate sector in Poland
According to the World Economic Forum, buildings are responsible for 40% of global energy consumption and almost 40% of total greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, the European Commission (EC) proposes that from 2030 all new buildings should be zero-emission.