Baker McKenzie, Kyiv Office > Kyiv, Ukraine > Firm Profile

Baker McKenzie, Kyiv Office > The Legal 500 Rankings

Ukraine > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 1

The ‘established' banking and finance practice at Baker McKenzie, Kyiv Office continues to expand its industry specialisation, advising clients across the agricultural, payment services and financial regulations, financial sector reform and fintech sectors. Drawing on the firm’s global network, the team is called upon by a host of financial institutions, such as banks, payment institutions and asset managers. It excels at advising international companies on operations within Ukraine, including regulatory matters. The firm’s capital markets practice, led by Viacheslav Yakymchuk, is also active, alongside the project finance team, which excels in the energy and aviation sectors. Head of the banking and finance practice Serhiy Chorny is a go-to for finance and debt restructuring matters, operating on an international level. Bohdan Diakovych focuses his practice on banking regulatory issues, from financial monitoring matters to local currency and capital controls. Hanna Smyrnova is another key member of the team, along with Stepanyda Badovska.

Ukraine > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 1

Drawing on the firm’s global network, Baker McKenzie, Kyiv Office excels in cross-border corporate transactions and M&A. The team is well-equipped to advise on both English and US law-governed transactions. The group enjoys a diverse client base; it is regularly called upon by PE and VC funds and has seen a recent increase in clients from or investing in the IT and military tech sectors. A go-to for sellers, buyers and targets, practice head Viacheslav Yakymchuk enjoys an established track record in cross-border M&A. Andrii Moskalyk, promoted to partner in July 2023, boasts particular expertise in the defence tech, IT, energy and infrastructure sectors, focusing on private equity and private M&A. Olga Gavrylyuk handles reorganisation projects on a global scale, while Alyona Bon brings to the team expert knowledge of the IT, TMT, healthcare and agribusiness industries.

Ukraine > Competition Tier 1

Drawing on the firm’s global network, Baker McKenzie, Kyiv Office advises a multinational roster of both public and private companies on merger control proceedings. The team is experienced in representing clients before the Antimonopoly Committee, boasting expert knowledge of antitrust violations, infringements and abuse of dominance. It excels in the rollout of competition compliance programs, and also represents clients in compliance investigations. Practice head Oksana Simonova is an expert in competition law infringements and compliance and is regularly called upon to advise on merger control, abuse of dominance and public procurement. Focusing on merger control, Olga Mikheieva‘s practice also encompasses anti-competitive concerted actions, unfair competition practices and abuse of dominance.

Ukraine > Employment Tier 1

Baker McKenzie, Kyiv Office excels in negotiations with trade unions, international corporate investigations and employment law audits. The practice is well-placed to develop internal corporate policies, as well as advise on the drafting of legislation and regulations of employment relations and migration policies. The team is regularly called upon to handle disciplinary sanctions and sensitive issues, such as terminations, and boasts an active ADR practice for employee grievances and legal claims. Practice head Lina Nemchenko specialises in labour law, particularly data protection matters. Advising both Ukrainian and foreign clients, Mariana Marchuk's diverse labour and migration practice ranges from transfers and terminations to international investigations and harassment to collective disputes and agreements. Anna Stepanowa leverages her specialist knowledge of labour and migration legislation to provide day-to-day compliance and HR advice, while Olga Sikorska is experienced in advising on the employment aspects of market entry. Anastasiia Ladan provides extensive support on migration law issues.

Ukraine > Energy Tier 1

At Baker McKenzie, Kyiv Office, lead partner Serhiy Piontkovsky has a long track record in privatisation projects in the power, steel, mining and industrial sectors, and is a key source of regulatory advice for domestic and international energy clients. He recently assisted with the privatisation of a majority stake in one of Ukraine’s largest power-generation companies. Emerging partner talent Andrii Moskalyk focuses primarily on energy infrastructure projects, PPPs, corporate and regulatory matters, and M&A transactions.

Ukraine > Intellectual property Tier 1

Baker McKenzie, Kyiv Office is a go-to firm for large international businesses wanting to protect their IP rights in Ukraine, though it has also become a key partner to domestic companies that need advice on IP protection, management and enforcement. Standout partner Ruslan Drobyazko, who recently advised an international tobacco giant on patent matters, is an expert in structuring transactions related to IP and IT, as well as anti-counterfeiting and IP enforcement. Newly promoted partner Oleksiy Stolyarenko leads the IT/TMT group in Kyiv and has notable expertise in e-commerce, media and advertising matters.

Ukraine > International trade Tier 1

Baker McKenzie, Kyiv Office advises numerous blue-chip clients on US, EU, Ukrainian and other regulations, as well as government sanctions and trade restrictions that affect the cross-border trade in goods, tech and services. The team, led by banking and capital markets partner Serhiy Chorny, and featuring standout senior associate Nadiia Filozop, is sought after for its knowledge of export controls, economic sanctions and embargoes, free trade agreements, technical and non-tariff trade barriers, trade remedies, WTO and customs issues.

Ukraine > Real estate and construction Tier 1

Praised for its ‘pro-active and practical legal advice’, Baker McKenzie, Kyiv Office is skilled at real estate financing, land issues and transactional work. Serhiy Piontkovsky is often engaged in establishing real estate investment funds, while Lina Nemchenko and Elmaz Abkhairova often handle property development matters. Other key members of the team include Nadia Filozop, who is focused on energy and infrastructure projects.

Ukraine > Tax Tier 1

Baker McKenzie, Kyiv Office has strength in international tax planning, with a client base which includes numerous prominent multinationals from a range of industries. Transfer pricing, VAT planning, and customs advice are all covered by the department, which additionally advises on contentious matters. Lead partner Hennadiy Voytsitskyi specialises in providing international tax advice, and acts for both multinationals and domestic clients. Voytsitskyi has further expertise in criminal tax matters, including tax evasion. Roman Koren provides support on transactional tax planning, indirect tax, and tax structuring.

Ukraine > Private client Tier 2

Baker McKenzie, Kyiv Office has a strong wealth management practice. Lead partner Hennadiy Voytsitskyi and senior associate Roman Koren are key advisers to high-net-worth individuals on tax planning matters, including issues such as change of tax residence, managing the risks of multiple tax residences, personal tax, asset protection and succession planning. They call up on the firm’s broader local team to assist with trusts, litigation and reporting obligations arising from high-value, cross-border transactions.

Ukraine > Dispute resolution Tier 3

Active in cross-border matters, Baker McKenzie, Kyiv Office is well-placed to advise on legal mechanisms of different jurisdictions. The team represents both Ukrainian and international clients in an impressive range of civil, commercial, administrative and criminal disputes. Ihor Siusel's cross-border disputes practice spans an impressive range of sectors, from insurance, loan and bankruptcy disputes to real estate and construction, maritime and aviation matters to IP, tax, customs and labour cases. Kseniia Prokhur is active in compliance investigations, as well as international commercial arbitration and awards enforcement. Anna Boyko and Ievgen Bidnyi are other names to note.

Ukraine > White-collar crime Tier 3

Baker McKenzie, Kyiv Office has a team of five criminal lawyers in Kyiv, and is known for its in-depth knowledge of local regulation and criminal law. They frequently assist companies and financial institutions with cross-border investigations, as well as representing corporate executives in criminal investigations and prosecutions. Lead partner Ihor Siusel handles international commercial arbitration, compliance and bankruptcy matters as part of his broad dispute resolution practice.