The post-war reconstruction of Ukraine is an immense challenge that necessitates mobilization of substantial resources. During a United Nations Security Council meeting in November of the previous year, the approximate cost of the country's reconstruction and rehabilitation was estimated at $400 billion. Acknowledging the impossibility of covering such expenses solely through state funds and international aid, Ukraine is placing emphasis on enhancing collaboration with the private sector. Among the various forms and mechanisms for securing resources required for rebuilding of the destroyed infrastructure, public-private partnership (PPP) stands out as one of the most widely debated.

On 27 April 2024, the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine adopted Order No.262 (the ''Order'') which amended Order No.402 ''Regulations on Military Medical Expertise in the Armed Forces of Ukraine'' dated 14 August 2008.

CMS, working with Harneys Cyprus, has advised the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on a EUR 22 million loan to the Cyprus-based Farmak Group and Ukraine's JSC Farmak for the acquisition of Poland's Symphar and the upgrade of JSC Farmak's IT systems.

On April 22, 2024, Everlegal announced it had been appointed to provide legal support to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – the UN Refugee Agency – for its activities in Ukraine.

Asters, working with Heuking, has advised Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk football club on organizing its home matches during the UEFA Champions League and Europa League competitions in Hamburg, Germany, as a guest of the Hamburger SV football club.

Effective April 2024, former LCF Law Group Partner and Head of International Arbitration Yuliya Atamanova has joined JSC CB PrivatBank as a Legal Counsel and the head of the bank's International Arbitration and Cross-Border Litigation Department.

On the evening of April 25, 2024, the Deal of the Year Awards Banquet brought together, under the same roof, top-tier lawyers from Central and Eastern Europe's leading law firms in the region in Warsaw.

Former CMS Partner Anna Pogrebna has joined Integrites as a Partner to focus on real estate, construction, and infrastructure, while Mykola Nychyporuk has joined the firm as a Counsel and the Head of its White-Collar Crime practice.

Avellum has advised Ukraine's Ministry of Finance on a CAD 2 billion ten-year concessional loan from Canada. Sayenko Kharenko advised the Government of Canada.

Did you know that, according to the Activity Rankings function of the CEELMDirect website, of the 88 law firm partners who have reported working on disputes in CEE over the past 12 months, only nine have reported working on more than one?

On April 8, 2024, Integrites announced it had been selected, alongside Latham & Watkins, to advise the Ukrainian Finance Housing Company on a bridge financing to be granted by international financial institutions and the subsequent securitization of mortgage loans.

Sayenko Kharenko has helped CMA CGM obtain merger clearance from the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine for the acquisition of two Spanish port terminals – in Valencia and Bilbao – through the purchase of a 49% stake in Cosco Shipping Ports Holding.

Avellum has advised the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on a senior secured loan of up to EUR 2.5 million for the Polish campus of the Kyiv Medical University, a private higher educational establishment in Ukraine.

On April 2, 2024, the LCF Law Group announced that Ivan Bondarchuk had been promoted to the firm's Partner ranks and will now lead its Energy and Projects practice in Kyiv.

On 8 March 2024, Law of Ukraine No. 3587-IX (“Law”) came into force, intending to bring Ukrainian laws on the governance of state-owned enterprises (state unitary enterprises and business entities where the state holds more than 50% of shares) (“SOEs”) in line with the OECD Guidelines on Corporate Governance of State-Owned Enterprises.

Avellum has advised the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine on a defense loan guaranteed by UK Export Finance that will be used to finance the purchase, modernization, and maintenance of two Sandown-class mine countermeasure vessels for the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine. Sayenko Kharenko and, reportedly, Ashurst advised UK Export Finance.

On 27 February 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted Resolution No. 227 “On Introduction of Guarantees of Origin of Electricity Produced from Renewable Energy Sources”  (“Resolution”) that came into force on 5 March 2024.

In The Debrief, our Practice Leaders across CEE share updates on recent and upcoming legislation, consider the impact of recent court decisions, showcase landmark projects, and keep our readers apprised of the latest developments impacting their respective practice areas.