On April 4, 2024, Clifford Chance announced that the formation of Arcelik's new standalone home appliance business JV with Whirlpool (reported by CEE Legal Matters on January 24, 2023) had been completed, resulting in the formation of Beko Europe.

Marked by the turbulence of war, Ukraine’s legal sector has adjusted to the new circumstances but potential future talent challenges loom on the horizon.

The Ukrainian economy has endured unprecedented shocks resulting from the unprovoked invasion by Russia, which led to the seizure of assets in the occupied territories, massive destruction of or damage to assets throughout Ukraine, closure of a number of markets, disruption of various transport routes, huge losses in trade, flight of capital and human resources, etc.

Clifford Chance has advised KKCG on the acquisition of the end-to-end software engineering and consulting platform Avenga from funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management and Cornerstone Investment Management.

Redcliffe Partners Partner and Co-Head of Energy Albert Sych talks about the evolution of energy and their role as legal advisors in Ukraine over the last 10 years.

Redcliffe Partners has advised the IFC, EBRD, and DFC on their USD 480 million loan to Ukrainian poultry and grain producer MHP. Avellum advised MHP. CMS and Harneys reportedly advised the DFC and EBRD, with Harneys and Baker Botts reportedly advising the IFC.

In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. As key steps, requirements, and timeline for becoming a Partner may vary from firm to firm, this time we asked: Does your firm have a formal Partnership Track and if yes, what does it involve?

Integrites has advised the Kovalska Group on a EUR 27 million long-term secured loan from Dutch Invest International to finance the construction of a new aerated concrete production plant in Rozvadiv, Ukraine. Redcliffe Partners, working with the Amsterdam office of Clifford Chance, advised the lender.

Despite the ongoing challenges generated by the Russian invasion, the markets in Ukraine have seen surprising levels of activity, according to Rob Shantz, a Corporate and Compliance Partner with Redcliffe Partners. In the midst of it all, Shantz remains optimistic about the future, envisioning a busy legal market as Ukraine aligns more closely with the EU, leading to significant opportunities in the country's rebuilding efforts once the war is over.

In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. With the first quarter of 2023 wrapped up, we turned to the future and asked: In which practice area do you expect the most growth – in terms of work volume – in the next 12 months?

The CEELM Top 10 series looks back over the past ten years and celebrates the milestones we have achieved together. First up: most-read Briefings, with each article featuring a short description reflecting the authors’ opinion at the time.

The Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine is to resume work leading up to the grant of concession of three terminals of the Chornomorsk seaport, one of the largest seaports in Ukraine. In particular, the concession is to cover the first (cargo) terminal, the container terminal, and the fifth (railway and ferry) terminal.

Redcliffe Partners has advised the EBRD on its up to USD 100 million secured loan to Ukrainian poultry and grain producer MHP.

As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine hit the one-year mark, we asked Ukrainian law firms how they adjusted to the new circumstances, how their mandates and teams have evolved, and about the support they received from their colleagues abroad throughout this period.

2022 was a difficult year. To put a more positive spin on things, Rojs Peljhan Prelesnik & Partners Managing Partner Bojan Sporar, Deloitte Legal Senior Managing Associate Ened Topi, Redcliffe Partners Managing Partner Olexiy Soshenko, Drakopoulos Managing Partner Panagiotis Drakopoulos, and Polenak Partner Tatjana Shishkovska share what was, for them, the biggest positive surprise in 2022.

March 2022 was a breakthrough month for the virtual assets market in Ukraine. With the help of Ukraine‑based Everstake and Kuna, the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine set up a fund to accept donations in crypto assets to primarily support Ukraine’s military needs. According to the Ministry, Ukraine’s government has raised over USD60 million in crypto donations to date. Also, Unchain Ukraine, a project of Ukrainian blockchain activists, launched a card that has been marketed as ‘the first charitable cryptocurrency card’ powered by Weld Money and Unex Bank. The crypto assets raised are exchanged into UAH and made available to women and children in need using Unchain Help Card, a virtual card issued by Unex Bank.

Redcliffe Partners, working with Simmons & Simmons, has advised the EBRD on a EUR 24 million short-term unsecured loan to Ukrainian poultry and grain producer MHP.

Redcliffe Partners has advised the EBRD on providing risk-sharing instruments to ProCredit Bank, OTP Bank, and OTP Leasing in Ukraine in a food security guarantee program worth up to EUR 30 million.