The President of Ukraine has officially signed Law No. 3528-IX “On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine Regarding the State Regulation of Cannabis Plants for Use in Educational Purposes, Educational, Scientific and Scientific-Technical Activities, drugs production, Psychotropic Substances and medicinal products with the aim of increasing patients’ access to the necessary treatment” simply known as the law on cannabis legalisation (the “Medical Cannabis Law”). The Medical Cannabis Law sets forth regulations governing the use of cannabis for educational, scientific, and medical purposes.

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.

Discussing how the energy markets are evolving – diversifying, moving away from dependence on Russian gas, and becoming ever-greener – CMS Partners Horea Popescu, Blazej Zagorski, Thomas Hamerl, and Maria Orlyk take a deep dive into the dynamic shifts in the energy landscape post-2022.

As 2023 comes to a close, reflections on the year reveal challenges and achievements across Romania, Bulgaria, and Ukraine. Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii Managing Partner Gabriel Zbarcea, Schoenherr Bulgaria Local Partner Ilko Stoyanov, and Avellum Managing Partner Mykola Stetsenko share their thoughts on what kind of a year it has been.

In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. As we bid farewell to 2023, this time around we turn our attention forward: What is your one main wish for 2024 and what do you see as the biggest potential risk?

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.

An in-depth look at Armen Khachaturyan of Asters covering his career path, education, and top projects as a lawyer as well as a few insights about him as a manager at work and as a person outside the office.

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.

Olga Vorozhbyt has joined Sayenko Kharenko as a Partner and will focus on helping the firm handle cross-border disputes and large-scale investigations, including ones related to FCPA rules.

Did you know that the early 2024 deal leaderboards are already available via the Activity Rankings function of the CEELMDirect website?

Avellum has advised the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine on a EUR 37.6 million export loan provided under the framework agreement between the Governments of Ukraine and France with the funds being directed towards purchasing rails for Ukrainian Railways from French manufacturer Saarstahl-Rail.

On 18 October 2023, the Law of Ukraine "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine Regarding Mandatory Registration and Use of Electronic Accounts in the Unified Judicial Information and Telecommunication System (UJITS) or its separate subsystem (Module) that provides for the exchange of documents" dated 29 June 2023 No. 3200-IX (hereinafter referred to as the Law) came into effect. The Law introduces changes to the provisions of procedural codes, particularly the Civil Procedural Code of Ukraine, the Commercial Procedural Code of Ukraine and the Code of Administrative Procedure of Ukraine.

Integrites won the public tender and signed the procurement contract to become the legal advisor of NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine on matters related to the activities of the company's supervisory board and its committees throughout 2024, and will work with the UK's Simmons & Simmons as co-executor under the contract.

Avellum, working with Linklaters, has advised Stellantis on the acquisition of the artificial intelligence framework, machine learning models, and intellectual property rights and patents of CloudMade.

In Ukraine, employee job titles should be named exclusively in accordance with the national classifier DK 003:2010 "Classifier of Professions".

Oleksiy Koltok and Oleg Klymchuk have been appointed as Partners with Sayenko Kharenko in Kyiv.

On January 31, 2024, Ukraine’s National Energy and Utilities Services Commission (the Regulator) adopted Resolution No. 232 On Approval of Amendments to the Resolution of the Regulator 1812 dated October 4, 2023 (the Amendments).

On 24 January 2024, the NEURC adopted the Resolution "On Amendments to Certain Resolutions of the National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission (NEURC)" (the "Resolution") to bring the secondary legislation in line with the Law of Ukraine "On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on Restoration and Green Transformation of the Energy System of Ukraine" No. 3220-IX dated 30 June 2023 (the "Law on "Green" Transformation").