Another in our series of articles leading up to the 2020 Dealer’s Choice Law Firm Summit and Deal of the Year Awards in London.

Aequo has advised Dragon Capital on the acquisition of stake in Idea Bank JSC from Getin Holding S.A. Getin Holding was advised by Sayenko Kharenko.

Eterna Law has helped the Ukrainian branch of active Baltic power trader Axton Commodities launch its Ukrainian operations and obtain a power trading activities license in Ukraine.

Nobles and Italy's LCA Studio Legale have advised Dreamgroup Management, an Eastern European hostel operator, on the sale of its hostels in Warsaw, Prague, and Bratislava to London-based hostel operator Safestay plc. Eversheds Sutherland advised Safestay on the transaction, which is valued at approximately EUR 3.7 million.

Sayenko Kharenko has advised the JSC State Export-Import Bank of Ukraine (Ukreximbank) on its issuance of USD 100 million subordinated loan participation notes, listed on the London Stock Exchange. The notes were issued by Biz Finance Plc., which applied the total principal amount of the issue towards financing a subordinated loan to the bank. Latham & Watkins and, reportedly, Avellum, advised J.P. Morgan and Morgan Stanley, the joint leaders on the transaction, the total book order of which reached USD 300 million. White & Case reportedly advised Ukreximbank as well.

Baker McKenzie and Attorneys' Association Gestors have assisted ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih in an anti-dumping investigation regarding the imports of carbon and other alloy steel rods originating from Belarus and Moldova.

Asters has advised the EBRD on a EUR 10 million financing to the Kormotech Group.

Freshfields and Avellum have advised the Netherlands-based Van Leeuwen Pipe and Tube Group on the acquisition of Benteler Distribution Ukraine, a part of the international distribution division of Benteler International AG.

Baker McKenzie has advised Remington Seeds on its acquisition of MAIS's seed plant and farming operations in Ukraine.

Ilyashev & Partners has successfully represented the interests of Budpostach regarding a February 2, 2019 fire which resulted in the burning down of the company's Kyiv warehouse. 

Sayenko Kharenko has advised the EBRD on a synthetic financing provided in local currency to ProCredit Bank Ukraine, Raiffeisen Bank Aval, and OTP Bank Ukraine under the EU4Business initiative.

SDM Partners has successfully protected the interests of Royal Canin Ukraine LLC in litigation against the Tax Service of Ukraine. 

DLA Piper and PwC Legal have advised NEQSOL on its USD 734 million acquisition of VF Ukraine from Russian telecommunications operator MTS Group, which includes USD 84 million of earn-out payment. DLA Piper also advised NEQSOL on the raising of acquisition financing for the deal from a group of international funds and financial institutions led by J.P. Morgan Securities and Raiffeisen Bank International. Latham & Watkins and Aequo advised the MTS Group on the deal, while Avellum and Linklaters advised JP Morgan and Raiffeisen Bank on the underlying financing.

Lack of diversity and under-representation that had taken deep root in legal profession worldwide also tarnished the image of international arbitration. The concept of diversity means appreciating uniqueness of each individual, admitting that different strengths come with those differences. Without doubt, diversity in gender, age, ethnicity, race, culture, political and religious beliefs, sexual orientation and socio-economic status is important and may have a game-changing role. Yet, is arbitration community ready to embrace all the good that comes with diversity?

Ilyashev & Partners has successfully represented the Ukrrichflot Shipping Company before the Supreme Court of Ukraine in a dispute with JSC Ukrzaliznytsia, Ukrainian Railways.

Avellum has helped Ufuture obtain merger control clearance from the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine for the partial sale of its stake in LvivTech.City to unnamed buyers.

Avellum has advised Kernel Holding S.A. in connection with an offering of USD 300 million 6.5% guaranteed notes due 2024. Joint lead managers ING Bank N.V., London Branch, and J.P. Morgan Securities plc were reportedly advised by Latham & Watkins and Sayenko Kharenko.

Asters has advised Green Genius, a renewable energy company that is part of Modus Group International, on the construction of 14 MW solar power plant in the village of Zalukva in the Ivano-Frankivsk region of Ukraine.