On 27 April 2024, the Law of Ukraine, titled “On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine ‘On State Regulation of Capital Markets and Organised Commodity Markets’ and Certain Other Statutory Acts of Ukraine Concerning Regulation and Supervision of Capital Markets and Organised Commodity Markets” (the Law), came into effect.

On 5 June 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted Resolution No. 650 (hereinafter referred to as “Resolution No. 650”), which approves the Procedure for Reservation of Persons Liable for Military Service during Martial Law by means of the Unified State Web Portal of Electronic Services (hereinafter referred to as “Portal Diia”).

On February 29, 2024, energy experts from Bulgaria, Croatia, Moldova, Turkiye, and Ukraine sat down for a virtual round table moderated by CEE Legal Matters Managing Editor Radu Cotarcea to discuss the key developments in the field of oil & gas over the past few years.

In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. While in the legal field maintaining client relationships is vital, there are occasions when law firms must end engagements. To explore some of the reasons that might lead to this, we asked: After accepting mandates, what have been the main reasons for which you ended up having to drop clients?

Despite martial law, Ukraine has significantly advanced its renewable energy agenda over the last year. Ukraine’s trajectory in the renewable energy sector is not merely a response to challenges but a proactive and strategic approach to shaping a greener and more sustainable future.

On 1 May 2024, the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine's Order No.136 as of 1 April 2024, came into effect, cancelling Order No.206 as of 15 June 2022. This change has significant implications for the renewable energy sector in Ukraine, as detailed below.

On 25 April 2024, Ukrainian Parliament adopted the Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine Regarding the Regulation of Labour of Domestic Workers”, which introduces regulation of labour relations with domestic workers. The Law supplements the Labour Code of Ukraine (the “Labour Code”) with a new Chapter "Labor of Domestic Workers".

Integrites has advised UAID Fund on financing the reconstruction of the Giraffe Mall in Irpin, Kyiv Region.

The International Arbitration and Cross-Border Litigation practice has taken center stage for Asters in Ukraine according to Co-Managing Partner Oleksiy Didkovskiy, with work driven by the war and the pandemic and a focus on state and quasi-state clients.

On 26 April 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (“Government”) approved the Procedure for Using Funds from the State Budget to Provide State Support for the Implementation of Investment Projects Involving Significant Investments (“Budget Procedure”).

Asters has successfully defended PrivatBank in a dispute over the title to Pryozernyi, a shopping mall in Dnipro with a total area of more than 32,000 square meters.

On 15 May 2024, amendments to the Labour Code of Ukraine came into effect aiming to regulate the rights and obligations of parties in labour relations during a change of control over business. The Ukrainian parliament adopted such amendments to align Ukrainian legislation with EU Directive 2001/23/EC, dated 12 March 2001.

Despite the ongoing war, there was a significant increase in Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) transactions and private equity (PE) investments in 2023 compared to 2022, predominantly in the IT sector. Openly accessible market evaluations indicate that the volume of M&A deals might have reached $1.7 billion in 2023, five times more than in 2022. While that does not quite match the level of activity observed in 2021, it sets a cautiously optimistic tone for 2024.

Sayenko Kharenko has successfully represented Agrocenter, Zmiivska Ovocheva Fabryka, Kombinat Teplychny, Kremenchytska Ovocheva Fabryka, Ovochevyy Kombinat Stanyshivka, Perspektyva, Greenhouse Complex Dniprovsky, and Uman Greenhouse Complex in initiating anti-dumping investigation against imports into Ukraine of cucumbers and tomatoes originating from Turkiye.

On 15 May 2024, the Law of Ukraine “On amendments to the Labour Code of Ukraine on employment relations in case of business entity transfer” entered into force. The new Law establishes additional guarantees to employees in the event of business transfer. The Law aims at approximation of the national legislation to the Transfers of Undertakings Directive 2001/23/EC of 12 March 2001.

Sayenko Kharenko has advised the Green for Growth Fund on a EUR 6 million loan to Bank Lviv to support investments in sustainable agricultural equipment, energy-efficient measures, and small-scale renewable initiatives.

Asters, working with Kellerhals Carrard, has successfully represented the interests of FC Metalist LLC, based in Kharkiv, before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne in a case concerning the issue of sports succession and a related claim brought by a former player of FC Metalist PJSC, the football club that has been in liquidation since 2017 due to bankruptcy.

Across Europe, defense sectors are experiencing significant transformations and budgetary escalations, driven by a need for enhanced military readiness and modernization. Avellum Partner Andriy Romanchuk, Cobalt Partner Deividas Soloveicik, Nagy es Trocsanyi Partner Gyorgy Kiszely, and Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii Partner Serban Paslaru take a closer look at defense spending in their respective countries.