The conflict in the east of the country that began in 2014 is not the only thing plaguing Ukraine. After the fall of the pro-Russian regime in the wake of the Euromaidan revolution, the independent National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine was established to tackle the issue of corruption in the country.

lyashev & Partners has successfully defended the interests of Municipal Enterprise International Airport Kyiv and Master-Avia LLC, which is engaged in the development and maintenance of the airport, in a dispute involving allegations that they had acted together to improperly restrict competition in the airport's ground handling market.

In the summer of 2020, Ukraine’s renewable energy market underwent another string of changes, this time mainly because of the “green” tariff reduction. After more than six months of negotiations, “green” energy investors and the government managed to reach some consensus on how to protect the market against the default of the State Enterprise Guaranteed Buyer (hereinafter – Guaranteed Buyer) which was initially reflected in the memorandum on the so-called “green” tariff restructuring and later found its own legislative settlement.

Oleg Samus, the former Managing Director at Graterra LLC, has joined Sayenko Kharenko as a partner in the firm’s Government Relations practice.

In August 2020 the new laws introducing amendments to trademark and patent legislation (the “New Laws”) came into force. These changes concern patent and trademark owners, and producers of pharmaceuticals in particular.

Ilyashev & Partners is defending Ukrainian trade and economic interests in a dispute between Ukraine and the EU relating to a temporary export ban on unprocessed timber.

Sayenko Kharenko has analyzed data protection regimes in the UK, Germany, California, Israel, and Turkey within the framework of a technical assistance project supported by Ukraine's Ministry of Digital Transformation and the USAID Competitive Economy Program in Ukraine.

Aequo has advised Novus Ukraine on the acquisition of the Billa supermarket chain in Ukraine from the REWE Group. Dentons in Kyiv advised the seller on the deal, which remains subject to approval by the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine.

On July 23, 2020, CEE Legal Matters reported that Redcliffe Partners had advised the EBRD on an up to EUR 25 million term loan to Ukrainian State Air Traffic Services Enterprise. We reached out to Konstantin Olefirenko, Principal Legal Counsel at the EBRD, to learn more about the deal.

Integrites has successfully defended Orlen Lietuva in a UAH 1.5 million dispute with the Zhytomyr office of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine.

Asters is reporting that it reached a settlement following an anti-dumping investigation concerning imports into Ukraine of hot rolled seamless steel pipes originating from the People's Republic of China.

Baker McKenzie's Kyiv office has conducted legal due diligence for the State Property Fund of Ukraine related to its successful privatization of the Dnipro Hotel, which was sold at auction on July 15, 2020 with a winning bid of UAH 1.111 billion (approximately USD 40.1 million).

The International Trade Practice team of Ilyashev & Partners has initiated a safeguard investigation into the import of wires to Ukraine, regardless of the country of origin and export, on behalf of clients PJSC Odesa Cable Plant (“Odeskabel”) and PJSC “Yuzhkabel Plant." 

Nazali Tax & Legal has opened a new office in Kyiv.

Svitlana Teush has been promoted to partner at Redcliffe Partners in Kyiv.

Grata International has announced the creation of "a fully integrated office" in Ukraine, led by former Anstrum Law firm Partners Valeriy Savva and Mykola Aleksiuk.

For our Checking In feature, we reach out to partners and heads of practice across CEE to learn how specific practice areas are faring in their jurisdictions. This time around we asked firm Energy experts: What, in your view, is the most effective scheme currently in place in your jurisdiction to attract investments in renewable energy? If you had to pick one, what additional step from the regulators do you believe would have the most positive impact?

Avellum has advised the Ukrainian Ministry of Finance in connection with a new macro-financial assistance program from the European Union.