Litigation

The market-leading reputation of Ilyashev & Partners, with its fouroperating offices in the country, had a flourishing caseload. Solid clientele includes international and domestically sound names across a variety of industries. The firm developed an extensive referral network and is often enlisted for major disputes in Ukrainian courts. Among the recent notable cases is representation of BTA Bank in disputes in the UK, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Russia; representation of Nadra Bank in several debts restructuring projects, insolvency procedures and enforcement of collaterals. The team is highly active in litigation with state authorities. In particular, the firm represented Kyivstar against the resolution of the National Commission for Communications Regulation and Informatization on the procedure for providing a number porting service. The past year was a rich one in tax litigation, where the team acted for FSC More, Deutsche Bank, BTA Bank, ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, State enterprise Antonov. Moreover, the firm opened an office in Simferopol (Crimea) to render legal support to clients on the annexed peninsula. The team is led by three partners — Mikhail Ilyashev, Roman Marchenko, Maksym Kopeychykov.

 

Known as a strong litigation force on the Ukrainian legal market, LCF Law Group proliferates in the domestic area. The team is well-known for successfully representing banks and corporate debtors in debt recovery disputes, as well as its extensive track record of commercial, trademark, tax litigations. Its team represented Construction Material Plant No. 1 LLC in a series of disputes appealing against acquisition agreements and reclamation of property from debtors. The group is traditionally active in the energy sector, acting for clients like the Carpatsky Petroleum Corporation, KEC Ukraine, Arab Energy Alliance UA. Under the guidance of its managing partner, Anna Ogrenchuk, the team represented Kuwait Energy Ukraine in a dispute regarding termination of a special permit for subsoil use. Clients include Alfa Bank, State Enterprise Plant 410 CA, Varenichnaya Pobeda, Yuria-Farm LLC and others. Artem Stoianov, senior partner, is another important point of contact.

 

Vasil Kisil & Partners acted in a range of top-level cases, and received plaudits for its litigation work. The firm is known for its remarkable track record on corporate, commercial, banking, insolvency, administrative and regulatory disputes. The litigation team represents Shell in a series of cases initiated by Ukrainian claimants seeking invalidation of decisions of local municipalities approving the Product Sharing Agreement between Shell and the Government. The team has a solid caseload of tax and customs disputes for sound clients, with recent cases for Philips, ATB-invest, Automotive Europe Corporation, Sberbank of Russia, Investment fund Respublika (Global Space Management), Imperial Tobacco Production Ukraine, Pull and Bear Ukraine, Melon Fashion Ukraine, Shell, Sandvik and others. Oleg Makarov, managing partner, and Vadym Belyanevych, senior counsellor, are widely acclaimed as luminaries among the community of litigators. Partner Andriy Stelmashchuk maintains a strong reputation in the area of tax disputes. Counsellor Alexei Sluch received references from the market as a rising litigation professional.

 

The sizeable 21-strong litigation team of Arzinger has a diverse caseload centered on debt collection, tax and customs, commercial, IP and antimonopoly disputes, business crime matters. The firm operates through its offices in Kiev, Odessa and Lviv, possesses industrial specialization and is present in disputes across energy, agriculture, retail, banking, automobile, etc. The team represented a group of international banks in a dispute on the USD 95 million indebtedness of a Ukrainian producer of flint flakes for solar cells. The past year was flourishing for tax and customs litigation. Sergiy Shklyar¹, founding partner, is a reputed market figure with an established reputation. Markian Malskyy, partner, head of the West Ukrainian branch, and Andriy Selyutin, counsel, head of the South Ukrainian branch, are important points of contact.

 

Ukrainian law firm FCLEX enjoys a consistently large volume of contentious work covering commercial, tax and regulatory disputes. With the remarkable roster of industrial clients and banks, the 35-lawyer team performed substantial litigation in high-stake disputes. The landmark representation of the past year was acting for the AIS Corporation in a USD 88 million foreclosure dispute with UkrSibbank. Moreover, 2014 saw it represent the Finance and Credit Bank in a series of debt recovery cases; Ferrexpo Poltava Mining in a USD 95 million case; represented Dutch investor Okean B.V. regarding the recognition of his creditor’s right to payment of USD 133 millionin a bankruptcy case involving the Mykolayiv shipyard Okean. The firm’s partners are totally involved in the practice. Thus, Viktor Barsuk is the brains of this dynamic team. Oleg Malinevskiy has  broad practice of commercial litigation while Sergiy Chuyev focuses on tax litigation.

 

Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners Ukraine handles a great deal of both domestic and international litigation, particularly in the areas of tax, commercial, debt recovery, insolvency matters. The firm is often attracted for handling complex,multidimensional disputes, and often works alongside its office in Washington D.C. headed by Andrew Mac. After Oleksii Reznikov left for Kiev City Council, Gleb Bialyi became a co-head of the litigation practice. Partner Ilona Zekely, an Austrian lawyer, represents a range of international clients.

 

In 2014 Sayenko Kharenko’s sizeable team of litigators, as led by partner Sergey Pogrebnoy, demonstrated a successful performance in resolving high-profile disputes ranging from major commercial matters to sensitive regulatory, tax, and criminal investigations. The firm is well-known for its successful track record when it comes to recovering money or assets. Thus, the team managed the debt recovery portfolio totaling in excess of USD 170 million acting for leading banks. In a recent highlight, the team represented a Ukrainian distributor of imported medical products in the largest to date dispute with the State Inspection for Price Control of Ukraine, having successfully appealed against a potential fine of USD 35 million. The firm demonstrates a significant flow of corporate disputes, and represented a non-resident in a corporate dispute related to the property rights to a USD 30 million business center in Kiev. The recent caseload of the litigation team was rich in tax disputes and criminal proceedings relating to business crime. Partner Sergey Pogrebnoy, counsel Igor Sukhomudrenko, and senior associate Sergey Smirnov are the key litigators.

 

Lavrynovych & Partners is recognized for its broad litigation practice and is often enlisted to handle corporate, investment, debt recovery, commercial, tax and a wider range of administrative disputes. The soundest representation of late is acting for Swissport International Ltd in its series of disputes with Ukraine International Airlines. Andriy Moroz, the firm’s associate partner,represented MUK Group in a USD 10.5 million debt collection dispute as per a supply agreement. The firm’s client list includes Vaderstad, Silski Tradytsiyi, Torgova rada, Devilon Group, Avanta Group, Nova HealthCare and Rosenergomash. The team of executive partner Iryna Marushko was highly active in tax litigation. Stanislav Skrypnyck, partner, has an established presence in debt recovery and insolvency work. Maksym Lavrynovych, managing partner, oversees the practice.

 

AstapovLawyers international law group has a sizeable 20-strong team across its offices in Kiev, Moscow and Almaty. The group has an extensive number of assignments from banks and financial services, agrarian sector, global luxury brands, telecom and electronics. Notably, general commercial, debt collection, employment, tax and customs, IP, as well as recognition and enforcement of arbitration awards fall within the multi-jurisdictional litigation team of the group. PJSC Bel Shostka Ukraine, Group Sodruzhestvo, British American Tobacco, OPT Leasing and others are among the group’s clients. Andrey Astapov and Oleh Beketov head the practice.

 

Throughout 2014 Avellum Partners significantly broadened its dispute portfolio, having become more vivid in both domestic and multi-jurisdictional matters. The team represented Ferrexpo in a USD 400 million multi-party dispute heard in Ukrainian commercial courts over shares in the Poltava Mining Plant. The firm is especially known for shareholders disputes. A sound case by the team saw it act for Assofit Holding Ltd. (holding company of Sky Mall shopping center) to protect its assets from attacks of various parties coordinated by a minority shareholder. The team represented a high net worth individual in a multi-jurisdictional shareholders dispute concerning the treatment and division of assets and liabilities of Oledo Group after the sale in 2009 of VikOil, the principal cash flow generating asset of Oledo Group, to a global joint venture TNK-BP. Kostiantyn Likarchuk, is the lead partner of the five-lawyer team.

 

With its established CIS network of offices, Integrites commands one of the most sizeable dispute teams on the market. Throughout 2014 the firm grew its caseload, which was particularly focused on debt recovery, administrative, post M&A and IP disputes. That is, a significant number of debt recovery cases were supported in favor of VTB Bank, while ArcelorMittal was represented in a series of tax litigations. One of the soundest cases involving the firm is acting for the Roshen Confectionary Corporation in protecting interests of its affiliate PJSC Lipetsk confectionary Factory in the Russian Federation against alleged IP rights violations. Another highlight is protecting the interests of PRACTIKA Asset Management Company with regard to cancellation of a deposit contract and collection of funds from Kreditprombank. Other notable representations were rendered to Philip Morris, Levada Trading House, PJSC Farmak, East One, Sberbank of Russia. Vyacheslav Korchev, senior partner, heads the dispute resolution practice in CIS.

 

Baker & McKenzie provides expertise in civil, commercial, administrative and criminal disputes, including complex cross-border matters. The notable highlight of the Kiev team is successful representation of ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih in long lasting 4 years of administrative court proceedings related to recognizing its rights to extract oxidized ore at one of its mines. Ihor Siusel, partner, is head of the dispute resolution practice group, involved in domestic and cross-border disputes, as well as international arbitration.

 

Asters represents a range of international and local clients in commercial, corporate, administrative disputes with governmental agencies, IP litigations. The firm is well-known for its track record in disputes with the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine and tax authorities. Sectoral diversity of Asters’ clientele covers aviation, automotive, heavy industry, agriculture, FMCG, financial services, etc. The IP practice was strengthened with admission of new partner Julia Semeniy (previously partner at Konnov & Sozanovsky). The diverse practice is led by several partners, including Svitlana Chepurna, Tamara Lukanina. Oleksiy Didkovskiy combines the managing partner function with the litigation practice.

 

New market player Aequo (established in August 2014 as a result of split from Vasil Kisil & Partners) managed to develop a solid litigation portfolio, which includes shareholders’, tax, antimonopoly and debt recovery disputes. A notable example is representing a Ukrainian subsidiary of Samsung in a number of proceedings regarding USD 3.5 million debt recovery from a Ukrainian trade group. The firm is also known for its work for international law firms. For example, upon instructions from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, it currently represents KPMG as receivers appointed by the English High Court of Justice for the worldwide assets of Mukhtar Ablyazov (who was sued by BTA Bank for fraud and damages amounting to over USD 6 billion in total), in a series of proceedings in Ukraine connected with recognition and enforcement of English court orders and obtaining control over his Ukrainian assets. Pavlo Byelousov, counsel, extends his litigationexperiencewith a special focus on investment, corporate and commercial disputes. Partner Oleksandr Mamunya became head of dispute resolution and IP.

 

In 2014 the Kiev office of Gide Loyrette Nouel demonstrateddiverse dispute resolution practice, including banking, commercial, tax, customs, competition areas, consumer cases as well as cross-border litigation. In a recent highlight the team, under the guidance of partner Oleksiy Feliv (who joined with the group of lawyers from Beiten Burkhardt), represents BIONIC Hill, developing of the first Ukrainian innovation park comparable to Silicon Valley, estimated in a domestic real estate litigation case; and international cosmetics manufacturer Beiersdorf Ukraine in a large dispute with a distributor. The client list of the litigation practice has names like Vamed Engineering, VA Intertrading, I-TEK, Caussade Semences, Bongrain, Peugeot Citroёn Ukraine, Saaten-Union GmbH, Domke Engineering. Bertrand Barrier, partner, co-head of the practice in Kiev. Daniyil Fedorchuk, senior associate, is another important figure of the team.

 

The dispute resolution work of Dentons is mostly of a cross-border nature. The majority of cases handled involve more than one office. For example, the firm acted for the recognition and enforcement of an international arbitration award in Ukraine of Czech Export Bank arbitration vs. Kuzminetskyi Brickyard in the Czech Republic. Oleg Batyuk, managing partner, is the main point of contact.

 

Domestic litigation and enforcement proceeding is a core practice of the Ukrainian firm VB PARTNERS. The caseload includes corporate, commercial, debt recovery, IP, employment, administrative disputes, as well as white-collar crime service. In a recent highlight the team represented Indesit Ukraine in a series of debt recovery disputes concerning non-fulfillment of obligations by its counterparties. Another significant client of the team Public JSC Zaporizhsky Alyuminievy Kombinat (ZAlK) has been represented in a disputeover the termination of public encumbrance (tax lien) of assets and a dispute over the claim of the Prosecutor-General’s Office of Ukraine to terminate the agreement on privatization and return the stake to the state. Both founding partners of the firm are active litigators. Volodymyr Vashchenko is focused on tax, commercial and civil disputes. Denys Bugay leads corporate, commercial, regulatory disputes and heads the firm’s white-collar crime practice group.

 

International Legal Center EUCON, which operates through two offices in Kiev and Warsaw, is gradually expanding its dispute resolution to corporate, commercial, debt recovery, regulatory disputes, recognition and enforcement of foreign courts judgments, as well as the mediation offering. The center has a well-established tax litigation practice, acting regularly on comprehensive, large-scale tax and customs disputes. In a recent highlight, the litigation team represented the General Consulate of the Republic of Poland in Lviv in a number of debt recovery disputes; and acted for a subsidiary enterprise of Hotel Ukraine in two corporate disputes. Commercial litigation is led by experienced senior partner Tetiana Samsina.Managing partner Yaroslav Romanchukis in charge of the flourishing tax litigation side. Yevgen Petrenko, counsel, is a dispute resolution practice co-head, and is currently dedicated to white-collar crime cases.

 

Apart from a traditional focus in energy, natural resources and FMCG sectors, ANTIKA Law Firm also represents clients from banking sectors in court cases. The litigation team dealt with recognition of proprietary rights on real estate objects, debt recovery, tax, labor and consumer matters. Partner Andrey Kuznetsov is practice head, and recently represented AWT Bavaria and Nasosenergomash Sumy Pump & Power Engineering Works in tax litigations.

 

DLA Piper in Ukraine handles contentious matters providing litigation services to its clients as an additional supplement to fully-fledged legal support in the country. The team deals with various corporate, commercial, tax and employment-related disputes, assisting сlients with both pre-court procedures (including amicable agreements) as well as litigations and arbitrations. In 2014 the team represented Swissport, an international service company to airlines and airports, in its dispute with Ukraine International Airlines over corporate rights to Swissport Ukraine LLC. The office currently supports an international hotel chain in its dispute towards the rights to manage a hotel in Ukraine. Margarita Karpenko, managing partner, and Mykhailo Byelostotskiy, senior associate, are the main practitioners.

 

CMS Cameron McKenna represents predominantly international clients across corporate, shareholders, debt recovery, IP, tax matters. The instructions derive from banking and financial, machine and electronic production, energy and transportation sectors. In July 2014 Olga Vorozhbyt (previously worked at Chadbourne & Parke)joined the Kiev office as a partner, and develops the litigation and compliance practice. The team includes Sergiy Gryshko, Maksym Bugai, Mykola Heletiy, and senior partner Olexander Martinenko, a prominent name with a strong reputation on the marketplace.

 

Dynamic domestic outfit MORIS GROUPdeveloped its dispute portfolio centered on administrative proceedings, corporate governance, tax, real estate and finance issues. The group handled numerous representations for VAB Bank regarding debt and mortgage property recovery, property rights recognition; represented SG Transportation Leasing Austria GmbHin a USD 5.3 milliondispute against various Ukrainian printing companies in connection with debt collection and withdrawal of acquired products under a sales and purchase agreement. Furthermore, the tax team is highly active on the dispute front, representing Karpatnaftokhim, Donetsk Poultry Plant, representative office of Rostselmash in Ukraine, Galimpeks-glass-and-mirror plant. Partners Andriy Romanchuk and Andriy Savchuk are the core contacts.

 

Jurimex Law Firm continues to keep strong focus on state lotteries, travel industry and road sector. In 2014 clients received representation in disputes on protection of business reputation and with government bodies, disputes on protection of consumer rights, recovery for rendered and non-rendered services, tax litigation. The firm represented the Broadcasting Radiocommunications and Television Concern in a number of employment disputes; provided Aviaservice LLC, a trader of oil products, an application to the European Court of Human Rights on compensation for damages from the side of prosecutor bodies. Marina Slobodnichenko and Nina Kucheruk are the main contacts.

ARBITRADE’s caseload is substantial and includes a wide variety of matters, such as criminal cases, corporate, employment, commercial, financial, tax disputes, etc. Asset protection was developed into a stand-alone area of the litigation practice. In 2014 ARBITRADE successfully defended the interests of the owners of a large insurance company, ECCO, that was subjected to a corporate raid. The firm possesses considerable experience and skills in conducting multiple court proceedings. Pavel Tritenichenko, managing partner, is a key contact.

 

ENGARDE is traditionally active in debt recovery work, including proceedings in Ukraine and in foreign jurisdictions, recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards in the courts of Ukraine. Managing partner Irina Nazarova keeps receiving positive recognition as well as feedback from the legal market. Another key contact for the litigation practice is partner Andriy Vyshnevsky. The list of cases with which the firm has been engaged throughout the year includes real estate disputes, asset recovery proceedings, debt recovery.

 

During 2014 Gvozdiy & Oberkovych demonstrated broad-based counseling on multimillion cases on debt collection, debt repayment through the sale of mortgaged property. Thus, the firm advised Diamantbank, Credit Europe Bank, Raiffeisen Bank Aval in the course of debt disputes. Other highlights include representation of Amazone Ukraine in the USD 8 million debt recovery dispute with contractors arising from supply agreements. The firm is also highly active in administrative disputes. For instance, the team represented Reckitt Benckiser (Medkom MP) in a dispute with the State Inspection of Ukraine for Prices Control regarding annulment of penalties; Zara Ukraine in a dispute with the State Inspection of Ukraine on Protection of Consumer Rights on challenging the ruling and sanctions. State owned or managed companies like the State Expert Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, JSC Ukrtelekom, Bohomolets National Medical University were successfully advised on disputes settlement. The practice team is led by senior associates Natalia Mysnyk in Kiev and Dmytro Dzhulay in Odessa, and headed by managing partner Valentyn Gvozdiy.

 

ECOVIS Bondar & Bondar Law Bureau has a strong dedication in the aviation sector. The team represented Ukraine International Airlines in a sound corporate dispute with Swissport International Ltd with regard to corporate rights in Interavia LLC. Another notable case is representing AIRO Catering Services Ukraine (Lufthansa group) in a dispute with Boryspil Airport in a case regarding unfair competition. One more significant client, football club Volyn, wasrepresented in several corporate cases in various jurisdictions. The lead team includes Oleg Bondar, managing partner, and Oleksandr Povar, senior associate.

 

Misechko & Partners deals primarily with domestic litigation, ranging from real estate, contractual, debt collection, tax, regulatory and general commercial disputes. The firm’s client list includes industrial enterprises, trade companies and distributors, agrarian, food and beverages companies, as well as private individuals. The team recently performed successful defense of Panalpina World Transport Ltd, global leader in cargo forwarding, in a dispute regarding recovery of insurance on damaged cargo. The firm has successful experience of recognition of Ukrainian arbitral awards abroad. For example, the firm represented the interests of Gulyanetsky Shchebzavod (chips plant) with respect to the recognition of a decision of the ICAC at the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry on the territory of the Russian Federation. Volodymyr Misechko, managing partner, is a main point of contact.

 

In 2014 the litigation practice of ILF (Inyurpolis Law Firm) was especially dedicated to banking and employment disputes. For example, the firm represented its consistent client,Ukrgasbank, a state bank, in a dispute with a dishonest debtor and Ukrainian subsidiary of Cargill in an employment dispute. The firm proactively develops its practice of defending clients’ interests in the European Court of Human Rights. Associate partner Andriy Kristenko leads the relevant practice.

 

The KPD Consulting law firm is particularly active in disputes in the financial area and banking sector, including support of lenders; enforcement and foreclosure of collateral. For example, the practice team represented Piraeus Bank ICB in commercial state courts of various instances with respect to its commercial real estate, and the Ukrainian subsidiary of Unicredit Leasing incivil court and commercial court proceedings. Igor Kalitventsev, managing partner, is practice head.

 

Zavadetskyi Advocates Bureau is a firm focused on domestic commercial litigation also known for loan recovery work, tax litigation and white-collar crime. The teamrepresented the Ukrainian subsidiary of ING Bank in litigious recovery of a USD 22 million loan to a Ukrainian corporate borrower, Zoloty Vorota, including recovery of funds and enforcement of collateral; and represented leading Turkish glassware producer Sisecam Group in a series of commercial litigation cases. Veronika Mordasova is head of commercial and civil litigation. Oleksandr Zavadetskyi is the main contact.

 

Lexwell & Partners demonstrates a solid track record of litigation work for itsindustrial and automotive clients. The counsel Igor Nagai represented Summit Motors Ukraine and Toyota Ukraine in a few product liability litigations; acted for Bekhivsky Quarry (CRH Group) in litigation relating to its title to a land plot leased for mining purposes. The team has a vivid tax litigation practice, representing clients like Podilsky Cement and Popelnianskyi Specialised Quarry (CRH Group).

 

Established at the end of 2014 as a result of a split of the Pavlenko & Poberezhnyuk law group, Poberezhnyuk & Partners streamlined its service towards the retail, FMCG, banking, telecom, real estate, construction sectors. The projects under the guidance of Larysa Poberezhnyuk and her team included representation of DC Ukraine (TM “Watsons”)in a number of disputes. For example, appealing against regulations of the Ministry of Emergencies and challenging tax decisions; representation of the construction company Metronom LLC with respect to debt recovery. Tatiana Ignatenko, counsel, is another important contact at the firm.

 

Ukrainian firm NOBLES (established after the departure ofGerman Noerr from Ukraine)preserves German speaking clients in its litigation portfolio. The team represents AJ Walter Aviation, a supplier of spare parts for aircraft, in Aerosvit and Donbassaero bankruptcy proceedings with total debt claims of over USD 3 million; an Austrian sales finance company, Vendor Finance, on recovery of over EUR 7 million in debts. The litigation practice is co-headed by Tatiana Iurkovska and Volodymyr Yakubovskyy.

 

WTS Tax Legal Consulting LLC (called KM Partners till August 2014) draws particular attention to its prowess in disputes related to tax and customs matters and white collar crime. Partners Alexander Minin and Alexander Shemiatkin are leading experts. Commercial disputes and international arbitration cases are led by Maxim Oleksiyuk. His team handled successful support of a client in a dispute with a former owner of a design company.

 

Alekseev, Boyarchukov & Partners are strong proponents of large Ukrainian banks in loan recovery, banking disputes and liability management. The firm is also seen rapidly developing its criminal law practice. Renowned for rich insolvency expertise, the team is led by founding partner Sergey Boyarchukov with invaluable input from Oleksandr Tkachuk. An illustrative project was the representation of Bank of Austria and Ukrsotsbank in the joint dispute on the foreclosure procedure for mortgaged property with their contractor, FIM LLC. Another founding partner, Sergey Alekseev, was elected a member of parliament in autumn 2014.

 

Law Firm Dynasty, a prominent legal counsel in the region of Dnepropetrovsk, with an office in Kiev, recently acted in administrative disputes on land-related issues for Slavutych LLC and represented Aktabank in a sound sanctions case with the National Bank of Ukraine. In 2014 the team was highly active in debt recovery disputes, insolvency matters and tax litigation. The management of the firm’s litigation practice is done by partners Denys Myrgorodskiy, Yevheniy Smiyuha, Viacheslav Kohlyakov, Tamila Petrenko, Anna Poddubnaya and Snejana Karagodina.

 

Juscutum Attorneys Association, best known for advising the IT sector, was engaged in representing NixSolutions, a Ukrainian IT outsourcing company, in an Internet defamation case. The firm was strenuously visible through criminal litigations on the return of temporarily seized property and tax disputes. The practice is headed by Anton Kuts. The list of major clients, including Bella LLC, UMEK PrJSC and LIK LLC, in 2014 was enriched by Gulliver and Ocean Plaza trade centers’ tenants, Inter Steel LTD LLC and the Zhovten cinema in Kiev. Resonant projects were disputes on financial penalty cancellation, debt collection, damages recovery and money refund, disputes as to ownership rights and loan-related ones.

 

The proactive 11-litigator team of AVER LEX attorneys at law, as led by managing partner Olga Prosyanyuk, is dedicated to commercial, civil, administrative and criminal procedures. The team handled a range of resonant cases involving famous local and international corporations, banks, politicians, businessmen and individuals as well as celebrated social projects on the protection of professional rights of journalists and attorneys. Partner Mykola Grygoriev is another key contact.

 

SK GROUP attorneys at law are centered on litigation work. The major clients in 2014 were PJSC UkrSibbank, UkrSib Asset Management and Promagroleasing Ukraine Ltd, a subsidiary of the largest state-owned leasing company in Belarus. The group conducted several disputes for Promagroleasing Ukraine Ltd arising out of breach of a financial leasing contract as well as in connection with a claim of machinery from illegal ownership. The team also represented PJSC UkrSibbank in a dispute arising out of a facility agreement and enforcement of mortgages against corporate clients. Olga Solovyova and Julia Kurylo are the leadpartners.

 

Matviyiv & Partners, Lviv-based attorneys at law with an office in Kiev, developed its litigation practice in the areas of contract, corporate, customs, tax disputes, being also active throughout credit dispute resolutions and bankruptcy, IP, land and commercial relations. The company constantly expands its litigation portfolio, with cases that arise in the process of business activities of clients with contractors, state authorities and corporate disputes. During 2014 the company  successfully represented in courts of different instances leading enterprises in Western Ukraine like Kredobank, CCI Lubelia, Corporation KRT LLC, Lvivcentrobud LLC, Proektinvestbud-KSD LLC, SE Czechpol Energy, Energy— Novy Rozdil LLC, Energy Novoyavorivsk LLC, Etrus Joint Polish-Ukrainian Company (OLIMPIA TM), Rentkom LLC, Dobrobud LLC, and many others. All the firm’s lawyers are involved in litigation work. The key figures are Serhiy Matviyiv, managing partner, Ostap Kostych, senior partner, and Lesya Petrova, partner.

 

The lion’s share of the litigation portfolio of Gramatskiy & Partners involves banks and other financial institutions, tax bodies, especially debt recovery against debtors of clients. The team, as led by Oleksandr Koval, recently represented Pecherski Zori Ltd in a property rights dispute with a bank; acted for ULMA Opalubka Ukraine Ltd in debt recovery against a group of debtors.

 

L.I. Group, a Ukrainian law firm with offices in Kiev and Lviv, advises banks on debt recovery and insolvency issues. The most common issues the lawyers face are recovery of troubled debts and bankruptcy, where the firm acts on behalf of names like VTB Bank, OTP Bank, UkrSibbank, VAB Bank, Energobank. Mykola Kovalchuk is the main point of contact.

Attorneys’ Association Gestors has been active in ownership disputes, debt recovery and insolvency, tax. The firm started representation of UMH (United Media Holding) on litigation and arbitration matters. The team is led by managing partner Vitaly Makhinchuk and it successfully represented a manufacturer of rail cars, PJSC Diesel Plant, in debt collection litigation.

 

Okhrimchuk Grushyn Khandurin acted for Datagroup in a dispute with the National Commission for the State Regulation of Communications and Informatization regarding licensing of certain types of activities; and works with debt recovery cases. Denys Okhrimchuk, head of litigation, is the main point of contact.

 

Peterka & Partners is mostly seen in representation of Czech companies before Ukrainian courts. Thus, it represented Reticulum Power, a.s., a Czech leader in investment, corporate restructuring, purchasing debts and administration, in connection with debt recovery in Ukraine; represented Skloform a.s., a Czech manufacturer of glass moulds, both before the International Commercial Arbitration Court at the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Ukrainian courts of first and appeal instances. Nina Sydorenko is the main contact.

Sokolovskyi & Partners attorneys at law has a diverse litigation expertise that encompasses tax and customs disputes, bankruptcy proceedings and troubled assets practice, criminal proceedings, commercial, civil and employment disputes. Senior partner Tetiana Lysovets heads the litigation team. The high-profile projects are acting in cases involving large banks in Crimea.

 

Kharkov-based Shkrebets & Partners was involved in a great number of tax litigations, recovery of debts, cases on recognition of the title to mortgaged property. Its track record also included land, employment and commercial litigations. The firm represented the interests of depositors of JSC Bank Golden Gate in litigation with the Deposit Guarantee Fund as to the obligations of the Fund to make payments of guaranteed amounts of deposits. Eugene Shkrebets, managing partner, led the team.

 

S.T. Partners has an established debt recovery practice, as well as civil and family law matters. Partners Sergiy Tyurin and Svitlana Trofymchuk are the firm’s contacts.

 

Law Offices of OMP led by Valeriy Bitsyuk represented the interests of lender FC Paritet on recovery of integral property complexes belonging to Simferopol Pasta Factory, PJSC and Euroservice Ukraine. Dmitrieva & Partners led by Olga Dmitrieva handled civil cases and economic disputes in the area of corporate, economic, tax legislation, issues of foreign economic activity, debt recovery, compensation of damages. PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal, headed by Andrey Pronchenko, acts in the area of tax litigation. KPMG Ukraine represented a leading international bank in commercial disputes against Ukrnafta on collection of outstanding dividends. Andriy Kravets & Partners advised a Ukrainian transportation company regarding recognition and enforcement of a foreign arbitral award in a foreign jurisdiction. Pragnum law firm, which is led by Vitaliy Bobrynev and Dmitriy Zhukov, acts mainly for domestic clients in commercial disputes, patent protections and taxation. Law Agency Absolute, with its offices in Kiev and Dnepropetrovsk, was set in motion in tax and commercial disputes, representing top-management of corporate clients in court proceedings as to administrative responsibility, debt restructuring and banking disputes, IP and land litigations. Kibenko, Onika & Partners protected the interests of SE Krasnograd forestry, which is part of Kharkov state forestry in a tax dispute; the interests of a major manufacturer of agricultural products were protected in an administrative dispute on land issues.

1 On 18 March 2015 Sergiy Shklyar was appointed Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine for Enforcement Service.