As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine hit the one-year mark, we asked Ukrainian law firms how they adjusted to the new circumstances, how their mandates and teams have evolved, and about the support they received from their colleagues abroad throughout this period.

Following their appointment to Counsel in January 2023, former Senior Associate Inna Kostrytska will lead Integrites' Employment practice while former Senior Associate Kristina Shyposha heads the firm's Business Protection, Compliance, and Anti-Corruption practice.

Integrites has signed a pro bono collaboration agreement with the Ministry of Veterans’ Affairs of Ukraine and the Affordable Housing Institute aimed at developing housing for war veterans and their families.

On April 1, 2023, the Law which enables foreigners to become e-residents in Ukraine (hereinafter “e-residence / e-resident”), will enter into the force (the “Law”).

Integrites has successfully represented the interests of the Gradoliya Oil Extraction Plant in two stages of a tax dispute against the Main Directorate of the State Tax Services in the Kirovohrad region, Ukraine.

Integrites Partner and Head of Corporate/M&A and the firm's French desk lllya Tkachuk has been promoted to a Senior Partner in October 2022.

Integrites has provided pro bono advice to the urban community of Truskavets, Ukraine, regarding temporary accommodation for internally displaced persons.

With the war in Ukraine generating all sorts of issues for lawyers, Integrites Partner Illya Tkachuk also points to the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as well as the implications of legislative updates as being the key drivers of the firm’s Employment practice.

Integrites has successfully represented Epiroc in a safeguard investigation in Ukraine regarding the company's imports of three-cone drill bits into the country.

Over the last years the Ukrainian legal community has been actively discussing the developments in the antitrust reform and making practical efforts to implement it. MPs, the Antimonopoly Committee (the AMC) and other state bodies, international organizations, domestic and foreign antitrust experts have been involved in this process. This article provides an overview of certain changes that will further contribute to the development of the Ukrainian antitrust and competition legislation, and which have already been reflected in draft laws. Most of them were published in the form of recommendations provided to Ukraine by the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) several years ago. 

Baker McKenzie and Integrites have contributed to the completion of the European Commission questionnaire regarding Ukraine's application for European Union membership. Baker McKenzie contributed to the completion of Parts I and II of the questionnaire. ​​Integrites worked pro bono to contribute to the submission of the Ukrainian Government’s response. 

Integrites has advised Wartsila’s France-based Special Applications division on the bidding process and the agreement with Energoatom for the procurement of replacements for the safety backup of the nuclear power plant worth over EUR 2 million.

Recent changes in the work of Ukrainian intellectual property institute (Ukrpatent), which performs the functions of the National Intellectual Property Office (NIPO).

Due to the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, not only military and infrastructural objects of the state and territorial communities but also private objects of Ukrainian and foreign business are being destroyed. 

The constitutional right to judicial protection is not subject to restrictions under martial law. At the same time, some courts, taking into account the real situation in the region, may establish special modes of operation.

According to the CEE Legal Matters CEE By The Numbers report, between 2019 and 2021, Ukraine saw a large decrease in the number of ranked law firms and lawyers at ranked firms. While in 2019 the number of Ukrainian law firms ranked by Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 was 95, in 2021 the same number decreased to 69. Similarly, the number of ranked-firm lawyers decreased from 1,579 in 2019 to 1,338 in 2021. The decreasing trend is particularly visible in comparison to other CEE countries.

Relatively high inflation and lowering deposit interest rates became characteristic for Ukraine in recent years, thus heating investors’ demand for yields. Savings have been growing continuously, boosting the segments with a higher risk appetite and propelling the development of new investment opportunities. At the same time, the domestic financial sector is undercapitalized and has few financial instruments to offer. The market, therefore, attracts the attention of various non-resident providers of financial services – from the most diversified investment banking groups to single product enthusiasts, who are asked by Ukrainian corporations and high-net-worth individuals to offer a service or specifically target potential customers.

On April 5, 2022, the Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine and Other Legislative Acts of Ukraine on Improving Legislation for the Period of Martial Law” No. 2142-IX dated March 24, 2022 (“Law No. 2142”) came into force.​