Sayenko Kharenko has advised Piraeus Bank on an agreement with the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation on the provision of a USD 20 million portfolio guarantee to the bank.

Markiyan Malskyy has returned to Arzinger as Partner and the firm’s new Head of the West Ukrainian Branch as well as the Co-Head of the International Dispute Resolution and Arbitration Practice. 

Amid the daily disruptions of war, Ukraine’s legal market has shifted focus to urgent areas like military law, sanctions compliance, and damage compensation, while adapting to workforce shortages and declining revenues, according to Asters Senior Partner Armen Khachaturyan.

On 26 December 2024, the Law “On Amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine, and Other Legislative Acts of Ukraine to Improve Mechanisms for Holding Legal Entities Accountable for Bribery of Foreign Officials” No. 4111-IX entered into force. It is meant to implement the OECD Council’s Recommendation on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions.

Sayenko Kharenko has advised Elementum Energy on the acquisition of a majority stake in Windpark West-R.

On 23 December 2024, the Register of Damages for Ukraine caused by the aggression of the russian federation against Ukraine (the “Register”) published the forms and rules for submitting claims for compensation in newly opened categories of claims. This will allow individuals and legal entities, as well as the state of Ukraine, to start preparing the necessary documents in 30 out of the 45 planned categories.

Hillmont Partners and Astraea have advised on a settlement between the Stati Parties and the Republic of Kazakhstan in a dispute concerning a 2013 USD 500 million SCC Award, bringing all related litigation to an end.

Everlegal has advised VisionFund on establishing its Ukrainian entity and obtaining a financial company license, enabling it to provide non-banking financial services such as granting loans and banking metals.

Former Counsel Denys Medvediev has been promoted to Partner at Redcliffe Partners. The same promotion round also saw Kateryna Zheltova promoted to Senior Associate.

With effect from 21 December 2024, the National Bank of Ukraine (“NBU”) introduced new exemptions from the moratorium on foreign currency cross-border transfers. Notably, these changes broaden the scope of existing exemption for Ukrainian corporate issuers permitting to make payments in connection with Eurobond-related obligations, described in our earlier legal alert.

On 13 December 2024, the new "Regulation (EU) 2023/988 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 May 2023 on General Product Safety" ("GPSR") came into force.

On 21 December 2024, a new package of foreign currency (“FX”) easings came into effect. It is aimed at supporting domestic producers and improving the business environment in Ukraine. The amendments, introduced by Resolution No. 155 of the National Bank of Ukraine (the “NBU”) dated 20 December 2024 (“Resolution No. 155”), include the following measures:

The Law of Ukraine on Tax Increases №4015-ІХ, adopted by the parliament and awaiting presidential signature, came into effect on November 30, 2024. Below are the key changes to the taxation system.

Popescu & Asociatii Partner Loredana Popescu and Avellum Partner Maksym Maksymenko look at the current status of agribusiness in their countries – both traditional powerhouses in the sector – highlighting how they are managing to show resilience despite tough years.

A leniency procedure has been in place in Ukraine for over two decades. However, until recently, there was no public record of its successful application by the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMC).

During EU-Ukraine Investment Conference on 13-14 November in Warsaw the European Commission has announced a call for private investment projects in Ukraine that have cost at least EUR 50 m, of which the project initiator provides at least 10% in the own contributions. 

Sayenko Kharenko has advised the EBRD on a EUR 55 million financing package to support the city of Kyiv.

Redcliffe Partners, working with Clifford Chance and George Yiangou, has advised the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Finance Corporation on the USD 435 million financing for the merger of Lifecell Group and the Datagroup-Volia Group (reported on by CEE Legal Matters on September 17, 2024). CMS, working with Chrysostomides, advised the borrowers.