We are honored and excited to introduce (and extend a big thank you to!) our regional Final Selection Committee of Jurors for the 2022 CEE Deals of the Year awards.

On 23 February 2023, the Ukrainian Parliament adopted the Law of Ukraine “On Compensation for Damage and Destruction of Certain Categories of Real Estate as a Result of Hostilities, Terrorist Acts, and Sabotage Caused by the Armed Aggression of the Russian Federation Against Ukraine, and the State Register of Property Damaged and Destroyed as a Result of Hostilities, Terrorist Acts, and Sabotage Caused by the Armed Aggression of the Russian Federation Against Ukraine” No. 2923-IX (“Law”), which will enter into force on 22 May 2023.

Avellum has supported the action group led by Ukraine’s Ministry of Finance and the State Financial Monitoring Service in its efforts towards the adoption of restrictive measures against Russia by the Financial Action Task Force.

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.

Considering the current state of affairs in CEE, market dynamics have shifted in terms of where investors are looking for safe investment opportunities, with some sectors seeing steadier capital flows and others struggling. Our experts chart the current hotspots and consider whether the markets are set to shift again.

In the 25 January 2023 final decision in the case of Ukraine and the Netherlands v. russia, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (“ECHR”) declared the complaints partly admissibile. The Grand Chamber will now decide the case on the merits.

Did You Know that, according to the Activity Rankings function of the CEELMDirect website, Schoenherr has published 18 articles of legal analysis on the subject of litigation/dispute resolution on CEE Legal Matters — the most of any firm — over the nine years of its existence?

On July 5, 2022, Avellum announced it was joining an international team of professionals from Allen & Overy, Morgan Lewis, and Norton Rose Fulbright to establish a legal education scholarship in the name of fallen Ukrainian hero, lawyer, and activist Roman Ratushnyi. CEE Legal Matters sat down with Avellum Partner Maksym Maksymenko to learn more about Roman and the team’s aims and hopes for the Roman Ratushnyi Scholarship.

Ukraine remains at the forefront of crypto industry despite overall economic hardship caused by the unprovoked Russian military aggression. According to the recent 2022 Global Crypto Adoption Index revealed by Chainalysis, Ukraine has the highest crypto adoption rate in Europe and ranks third globally.

Avellum has advised all parties involved in Roosh's acquisition of a minority stake in Neurons Lab.

The Parliament of Ukraine has adopted in its entirety draft law “On Joint Stock Companies” No. 2493, dated 25 November 2019 (“Draft Law”). The Draft Law is designated to align the regulation of joint stock companies (“JSC”) operation with EU corporate governance standards.

Avellum has advised the Managing Partners of the American University Kyiv on its launch in Ukraine.

Avellum, working with White & Case, has advised the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, National Power Company Ukrenergo, and the State Road Agency of Ukraine Ukravtodor on consent solicitations for extending external debts.

Avellum has advised the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine on extending a EUR 200 million 15-year loan from the Italian Republic and a CAD 450 million 10-year loan from Canada. Sayenko Kharenko advised the Government of Canada.

Avellum, working with White & Case, has advised the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine on the restructuring of Ukraine’s sovereign debt. Sayenko Kharenko, working with Latham & Watkins, advised JP Morgan in its role as solicitation agent. Weil Gotshal & Manges advised some of the GDP-warrant and bondholders.

The Laws of Ukraine "On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine Regarding Priority Reform Measures in the Field of Town-Planning” No. 2254-IX, dated 12 May 2022 (“Law 2254”) and "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine Regarding Regulatory Peculiarities of Land Relations under Martial Law” No. 2247-IX, dated 12 May 2022 (“Law 2247”, hereinafter together with Law 2254 – “Laws”) came into force more than a month ago.

On July 7, four leading lawyers from Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Ukraine sat down for a virtual round table moderated by CEE Legal Matters Managing Editor Radu Cotarcea to discuss the increasing prominence of ESG issues and their impact on M&A transactions, due diligence procedures, and the role of the lawyers themselves.

On 15 March 2022, the Parliament of Ukraine passed Law of Ukraine “On Organisation of Labour Relations under the Martial Law” No. 2136-IX, dated 1 July 2022 (“Law 2136”). Law 2136 was intended to define the aspects of labour relations during martial law.