- A Ukrainian buyer has taken delivery and stopped paying.
- A shareholder has been excluded from management and needs to restore control.
- A tax assessment has been issued and must be challenged within the appeal period.
- An arbitral award needs to be enforced against Ukrainian assets.
- A debtor is dissipating assets and interim relief is required urgently.
Overview
Foreign clients are often surprised by two features of Ukrainian dispute resolution. The first is that written evidence dominates: cases are largely decided on the documents filed, and material introduced late is frequently excluded. The second is that interim relief — asset freezes and injunctions — is available and can be decisive, but is granted on a strict evidentiary standard and must be sought early.
We represent international companies before the commercial, civil and administrative courts, in tax disputes, in international arbitration seated abroad, and in the enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards in Ukraine. We also advise on the harder question that precedes all of this: whether the claim is worth bringing, given what can realistically be recovered.
Typical situations
Scope of work
What we do
The matters we handle within this practice. Engagements are usually a combination of several of them rather than a single item.
01
Commercial disputes
Contract, supply, construction, shareholder and corporate governance disputes before the commercial courts.
02
Debt recovery
Pre-action demand, court proceedings, enforcement against assets and insolvency petitions as a recovery tool.
03
Tax and administrative
Challenges to tax assessments, customs decisions, licensing refusals and regulator action before the administrative courts.
04
Interim relief
Applications for asset freezing, prohibition of register actions and other measures to preserve the position pending judgment.
05
Arbitration
Representation in ICC, LCIA, SCC and ICAC proceedings, and advice on arbitration clauses at the drafting stage.
06
Enforcement
Recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards in Ukraine, and enforcement of Ukrainian judgments abroad.
07
Insolvency
Creditor representation in bankruptcy proceedings, challenge of pre-insolvency transactions and subsidiary liability claims.
08
Settlement
Negotiated resolution, mediation and settlement agreements approved by the court.
How we work
From first call to completion
A predictable sequence with a written output at each stage, so that you always know the position and what it will cost to reach the next one.
01
Case assessment
A candid view on the merits, the likely timetable and what could realistically be recovered and from what.
02
Preparation
Evidence assembled and the claim built before filing, with interim relief sought where dissipation is a risk.
03
Proceedings
First instance, appeal and cassation, with regular reporting and no surprises on cost.
04
Enforcement
Judgment converted into recovery through the enforcement service or private enforcement officers.
Why clients instruct us
Local knowledge, international standards
We work the way our clients' in-house teams and international counsel expect: clear scope, written advice, English-language reporting and no surprises on fees.
- Advice in English, drafted to be usable by a board that does not know Ukrainian law.
- Fee estimates agreed before work begins, with fixed fees where the scope allows.
- A named partner responsible for the matter, not a rotating team.
- Practising in Ukraine since 2003, through every regulatory cycle since.
Questions
Frequently asked
How long do commercial proceedings take in Ukraine?
First instance ordinarily runs six to twelve months. With appeal and cassation, two to three years is realistic for a contested matter. Uncontested debt claims and cases in the simplified procedure move considerably faster.
Are foreign arbitral awards enforced in Ukraine?
Yes. Ukraine is a party to the New York Convention and its courts recognise and enforce foreign awards as a matter of routine. Refusal is confined to the Convention grounds, and the practice of the Supreme Court has been consistent in applying them narrowly.
Can we freeze a debtor's assets before judgment?
Yes. Ukrainian courts can order attachment of assets and prohibit registry actions, but the applicant must show a real risk that enforcement would otherwise be frustrated. Applications are decided quickly, which makes early action important where assets are mobile.
How much does litigation cost?
Court fees are calculated as a percentage of the claim value subject to a statutory cap. Legal fees are ordinarily charged on an hourly basis with a budget agreed by stage; success-based arrangements are possible for recovery claims. A successful party may recover legal costs, though awards are often below actual expenditure.
Related
Practices that usually come with this one
09
Contracts & Deal Support
A cross-border contract that ignores Ukrainian currency control, settlement deadlines and formality requirements will …
Read more →08Due Diligence
Due diligence is not a document-collection exercise. It is the process of establishing what you are actually buying an…
Read more →04Taxes & Finance
Tax rarely determines whether an investment happens, but it routinely determines what it returns. We advise on the tax…
Read more →12Real Estate
Ukrainian real estate is registered, but registration does not guarantee title. The history matters, and so does wheth…
Read more →
Next step
Discuss your matter with us
Tell us what you need to achieve in Ukraine. The first consultation is free and confidential — we will tell you candidly whether we are the right firm for the task.