Sayenko Kharenko won the titles of Law firm of the year: Russia, Ukraine and the CIS and European energy and infrastructure deal of the year at The Lawyer European Awards 2019. The firm is the only one on the Ukrainian market ever to have won two accolades in a single year.

The ceremony took place on Tuesday 19 March 2019 at The Grosvenor House Hotel in London. “Despite an uncertain market in Ukraine, Sayenko Kharenko grew its top line in 2017 and continued to invest in quality lateral hires. It is firmly international in outlook. Those clients, which form the bedrock of the firm’s practice, have propelled Sayenko Kharenko to a top position in terms of cross-border corporate activity. A striking aspect of the firm is its commitment to inclusion, both within the firm and outside of it in the form of corporate social responsibility. It has supported over 100 social impact projects in Ukraine. Its associated think-tank is actively researching social, economic developments that will shape the firm’s response to client delivery”, says The Lawyer. The judges noted warmly the firm’s “strong financials, good evidence of people initiatives, and investment in strategic thinking and tech.”

Sayenko Kharenko scooped the prize for the European energy, infrastructure and projects deal for its work on the complex financing to State Enterprise “National Nuclear Energy Generating Company “Energoatom” (Energoatom), operator of all running nuclear power plants in Ukraine.

The Lawyer notes that “the significance of the project for Ukraine as a whole was enormous, since it will create a safe environment for processing, storing, safeguarding significant quantities of nuclear spent fuel. The facility will not only reduce the need to ship the spent fuel to Russia but importantly, will increase capacity to store spent fuel moving Ukraine closer to energy independence.” The judges lauded the way that the firm dealt with the “complex technical and legal challenges around the financing as well as the navigation through the new state aid regime.”

The lawyers of the firm particularly involved in the project are partner Nazar Chernyavsky, counsel Olexander Olshansky, associates Denis Nakonechnyi, Vira Pankiv, Oles Trachuk and Dmytro Vasylyna.

Partner Nazar Chernyavsky comments: “The Lawyer European Awards is no doubt one of the most distinguished awards in Europe, and I am more than happy to know that Sayenko Kharenko is the only Ukrainian law firm ever to have won two categories in a single year. I would like to thank each and every member of the Sayenko Kharenko team. You do a great job and deserve this professional recognition.”

To see the full shortlist, please follow the link.