On April 10, 2014, a renowned international directory Legal 500 publishedits 2014 law firm rankings for Europe, Central Asia and Africa. According tothis globally acclaimed source Vasil Kisil & Partners is a firsttier firm in Dispute Resolution, Banking, Finance and Capital Markets,Intellectual Property, as well as Real Estate and Construction. VKP is alsorecommended as one of the leading Ukrainian firms in Corporate /M&A and Tax.

Professional experience of Vasil Kisil & Partners was highlyrecognized by the directory and the firm itself was claimed to be “the best Ukrainian firm demonstratingperfect understanding of the business environment”. Aside from recommendedpractice groups VKP’s lawyers received extensive individual acknowledgementsfrom peers and clients for their work in all areas of practice that were rated. 

For five years in a row Dispute Resolution practice of Vasil Kisil &Partners has been highly recommended by Legal 500 and remains “highly professional and responsive” litigationteam of the firm. The directory recommendsthe firm’s Managing Partner Oleg Makarov and partner Yaroslav Teklyuk.Professional achievements of Oleksiy Filatov, partner and head ofdispute resolution practice group, are highly acknowledged by the clients whoname him a “very strong and talentedlawyer”, in particular for representing interests of Shell in disputesconcerning shale gas production sharing agreements.

VKP’s banking and finance practice has improved its results in 2014 and nowtakes the position among the first-tiered Ukrainian law firms advising onbanking and finance law and capital markets. The researches highly praise professionalismof Yulia Kyrpa, partner and head of this practice, who is considered tobe ‘the “go-to” lawyer in the bankingsector’. She advised a bank syndicate on an USD 80 mlnfacility for Kernel-Trade, and acted for Far-Eastern Shipping Company on theissuance of USD 800 mln in secured notes. The directory also recommends DenisLysenko, partners with banking and finance practice, as “an excellent lawyer” and equitycapital markets expert. 

Legal 500 also names Vasil Kisil & Partners as a top firm in real estateand construction. Oleg Alyoshin is famous for being “vastly experienced and effective”, and Alexander Borodkin is “not afraid of difficult discussions”.VKP’s “knowledgeable,professional” team advised Pioneer Hi-Bred on a USD 40 mln re-zoning andconstruction project.

According to the research,last year VKP’s intellectual property practice achieved outstanding results in IPdisputes and strengthened its non-contentious capability. Oleksandr Mamunya, partner with the practice, advised PioneerHi-Bred in a USD 1 mln trade mark infringement case. Mr. Mamunya, who oneclient describes as “the most skilled IPlawyer in Ukraine”, and OleksiyFilatov have “a strong work ethic andgive clear advice”.

Corporate / M&A practice of the firm has improved its results in 2014ranking. The researchers consider that Denis Lysenko, partner and head ofthis practice, as well as “exceptional”Anna Babych have “outstandingexperience in cross-border M&A”. The clients also praise high “business-orientedadvice and strategic thinking” of Oleksiy Filatov. The latest highlightsinclude advising Group Summa on local aspects of a USD 1.4 bln acquisition.

The directory also highly recognizes the work of VKP’s “brilliant tax litigation lawyers”, making special focus on AndriyStelmashchuk, partner, who has representedImperial Tobacco Ukraine in a USD 137 mln dispute, and Denis Lysenko, partner and head oftaxation practice group, who is known for being “knowledgeableand amicabl”’.