Washington, D.C., Monday, April 28, 2014On April 24, 2014, at the ceremony which tookplace at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel (UK) a globally acclaimed international directory Chambers Europeannounced winners of the Chambers Europe Awards for Excellence 2014 and named VasilKisil & Partners Law Firm of the Year in Ukraine. 

The country award recognises VKP’spre-eminence in key practice areas in its jurisdiction. It takes into accountstrategic growth, market feedback and involvement in market-leading deals. Thenominees were drawn together by the Chambers Europe team, based on researchcarried out for the Chambers Europe 2014 guide. 

According to the recently published legal benchmark publications ChambersEurope 2014, 8 key practices of Vasil Kisil & Partners scored top honoursplacing high in this prestigious international ranking. The research states: “This firm is rapidly growing inprominence in the Ukraine market.” In 2014 VKP remains a long-standing frontrunnerin litigation, employment and real estate. Its banking and finance team hasrisen to prominence as a result of advising on market-leading deals for bigclients such as Credit Agricole, BNP Paribas and UniCredit. It also bolsteredits position in intellectual property, while the firm continues to hold its leading position in the fields of competition/antitrust,corporate/M&A, and tax. 

The publication ranks VKP as a leading Ukrainianlaw firm in Dispute Resolution (Band 1). Sources say: “Highly experienced and they understand procedural matters extremelywell.” “One of the most experiencedlitigation teams in the market. Recently focused on banking and tax disputes.” Researchersonce again celebrate the achievements of OlegMakarov stating that “he has a fantastic reputation for hismanagement skills, and, though perhaps not practising as actively as he oncewas, is still a formidable litigator.” Oleksiy Filatov is described as an “intelligent, articulate andresponsive” lawyer. He is noted for “hisstrength in civil court disputes”. The rating also names VadymBelyanevych who has more than 20 years’ experience and is noted for hisstrength in commercial litigation. Oleg Alyoshin, who covers bothtransactional and contentious matters, isparticularly identified for his expertise in the real estate sector. 

Interviewees traditionally praise VKP’s solidReal Estate team for its “strong team with broad real estate expertise, highlyreputed for transactional work, leasing and property development, active in theagricultural sector and offers additional experience in construction and zoningmatters”. Sources say: “Theteam’s strengths are its solid real estate expertise, understanding of theclient’s goals and timely execution of work.” “I have complete confidence in the teamand the lawyers understand the needs of my business.” The researchers mention Oleg Alyoshin, who advises on transactional real estate mandates. Alexander Borodkin is praised byclients for his “expertise and hisfriendly and hard-working approach.” Others add: “Ilike working with him because he gives concise yet accurate answers.”Natalia Dotsenko-Belous isrecommended for her construction know-how and frequently advises on residentialprojects.

For the third year in a row researchersacknowledge VKP’s brilliant Labourgroup as market leaders, “well known for representing employers in disputes,mostly centred around terminations”. Sources say: “The firm’s approach is efficient andcreative.” “A definite leader on the labour market.” Head of Labour & Employment Oksana Voynarovska is praised for her extensive experience andknowledge of employment law. 

IntellectualProperty practiceof Vasil Kisil & Partners is also highly praised by the directory as “bestknown for IP litigation, where it handles patent, trade mark and copyrightdisputes, additional expertise in life sciences litigation and prosecution,as well as domain name disputes”.Sources say: “Incrediblyexperienced IP litigators.” “The team is very active and focused- it does a great job for clients.” Oleksandr Mamunya moves up the rankings inrecognition of excellent client feedback. As one source reports: “He is persuasive, persistent and speaks strong English.” Recenthighlights include representing Pioneer Hi-Bred International in a trade markinfringement case and in patent prosecution. Oleksiy Filatov heads the IP and dispute resolution departments,and is particularly skilled in IP litigation. He notably represented DuPont ina number of patent disputes including patent cancellation and patentinfringement cases. 

Accordingto the directory, Banking & Financepractice group concentrates on advising international banks, and offers addedvalue through its market-leading disputes practice. Sources say: “When you ask questions, they provide quick responses; when youleave a message, they always get back to you quickly; when you discussprovisions in the agreement, they are co-operative and offer compromises.” YuliaKyrpa is the most visible banking andfinance practitioner at the firm, and is singled out for her exceptionaltechnical knowledge. According to sources, she is “at the forefront of what ishappening in the industry,” and she offers tremendous “forceof will and energy.” Denis Lysenko is a “well-organised, diligent and friendly” lawyer, say sources.He has recently handled numerous M&A transactions in the banking sector,and also advises on competition and tax matters. 

EminentCompetition/Antitrust practiceencompassing a range of industries such as IT, agriculture, real estate and transportationis highly “recommended for excellentnegotiation capabilities”. Primary areas of advice include investigationsand merger filings for acquisitions and other commercial agreements. Sourcessay: “The quality of the advice and legal counsel I receive isoutstanding.” “Our requirements and expectations are extremely high and theteam accommodates them all.” Sourcesvalue Mariya Nizhnik for hercommerciality, proactive approach and ability to provide alternative solutions.She recently advised Syniverse on the merger control requirements for itsacquisition of MACH. Denis Lysenkohas a varied practice and wins praise for being “very commercially aware” andfor the “clarity”of his advice. Associate to watch PavloLoginov enters the rankings having impressed clients with his “constructiveadvice” and responsiveness. 

VKP’sCorporate/M&A practice group is “one of the most experiences in the market,supported by a leading litigation practice.” Sources say: “Ukrainian regulations are verytricky and it is easy to miss something, but it knows what is important andwhat needs to be done when and how.” DenisLysenko is “a highlyrespected figure in the Ukrainian market, and is behind the firm’s growingreputation for transactional work”. Though no longer practising as activelyas he once was, Vasil Kisil “remains a key individual for both the firmand the wider legal community”. Anna Babych “comes across as a very smart and toughlawyer,” say market sources. “Aswell as her strong showing in corporate work, she has developed significantexpertise in competition filings.”

Thanks to its market-leading position indispute resolution, VKP is “well knownfor its strength in tax litigation”.Sources say: “A solid understanding of business and the needs of its clients,as well as a strong will to collaborate closely on their toughest problems.”

ChambersEurope is a world’s leading guide to the legal profession which has built areputation for its objective research. The authors have been researching the legalprofession in Europe, identifying the leading lawyers and law firms throughinterviews with thousands of lawyers and their clients and providing in-depthanalysis of the legal markets in 52 jurisdictions.

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For more details please contact YuliyaChervonookaya,

Head of PR/BD Department

Tel.: +380 44 581 7777

E-mail: pr@vkp.kiev.ua

Aboutthe Firm

Established in 1992, Vasil Kisil & Partners is aUkrainian law firm that delivers integrated legaladvice in banking & finance, mergers & acquisitions, capital markets,antitrust, competition and trade, dispute resolution, tax law,energy and natural resources law, intellectual property law, labor andemployment law, real estate and construction law,as well as PPP, concessions and infrastructure law. Vasil Kisil & Partners isa member of such international professional associations as TerraLex, IBA, andIus Laboris.

The firm`s clients include such world-known companies asAcron, Air Liquide, Alfa Bank (Ukraine), Alpcot Agro, Africa-Israel Group,Ardagh, Astellas Pharma, BASF, Bayer Consumer, BNP Paribas, British AmericanTobacco, Central European Media Enterprises, Coca Cola, Credit Agricole Group,Danone, Dell Inc., DuPont, EBRD, Ericsson, Energy Standard Group, Eurosport,Ferrexpo AG, Google, Hewlett-Packard, Inditex Group, Kraft, LGElectronics, Leroy Merlin Ukraine, MTS, Moody’s, Mott MacDonald Limited, NCHCapital, Opel, Philips, Pireaus Bank, Red Bull, Samsung, Sberbank of Russia,SEB AB, Seven Hills, Shell, Shelton Petroleum, Sony Corp, St. Sophia Homes,Swedbank AB, Tchibo, Thomson Reuters, Ukrainian Media Holding, Ukrsibbank,Ukrsotsbank, UniCredit Group, Uniqa, Utair, Vanco International / Vanco Energy,Volkswagen, VimpelCom, YouTube, etc.