OnJune 19, 2014, LigaBusinessInform press centre hosted a press briefing of theUkrainian National Bar Association (UNBA) entitled: "Ukrainian Lawyersbecome eligible to be admitted as Solicitors of England and Wales”.

As announced by Valentyn Gvozdiy,Deputy Chairman of the Ukrainian National Bar Association, the UkrainianNational Bar Association was able to successfully advocate domestic lawyers'right to be admitted as solicitors of England and Wales. UNBA's application wasconsidered by Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and on June 13, 2014,Ukraine was included in the list of jurisdictions that meet the requirements ofQualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS).

The existence of QLTS scheme QLTS England opened upthe legal market for qualified lawyers from different jurisdictions, and nowUkrainian lawyers have access to it as well. In the past in order to structureinternational transactions and provide international litigation supportUkrainian companies were forced to involve teams of international legaladvisers, which included Ukrainian lawyers and lawyers advising on Ukrainianlaw, as well as representatives of British law firms, without whom it was notpossible to ensure proper client representation in England and Wales. NowUkrainian lawyers have an opportunity to be recognized as lawful solicitors inEngland and Wales subject to the successful passage of QLTS scheme exam.

Anna Babych, Partner with Vasil Kisil & Partners Law Firm and Member of theInternational Relations Committee of the Ukrainian National Bar Association,covered the procedure of becoming eligible to be admitted as solicitors inEngland and Wales. She clarified that QLTS assesses the knowledge ofEnglish law and lawyer skills. It can be taken twice a year. The total costincluding paperwork is about 4 thousand pounds. 

Anna Babych said: "This tool will allowone to become a qualified solicitor and practice law in England and Wales,which opens new opportunities for professional development of Ukrainian lawyersand for their clients as well."

The Solicitors Regulation Authority is responsible forregulating the professional conduct of more than 125,000 solicitors and otherauthorised individuals at more than 11,000 firms, as well as those workingin-house at private and public sector organisations.

Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS) is a seriesof tests for the license to practice as solicitor in England and Wales designedfor foreign licensed attorneys making the qualification process faster than thestandard procedure. The QLTS system ensures that a lawyer, admitted to the Barin another jurisdiction, has the necessary knowledge and skills to act as aqualified solicitor in England and Wales.

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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.