The distinguished real estate and construction practice group of Baker McKenzie is traditionally preferred by foreign investors and developers, financial institutions, contractors and operators, as well as government agencies and international business organizations. The Kyiv office is engaged in real estate development and construction projects, often accompanied by establishment of joint ventures, supporting clients in the sale and acquisition of real estate properties, industrial objects and land plots, leases and property mortgages and in structuring international real estate transactions. The firm advises the EBRD and the Ministry of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Communal Services on reforming the construction sector’s regulatory framework in Ukraine. The office has an established following of retail clients, servicing their queries on expansion and operational activities. The firm also stands out for being a legal counsel to the State Property Fund (in a consortium with other advisors) with respect to privatization of Centrenergo, United Mining and Chemical Company, Electrotyazhmash. The client portfolio takes in Amstar Europe, ArcelorMittal, Auchan Ukraine, Billa Ukraine, the British Embassy, McDonald’s Ukraine, La Societe des Centres Commerciaux, Unibudinvest Venture Fund, Bayer, Pegasus. The practice is led by two partners. Serhiy Piontkovsky is a widely respected practitioner on the market, noted by clients for his excellent network and good knowledge of privatization advisory. Lina Nemchenko is especially noted for complex real estate acquisitions and lease deals.

With an international presence and global network, DLA Piper is retained by prominent multinational companies to give support in real estate and land transactions, investment, lease and construction matters in Ukraine. In 2019 the Kyiv office earned a number of mandates for transaction support and expansion, mostly from international clients. The firm is regularly approached for office premises lease. For example, it provided full legal support to Perion Network, which acquired a local marketing tech start-up company, in the course of leasing a new office in Kyiv for the development team. The practice is particularly active in significant retail projects, advising Billa Ukraine, Leroy Merlin, Bomond Group, McDonald’s and others. The practice team advised food chain Billa on securing a record eight-year lease extension agreement with Kyiv City Council for its flagship store at the Bessarabskyi Market in Kyiv. Other areas of focus are advising major infrastructure and agricultural investors on their expansion in the ports of Ukraine, and investment in renewable energy plants. The firm advises OPIC, a US government agency, for the purpose of financing a four-phase wind farm in central Ukraine, on construction and land issues. The firm continues to provide comprehensive real estate services to government institutions and international development and humanitarian aid programs led by international donors. Other selected clients include Pfizer, Cargill, US Embassy, Zeppelin, Aristocrat Leisure, Statsbygg (Norwegian Directorate of Public Construction and Property), DFDS Group. The lead partner is Natalia Kochergina, a renowned real estate expert. Oleg Milchenko, senior associate, is a key executive figure.

СMS is represented through two offices in Ukraine.

CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang is focused on complex projects, involving development, industrial and infrastructural construction, renovation of industrial real estate, acquisition and disposal. Given its market-leading, flourishing renewable energy practice, the team was busy advising top energy companies on construction issues. Corporate clients and international institutions regularly call upon the team’s assistance with office premises leases and relocation. In the past year the team also supported clients in acquiring a number of residential and commercial premises, and supported real estate finance mandates. Referred as a highly-experienced real estate lawyer, Natalia Kushniruk was praised for her transactional work. She was promoted to partner in May 2020.

CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz extends its practice on real estate aspects of acquisitions, regulatory matters, construction and lease. The team advised Euroventures S.A., an owner of a B-Class office building in Kyiv, on the leasing out of office premises. The team is retained for assisting clients with office lease and relocation. Another area of recent focus is advising on land rights, permits and construction related matters in renewable projects. Anna Pogrebna is the lead partner.

The real estate and construction practice of Arzinger is a popular choice for real estate developers, financial institutions, construction companies, retailers, insurance, agricultural, logistics companies, restaurant and hotel operators, manufacturers of various industries, developers and operators in traditional and alternative energy industry, seeking legal support across real estate life cycle and property management. The team is also active in share and asset deals, and often works alongside M&A practice, and advises big retailers and retail brands regarding their facilities and commercial lease matters. Arzinger acted as legal advisor to Stada Group in the acquisition of a non-plasma pharmaceutical business from Biopharma, covering the real estate aspects. The firm is regularly assigned with regulatory work, and its network of offices in Kyiv, Odesa, Lviv ensures proximity to state and municipal authorities. Timur Bondaryev, managing partner, heads the practice team. The senior team across offices includes Natalia Anokhina (Lviv) and Victor Syzonenko (Odesa).

AEQUO demonstrates a wealth of performance in a wide spectrum of property issues, with its strong presence in transactions, investment and development. The firm has a strong following among investors, retailers, agrarian and food producers, energy companies. Being especially noted for its extensive M&A track record, AEQUO completed a number of landmark commercial real estate transactions in 2019, having advised Dragon Capital, one of the leading private equity funds in Ukraine, on a series of large acquisitions in Kyiv — the Smart Plaza Obolon shopping and entertainment center, Aladdin Shopping Mall, Arctica warehouse complex, and other assets located in big cities around Ukraine. The firm handled a series of deals involving industrial assets, acquisitions of office premises, purchase of residential property and development of renewable energy projects. The most notable deal was advising Posco Daewoo on the acquisition of the grain export terminal in Mykolaiv Sea Trading Port. As part of advising TMM, one of the leading real estate developers, on financial restructuring under the credit facility granted by Oschadbank, the team supported the transfer of a significant portfolio of mortgaged real property into the bank’s ownership. The practice is led by two partners, Denys Lysenko and Yulia Kyrpa, who was noted for supervising real estate M&A. Mykhaylo Soroka, senior associate, is seen as a key executive in the majority of transactions.

Gramatskiy & Partners has strong ties with developers, construction and engineering companies, and is known for long-lasting construction projects of commercial, residential and infrastructural real estate. The most significant highlights take in representing Seven Hills in 5-6 stages of construction of the Park Avenue VIP residential complex with in-built public function premises and parking areas in Kyiv, and construction of the Airport City business park valued at USD 300 million. The firm has a broad portfolio of urban infrastructure projects, the most well-known being reconstruction of European Square in the heart of Kyiv and construction of the Stolychnyi multi-storey office and hotel complex. Other strong areas of focus are retail and horeca, hotel and leisure. For example, the firm represents Panorama-Invest LLC in construction and certification process of the Trade Centre Market on Lisova, and supports reconstruction with subsequent lease to retailers on the second floor of the Chocolate trade center in Kyiv. The firm also assists strategic investors in real estate to enter the Ukrainian market, and supports high value and mid-market transactions. Ernest Gramatskiy, the firm’s founder, is noted for direct involvement in the practice and well-established contacts with market stakeholders.

AVELLUM further extends its expertise beyond the acquisition of real estate objects to their actual development and construction advisory work. The firm is primarily known for its remarkable M&A practice, which regularly advises on large- scale real estate transactions structured as share deals. For example, the team acted as a legal counsel to sellers in the sale of Smart Plaza Obolon, a newly-constructed shopping and entertainment center in Kyiv, by Dragon Capital. This past year the firm boosted its portfolio of renewable energy projects, which required significant input from the real estate team, in particular, allocation of land, form of right to land, change of designated use, objects designing and all construction-related matters. The team advises the EBRD on key energy deals — extension of loans directed at the development, construction and commissioning into use of solar energy plants, and conducted a series of complex due diligence of project companies and their assets. AVELLUM acted as the legal counsel to Investment Capital Ukraine (ICU) on the complex M&A transaction involving the sale to VR Capital Group of a 50% stake in a holding company owning 11 solar plants in Mykolaiv Region, establishment of a joint venture between ICU and VR, with the coverage of all real estate aspects in the project. Among others, the team’s recent portfolio included acquisition of industrial real estate and facilities, land acquisitions and real estate lease. The practice is run by experienced M&A partner Mykola Stetsenko. Real estate focused counsel Maksym Maksymenko is noted for solid knowledge in construction and land allocation matters, acquisition and joint development of real estate.

The sizeable client portfolio of full-service firm Asters is regularly assigned real estate practice with office premises and land lease, transactions with real estate assets, industrial and commercial construction, infrastructure projects. For example, the firm provides legal assistance to Concorde Industries AG with respect to potential acquisition of an operating office building, land and zoning matters. Another construction highlight is advising Galois Invest with contemplated mixed-use facility construction and development at a land plot in the historical part of Kyiv. The team is known for its wide-ranging experience in commercial real estate matters, advising Univermag Ukraina and Quinn Properties Ukraine in the negotiation and registration of leases; Cinema City on due diligence of lease arrangement in a major shopping mall. The firm currently advises the consortium of EMIT Group S.r.l. and Atzwanger in connection with a contract for the reconstruction of a water treatment plant in a Ukrainian city. Clients include Ateliers de France, PRADA, Kyivmiskbud, Salini Impregilo, Wine Bureau (Goodwine), Xinjiang Communications Construction Group Co. The practice is co-headed by two partners, Oleg Boichuk and Roman Kostenko. Anzhelika Livitska, counsel, is focused on construction and land matters within renewable energy projects.

KPD Consulting is a well-regarded domestic firm advising on real estate transactions, construction, leasing of office premises and production facilities. The firm is also preferred by banking and investment institutions (their real estate subsidiaries and funds) with respect to real estate, construction and collateral matters. In 2019 the firm had a strong track record in the acquisition of real estate deals. In particular, the team supported NCube, a provider of software engineering services, in legal due diligence and further acquisition of a non-residential building in the historical part of Kyiv for brownfield development (construction of office center); advised Rustler Property Services, a broker acting for the seller, an Austrian company, in the sale of an office center in Zaporizhzhya to Dragon Capital. The firm is noted for its wealth of experience in commercial and industrial real estate construction projects. Highlights included advising Afina Paladium LLC on greenfield construction of a residential complex in the city of Uman. The firm’s most remarkable achievement of 2019 was its success in obtaining a permit for renovation of a historical protected building co-owned by one of its clients by the name of Kiev Real Estate Recovery Fund. Vladyslav Kysil, partner, is highly regarded by peers for his extensive knowledge of the peculiarities of real estate and construction laws, experience in banking matters and his active role at the Ukrainian Real Estate Club.

Sayenko Kharenko is equally present in handling real estate transactions, including acquisitions and disposals, property and land leases, investment and construction arrangements, regulatory clearances, and resolving related disputes. The real estate practice regularly acts as an integral part of a multidisciplinary M&A team in complex transactions. For example, the firm rendered full-scope legal support to Orexim Group, a major Ukrainian logistics group, on the sale of a controlling stake in its grain terminal business to Posco Daewoo Corporation; acted as legal advisor to Huhtamaki Foodservice Ukraine, a subsidiary of the world’s largest packaging manufacturer in the food service segment — Huhtamaki Oyj, in connection with the launch of production in Ukraine and a planned transaction involving industrial real estate. The team assisted its corporate clients with the lease of office premises, extension and relocation. In 2019 the litigation team led by Sergey Pogrebnoy represented clients in a number of disputes centred on breach of FIDIC-based contracts, construction, use of premises, property rights. The team represents the interests of the Auchan group of companies in litigation related to the protection of property rights to land plots alienated by third parties. A significant portion of practice work is driven by renewable energy projects, and is exemplified by advising DTEK Renewables on construction of the Primorskaya Wind Electric Plant. Oleksandr Nikolaichyk acts as the lead partner of large-scale M&A deals involving commercial properties, investments into real estate, commercial property development and facility management. Peers follow the performance of Anastasiya Bidakh, who is referenced as a highly-qualified real estate transactional lawyer. The senior team also consists of Tymur Enkhbaiar and Kuzma Pozychaniuk. Counsel of international arbitration practice Volodymyr Yaremko advises on FIDIC projects.

Ukrainian law firm ADER HABER offers expertise across a broad range of real estate matters, being especially preferred for asset-based acquisitions, development, real estate finance, outbound investment, regulatory and transactional land advice. The firm also handles lease portfolios in commercial and retail sectors. Given the rapid growth of project financing within the construction of biogas plants, high-voltage lines, pipelines in 2019, the team was enlisted to advise on the development, construction and operation of energy infrastructure. This past year the firm continued advising high stake acquisitions of real estate and land, being noted for continuous representation of MERX PJSC, a large construction and business centers lease holding. Other clients include Dragon Capital, UkrAVTO, British American Tobacco, Alfa-Bank, Colliers International Group Inc., I&U Group. The practice is led by Alexandra Fedotova, with support from the senior team of Artem Vitsenko and Yevhen Holomozyi.

ANTIKA Law Firm is preferred by domestic and foreign clients, and is often referred for developing contractual and investment schemes for real estate development projects, business and transaction structuring, acquisition of premises ownership, obtaining rights to land and construction. AWT Bavaria Ukraine is consistently supported in its expansion incentives, in particular, the construction project and acceptance for operating the import center in Boryspil District, Kyiv Region, purchase and sales agreement of land pots adjacent to this center, and a renovation project to technical and manufacturing area of the object (car dealership, service station, warehouse infrastructure) in the city of Kyiv. Selected clients include Heitman, Ibis Group of Companies, Ghelamco Ukraine, Traxparts Ukraine Ltd, Henkel Bautechnik (Ukraine) LLC. Three partners run the projects, namely Sergii Korniienko, Maxim Korchagin and Alexander Burtovoy, who is the eminent practice head.

Dentons is traditionally followed by foreign developers, contractors and property owners, major international agricultural and energy players. The firm is called upon for transactional support and regulatory advice, assisting with sale and acquisitions, real estate financing and restructuring mandates, development, management agreements, and also has urban infrastructure experience. Given the firm’s extensive track record of renewable energy projects, its real estate team is notably well placed to support construction of renewable energy plants and production facilities, as well as acquisition of sites for project development across different regions of Ukraine. In a recent highlights the office acted as legal counsel to Nordex Group on the implementation of a USD 450 million project regarding the construction, maintenance and supply of a wind farm by NBT, a Ukrainian- Norwegian JV in the energy sector; advised Chinese energy giant PowerChina Guizhou, within the implementation of the Progressovka solar power plant in Mykolaiv Region. Volodymyr Monastyrskyy is the lead partner.

Ilyashev & Partners is known primarily for its strong litigation capabilities and extensive track record of cases involving real estate property rights, construction regulation and land law. The firm represents the interests of Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, as of a third party in the Economic Court of Kharkiv Region, in the dispute between Ukrtekhnobud LLC and Inter-Dock LLC on the recognition of a subcontract as invalid. Another notable representation is executed on behalf of Megapoliszhilstroy, one of the investors in the  Respublika shopping mall, in litigation with a bank on recovery of arrears under a consortium loan agreement. The team is also assigned to support asset deals, commercial lease and property rights commissioning, and alienation of land plots. The firm advised the NTU of Ukraine I. Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute on conclusion of equity agreements on construction of objects on land plots located in Kyiv. Mikhail Ilyashev, managing partner, leads the practice.

In 2019 the real estate work in INTEGRITES has been closely tied to its energy and natural resources practice with a sharp focus on implementation of renewable energy projects and construction of industrial plants. The firm advises the biggest international developers on the Ukrainian renewable energy market — NBT, Scatec and Eurocape, dealing with all real estate, land and construction issues, including EPC contracts under FIDIC standards, commissioning, permitting and regulatory. Dr. Oleksiy Feliv, managing partner, heads the real estate and energy practices, and is noted for managing complex development mandates. Gennadii Roschepii, counsel, is another key executive.

Kinstellar advises on a broad range of projects involving commercial lease, construction, infrastructure projects, regulation and real estate aspects of finance and restructuring, and handles sophisticated disputes. The Kyiv office assists Syngenta on a regular basis on a variety of land and real estate matters, and most recently advised on a debt restructuring deal and takeover of the debtor’s land plots. The real estate practice also works alongside renewable energy projects, often sought after expertise in industrial construction, land designation and lease, construction permits and related regulatory issues. Another area of recent growth is municipal and port infrastructure. A recent highlight includes advising QTerminals as one of the bidders in the concession tender held by the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine in connection with the planned transfer of assets belonging to the state-owned enterprise Stevedoring Company Olvia into concession. Select clients include ADM International, the State Property Fund of Ukraine, Colliers International, Deutsche Investitions-und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH, FMS-Wertmanagement AoR. Oleg Matiusha, counsel and practice head, is increasingly more active in advising on cross-border real estate, commercial lease and port infrastructure issues.

The long-standing market player Salkom Law Firm is vividly active in residential construction and development, property-related matters, including acquisition and disposal of commercial real estate, management agreements and with counteracting corporate raids. In 2019 the firm advised the Ukrainian Construction Company JSC (UkrBud) in connection with several residential development projects (Grunvald, Oleksandrivskyi and Art Park in Kyiv, Koshovyi residential construction project in Irpin, A-12 and A-12-1 — in Brovary, I-Home in Kriukovshchyna village). Another significant project concerned protection of a real estate property in Kyiv and a hotel complex in a resort town near the Carpathian Mountains owned by Rydnyi Kray LLC from corporate raiding. The sizeable practice consists of several partners — Valerii Lukomskyi, Pavlo Lukomskyi, Victoria Klymiuk and Tymofii Sikorskyi as practice lead.

SDM Partners advises international and domestic investors in the course of transactional and operational activity. The firm rendered legal support to a Ukrainian investment company during the purchase of one of the largest shopping malls in Lviv; acted for a US investment fund during the purchase and commissioning of large commercial real estate property. Serhiy Dzis, partner, led the projects.

Domestic law firm TOTUM demonstrates a strong presence on the Kyiv real estate market. The dedicated team is highly-focused on real estate, construction and land, being preferred by a wide array of Ukrainian construction companies, investors and developers, communal enterprises, associations of co-owners of multi-apartment houses and private individuals. The firm has a broad workflow relating to land regulations, land plots allocation, registration and lease, land use, duties and fees in the city of Kyiv. The team also regularly assists clients with asset and share deals, communal property lease and privatization, acquisition of non-residential premises. Among the ongoing construction highlights of the team is supporting EVON Group in the construction of an industrial park. The current project portfolio also includes reconstruction projects and advice on investment models in the construction industry. Selected clients include Budformstandart LLC, PrJSC Ukrplastic, Communal Company Kyivpastrans, Business center Kyrylivskyy, State Enterprise Engineering Centre Sushka of the Institute of Technical Thermal Physics of Ukraine, Sigma Universal Group, Hotel Holosiyivskyy, Hudson Ukraine, Ukrainian Automobile Corporation. Bogdan Yaskiv runs the land practice. Yuriy Khapko handles real estate and construction, and was endorsed for being a highly-qualified practitioner.

Wolf Theiss is involved in transactional real estate work, advising clients on the construction and commissioning of their properties, and also handled a number of real estate dispute resolution matters representing mortgage holders, property owners, and construction companies. The Kyiv office advised Merchimpex S.a.r.l. in connection with the proposed acquisition of the assets of Agrogeneration, a French holding company of one of Ukraine’s major agribusiness groups, including the conducting of legal due diligence of land use rights, assets and liabilities. The team supported a leading Hungarian solar power equipment producer with revision of the contract for the construction of a solar plant in Ukraine. Amongst notable ongoing representations is developing a strategy for returning stolen assets and real estate to RMD Group, a Canadian investor, due to fraud committed by Ukrainian partners, and active representation in court disputes. Taras Dymuch, managing partner, heads the practice.

The multidisciplinary team of EY Ukraine focuses on domestic and cross-border commercial and corporate real estate transactions, performing specialized real estate due diligence, review and drafting agreements and day-to-day advice. EY takes part in an IFC-led project involving a pre-feasibility assessment of the potential options for private investment in the infrastructure of four regional airports arounds Ukraine, which includes particularly extensive legal analysis of real estate in these target airports. The main figures are Albert Sych, Bogdan Malniev and Daria Tkachenko.

GOLAW advises clients on commercial property matters, zoning and allocation of land plots, lease. Lately the team works on land and construction matters within renewable energy practice. The firm’s recent caseload includes advising in foreclosure proceedings involving real estate assets and regulatory and property rights disputes. Kateryna Manoylenko and Kateryna Tsvetkova were active across projects.

In 2019 KM Partners demonstrated regulatory advice pertaining to land valuation, ownership, use and lease, operation of agricultural lands. The firm regularly advises on regulations of construction and renovation, reconstruction of municipal facilities, sale of real estate property and pledge. The practice benefits from its strong tax expertise, which is essential in subsequent projects. The firm’s partner Maxim Oleksiuk runs the practice.

Konnov & Sozanovsky is focused on transactions with real estate and land. The firm is often mandated to represent clients in Cyprus, and benefits from having an office in Nicosia. Most recently the practice team supported acquisition of a development project in Cyprus, and represented a client in negotiations on construction of villas and apartments. The key figures are Sergei Konnov, senior partner, and Vitaliy Pravdyuk, counsel.

KPMG Law is instructed for comprehensive pre-investment due diligence and acquiring real estate objects. The team acted on behalf of Monsanto International Sarl and conducted independent assessment of an investment project on construction of a corn plant; represented a leading international contract research organization during acquisition of a Ukrainian company, owning a nine-floor business center in Kyiv and related land plots. The firm’s real estate experts take part in financial restructuring of debts supported by the firm. For example, the firm acted for TMM and conducted a compliance review of construction of seven residential and office complexes within its financial restructuring before a state-owned bank. Litigation highlights encompass successful representation of CTPark Lviv, developer of the first industrial park in Ukraine, in a complicated land dispute, initiated by a village council claiming that the area was illegally transferred to the city of Lviv and whose designation was unlawfully changed from agricultural purposes to industrial construction. Clients include CCEC-Ukraine, NCH Group Ukraine, Siriusproekt Lviv, EPAM Systems, Production Union Konti. Sergey Popov and Yuriy Katser are the key contacts.

The Kyiv office of Peterka & Partners, a Czech law firm, delivers legal support to local and international clients, and has a CEE region business focus. The firm advises Regus, a multinational corporation from Luxembourg that provides global workplaces (offices), with respect to real estate leases. Other assignments include acquisition of land and ownership matters. Taras Utiralov is the main contact.

Redcliffe Partners is mostly known for M&A and finance mandates, ensuring regulatory clearance relating to real estate transactions. For example, the firm advised JP Morgan Securities as well as the EBRD, NEFCO, Proparco and a number of other lenders on comprehensive real estate due diligence and various land and construction matters for provision of financing to construct a wind power plant near Syvash Lake in Kherson Region; advised EBRD and IFC on two extended parallel senior secured loans to M.V. Cargo to finance the construction of a new private grain terminal at the Black Sea commercial port of Yuzhniy. The firm also handles pre-investment real estate and land due diligence in terms of its M&A practice, being especially vivid in renewable energy projects in 2019. Another landmark project is advising Concord Consulting with respect to privatization of the President Hotel. The practice is led by Svitlana Teush, counsel, who was endorsed during the poll.

Vdovychen & Partners advises on real estate property deals, reconstruction and related litigation. This past year the firm supported reconstruction of a trade and office center in Kyiv, advised on construction of a high voltage power plant. The firm is known primarily for its strong litigation performance, which among the most recent experience included land lease disputes. Oleg Vdovychen is the main contact.

The long-standing market player Vasil Kisil & Partners^[1] is reputed in construction and development projects, real estate transactions and dispute resolution practice. Alexander Borodkin, lead partner, is noted for good negotiation experience in construction.

^[1]The firm has not submitted information for the current research.

Regional Counsel

The Odesa-based ANK Law Office is the key legal counsel for port infrastructure projects in South Ukraine. During 2019 the firm acted as a legal counsel to a few port operations within long-term projects on construction of new and reconstruction of existing port terminals. For example, the office consistently represents the interests of an established client, Brooklyn-Kiev, during construction of the second and fifth stages of the grain transshipment complex in Odesa Sea Port. The firm renders legal support to AGRO-RENI, a subsidiary of Rusagro-Prim (Moldova), in the implementation of an USD 6.4 million investment project on construction of a grain transshipment complex in Reni Sea Port. The firm continued to advise LLC Automaster on extending the dealer centers of Renault, Ford, Skoda, Hyundai cars in Odesa. Clients include Delta-Wilmar CIS, Sunshine Terminal, Risoil Terminal, SC CTO of the company HHLA. Oleksandr Kyfak and Dmytro Kolodiazhniy are the core figures in this practice.

Jurline, a law firm based in Odesa, is historically chosen by leading construction companies in Odesa Region for supporting a broad range of real estate projects and their operational activity. The firm, which has a region-wide footprint, shows a long-standing presence in construction projects in the field of commercial and industrial real estate, and possesses a niche of supporting construction of elite residential complexes. The firm’s recent portfolio takes in complex real estate leasing projects, acquisition deals, investment and tax structuring. Clients include significant regional companies like ZARS, Kadorr Group, TIS, TIS-Grain and others. Nina Rizun heads the firm’s real estate practice.

Kharkiv-based law firm Krolevetskyi & Partners handles comprehensive legal support to development projects, including engineering, construction and commissioning. The firm also acts on real estate transactions, and represent clients in challenging decisions of regulatory authorities. In 2019 the firm advised Avenue Development on the purchase and sale of residential real estate under construction in Kharkiv; supported Stalkonstruktsia-1 Ltd in public procurement and a general contractor contract for construction of several premises in the city of Kharkiv and Kharkiv Region. Viktoriia Lubich is the practice head.

ILF Law Firm, which has two offices in Kharkiv and Kyiv, regularly assists clients with real estate lease and investment matters, land regulation, restructuring, and possesses particular strength in dispute resolution. On the litigation front the firm is adept at leading comprehensive disputes around asset protection in the retail and construction areas, post privatization disputes and those caused by corporate conflicts. The firm is known for its unique practice of protecting real estate property rights in the occupied territories. In a recent highlight the team represents Interbis LLC, a big trade company from Donetsk in the course of protection of its property rights in a hotel and surgery center at the European Court for Human Rights in connection with the occupation of Donbas. Olexiy Kharytonov, dispute resolution partner, heads the firm’s practice.

Kharkiv-based law firm Shkrebets & Partners is active in developing the municipal infrastructure of the city of Kharkiv, including construction and reconstruction projects. Provision of legal support to Municipal Enterprise KharkivZelenbud to reconstruction of Taras Shevchenko City Garden, a park in the central part of Kharkiv, including support for tenders and development of a contractual base, is a continuous project. The past year was noted for a new socially important project, namely the construction of a household waste recycling plant, with the recycling of range gas and electricity production in Kharkiv Region. Kharkiv Zoo is supported in its ongoing rebuilding work. Evgeniy Shkrebets and Oleksii Meniv are lead partners.