EQUITY Law Firm is widely acknowledged to have one of the leading white-collar crime practices in Ukraine. ‘Skilled at handling complex matters in an exceptional manner', the practice, which handles every aspect of domestic and cross-border white-collar crime, brings strength to enforced verdicts of acquittal, proceedings with dismissed state charges and criminal proceedings in the area of economic and office crimes. The four-partner team led by Oleksandr Lysak and Taras Poshyvanyuk provides ‘a level of service delivered to its clients which matches with the highest standards in the world’. Bohdan Slobodian, Dmytro Polishchuk and Oksana Varakina are key highly-regarded litigators of note.

Ario Law Firm is highly regarded for its defence of high-profile political figures, prominent businessmen and key public officials; lead partner Yevhen Hrushovets is a skilled expert in criminal and anti-corruption law, white-collar crime and business protection. The firm frequently handles high-stakes cases of financial fraud, embezzlement, alleged corruption and abuse of power and misconduct in public office. Hrushovets and Olha Koval are currently defending the former president of Georgia in an abuse of power case. Julian Khorunzhyi also plays a key role in the practice.

Clients of Arzinger remark that ‘the team is incredibly responsive, detail-oriented and always available, which provides a sense of confidence and trust’. Advising corporate executives and their employers, as well as high-net-worth individuals and prominent politicians, the firm is well versed in both pre-trial investigations and courtroom proceedings. Kateryna Gupalo, who ‘stands out for her strategic thinking and deep legal knowledge’, and Iurii Sukhov are the lead partners. Gupalo is vice co-chair of the Business Crime Committee of the International Bar Association.

‘The team is highly efficient and creative’, say clients of Asters. Practice head Sergiy Grebenyuk leads a large team that is skilled in defending matters of alleged tax evasion, money laundering, fraud, professional negligence, bribery, corruption and more. It acts for a stellar roster of international corporates, domestic enterprises, high-net-worth individuals and politically exposed persons. Counsel Orest Stasiuk has ‘exceptional forensic skills’, which he applies to internal corporate investigations, tax evasion cases and anti-money laundering investigations.

Avellum is known for ‘unbelievable quality’, and clients are impressed by the firm’s ‘lightning reaction to very urgent cases’. Newly promoted Andrii Fortunenko leads the practice and specialises in fraud, embezzlement, cybercrimes and corruption-related offences. He calls on the outstanding skills of head of international arbitration Kostiantyn Likarchuk, and head of tax Vadim Medvedev. Together, they co-ordinate multi-jurisdictional teams to handle cross-border matters, and to represent victims of fraud in private and public investigations.

Aver Lex provides ‘exceptional service in the area of white-collar crime’, for which the firm has the largest practice in Ukraine. It has a stellar track record in the defence of complex criminal cases, focusing on high-profile economic crimes, anticorruption and sanctions proceedings, as well as military crimes. Olga Prosyanyuk, who is praised for her ‘precision and creativity’, and Vitaliy Serdyuk are the lead partners. Clients also praise business defence specialists Artem Drozdov and Volodymyr Yenich; Andriana Fozekosh, who leads the firm’s work for military personnel; and economic crimes expert Bogdan Bilenko.

Clients of Ilyashev & Partners note that ‘a hallmark of the firm is calmness under pressure and a methodical approach to problems’. Members of the team led by Valeriia Gudiy, Roman Marchenko and managing partner Mikhail Ilyashev are ‘extremely well-prepared and provide timely and user-friendly service’. The firm handles both the protection of victims and witnesses, and the defence of individuals under criminal investigation, or who have been accused of economic or corporate crimes. The firm is currently involved in numerous criminal cases allegations of high treason and complicity with Russia levelled at civil servants and corporate executives.

Sayenko Kharenko has ‘a top-notch team which always provides high-end services with diligence, expertise and an exclusive approach’. Led by Sergey Smirnov, who specialises in domestic corporate, fraud and business crimes, as well as internal investigations and litigation matters, the practice is frequently involved in tax evasion, embezzlement and fraudulent bankruptcy cases, as well as criminal prosecutions under new tax and anti-corruption legislation. Counsel Zlata Symonenko is experienced in financial and corruption crime cases, as well as appeals to the European Court of Human Rights.

VB PARTNERS is ‘an excellent boutique with an impressive coverage of corporate and tax criminal law advice and defence’. A boutique focused on white-collar crime, it is often involved in high-profile proceedings before the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), and the High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine (HACC). Denys Bugay leads a team known for ‘uncompromising quality’, in which Oleksandr Lukianenko, who frequently acts in matters brought by international law enforcement agencies, such as Interpol, and Denys Shkarovsky, who has ‘an impeccable profile for complex criminal and regulatory investigations’, are among the many skilled practitioners.

ADER HABER has ‘an outstanding reputation for criminal fraud cases’, thanks to its ‘deep bench of tenacious litigators able to take on any type of dispute’. Eleonora Yemets, who is currently chair of the White-collar crime Committee of the Ukrainian Bar Association, and Volodymyr Babichev lead the practice. The work spans investigations of misappropriation, embezzlement, fraud, tax evasion, abuse of authority and corruption offences.

Members of Barristers Law Firm impress clients with ‘their deep expertise in criminal defence, dedication and high ethical standards’. Practice head Konstantin Globa, who is praised for his ‘strategic thinking, attention to detail and ability to manage complex situations’, leads a vast team of criminal and business defence lawyers for whom white-collar crime is a key focus. Their work includes defending high-profile political figures accused of abuse of office.

CREDENCE exhibits ‘deep knowledge, attention to details, a pragmatic approach and at the same time strategic and out-of-box thinking’. The firm’s involvement in the $710m Rotterdam+ case, which concerns the price of coal in Ukraine based on the European market prices, shows it has a prominent presence in high-stakes matters. Lead partner Artyom Trekke is known for ‘intelligence, professional experience, wisdom, and providing the best level of legal assistance’.

GOLAW ‘has a unique and individual approach for each client’ and the firm is praised for being ‘really honest and hardworking in the legal field’. The criminal law practice is led by Igor Glushko, who acts for both suspects and victims of crime and is well versed in matters concerning allegations of bribery, corruption and money laundering, as well as administrative sanctions, and by Angelika Moiseeva, who has extensive experience as a forensic attorney.

Gracers combines expertise in criminal defence with in-depth knowledge of civil, commercial, administrative and tax law. Serhii Lysenko, who has in-house experience in the prosecutor’s office, and newly promoted Liudmyla Kusa, who previously worked in the District Court of Kyiv, lead a 13-lawyer group that frequently acts for senior executives, high-ranking military officials, members of the government and high-net-worth individuals accused of bribery, abuse of power, fraud and other offences.

Kinstellar's white-collar crime team ‘demonstrates an impressive hands-on approach and proves very useful and helpful throughout criminal proceedings’. Firm-wide head of dispute resolution Olexander Martinenko oversees the work of Yulia Eismont, who focuses predominantly on antitrust matters, and the ‘very dedicated’ Danylo Volkovetskyi, who frequently handles cross-border litigation. Eismont is assisting Ukraine’s national postal operator with compliance and risk management to address potential corruption issues.

LCF Law Group continues to grow the white-collar crime practice led by experienced criminal law specialist Maksym Sheverdin. Newly promoted counsel Anastasiya Didenko leads an anti-corruption and compliance group that handles NABU investigations and sanctions cases. Their work encompasses investigations of misappropriation, embezzlement, fraud, tax evasion, abuse of office, organised transnational crime and construction-related criminal proceedings.

Nazar Kulchytskyy & Partners continues to build on a stellar reputation in complex white-collar crime matters, since its founding by lead partner Nazar Kulchytskyy, following his departure from Vasil Kisil & Partners in 2022. He leads the practice along with ‘calm under pressure’ litigator Andriy Sliusar. They provide ‘cutting-edge solutions’ in complex matters involving allegation of abuse of power, financial misconduct, fraud in public procurement, false declaration of assets, corruption, bribery and tax evasion.

Vasil Kisil & Partners frequently acts for foreign and domestic companies and their executives before law enforcement agencies and in court. Litigation partner Andriy Stelmashchuk oversees the work of associate Vasyl Prytula, who has extensive experience in defending white-collar or corruption crimes during pre-trial investigation and court proceedings. Anatoliy Pashynskyi leads the anti-corruption group, which handles criminal proceedings related to the declaration of untrue information and unjust enrichment.

Baker McKenzie, Kyiv Office has a team of five criminal lawyers in Kyiv, and is known for its in-depth knowledge of local regulation and criminal law. They frequently assist companies and financial institutions with cross-border investigations, as well as representing corporate executives in criminal investigations and prosecutions. Lead partner Ihor Siusel handles international commercial arbitration, compliance and bankruptcy matters as part of his broad dispute resolution practice.

The team at Benchers Law Firm ‘comes up with innovative solutions in challenging scenarios’. Oleh Valendiuk, whose experience includes stints at the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine and the Security Service of Ukraine, leads the practice along with veteran litigator Olga Shapovalova, and highly regarded criminal defence specialist Oleksandr Mykytenko. Valendiuk is currently defending a Ukrainian MP in a $24m bribery case brought by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU).

CMS has a disputes and compliance team that handles a broad range of criminal proceedings, and is adept at setting up reporting channels for whistle-blowers. Commercial, regulatory and disputes partner Olga Shenk, employment and litigation expert Maria Orlyk, and life sciences specialist Borys Danevych are the main contacts. The firm is particularly known for its understanding of white-collar enforcement matters, fraud, tax evasion, abuse of powers and conflict of interest cases in the life sciences, energy, insurance and NGO sectors.

Hillmont Partners LLC has a busy and fast-growing white-collar crime practice that focuses on the protection of interests of national enterprises, global companies operating in Ukraine and private investors. Drawing on its administrative and tax law practices, the firm is frequently involved in cross-border disputes. Oleksii Miagkyi, who leads the practice, previously worked as a judge, and has in-house experience in the prosecutor’s office of Ukraine. Senior partner Andrii Nyzhnyi also plays a key role.

Integrites has boosted its ability to cases concerning money laundering, insider trading, bribery, corruption and sanctions, thanks to the recruitment of a new practice head. Counsel Mykola Nychyporuk rejoined the firm in 2024 having run his own boutique law firm. He leads the practice with head of domestic litigation Oleksandr Onishchenko. Head of business protection, compliance and anti-corruption Kristina Shyposha plays a key role in tracing and recovering assets.

KM Partners is best known for its tax practice, which sees the firm involved in high-stakes tax evasion cases, as well as matters concerning forgery, criminal negligence and other economic crimes. Senior partner Alexander Minin leads a group of vastly experienced partners, among them Alexander Shemiatkin, who frequently represents the interests of the clients before investigative authorities, the prosecutor’s office and in court.

KPD Consulting Law Firm has a track record of success in defending directors and owners of large companies including Ukrainian and international banks, financial companies, lessors, automobile dealers, industrial, transport, manufacturing companies and software and computer equipment developers. Head of criminal and labour law Kyrylo Kazak is the lead partner. His recent work includes the defence of a Member of Ukrainian Parliament in a criminal case arising from a decision by the European Court of Human Rights.

LA Law Firm is a litigation boutique with nearly 30 years’ experience in defence work for companies and individuals. Active in pre-trial investigations, criminal trials, appeals against property and account seizure, and the preparation of officials for interrogation, the firm calls on the vast litigation experience of Vitalii Savchuk. His recent work includes a $208m case concerning counterfeit medicines. Experienced counsel Maryna Mkrtycheva rejoined from Miller Law Firm.

In the ten years since its launch, Grain Law Firm has established itself as a key adviser to prominent political figures and executives of large companies in fraud, bribery, corruption, tax evasion and extradition cases. The ‘accurate, attentive’ Kostiantyn Doroshenko and Oleksandr Teleshetskiy, who has ‘encyclopaedic legal knowledge‘, are the main practitioners. Doroshenko recently defended the former acting chairman of UKRNAFTA JSC in a $458m financial fraud case.

At LIGRO, experienced litigators Yurii Demchenko and Denys Dyomin lead a four-partner practice that is carving out a presence in such niche areas as cryptocurrency fraud and cybercrime, as well as defending clients accused of misconduct in public office, embezzlement, fraud, misappropriation of funds, tax cases and customs law violations. The firm frequently handles multi-jurisdictional matters for executives at companies in key industries such as finance, tech and healthcare.

Sokolovskyi and Partners Law Firm joins the ranking having been involved in some high-value and high-profile criminal proceedings initiated by the tax police, the Bureau of Economic Security, the Security Service of Ukraine, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, and the police. Practice head and criminal law specialist Tatiana Lysovets calls upon the talents of energy partner Vladyslav Sokolovskyi and head of the bankruptcy and anti-crisis asset management practice Ivan Balytskyi.

The team at AMBER Law Company ‘consists of top-level professionals who pay individual attention to each client and provide highly effective defences in court’. Lead partner Semen Khanin is ‘very intelligent with a wealth of knowledge’. The firm’s rapidly expanding practice is focused on defence work in anti-corruption proceedings and business-related crimes such as tax evasion, abuse of office, crimes against property and more.

Juscutum Attorneys Association ‘stands out for its deep expertise and client-focused approach’. Dmytro Dychakovskyi leads the practice, drawing on his extensive experience in cases of official misconduct, embezzlement, bribery, fraud and tax-related crimes. Yuliia Kolomiiets has niche expertise in crimes related to cryptocurrency, an increasingly significant factor in economic crimes.

Established five years ago, Legal Strategy has quickly established its reputation for the defence of prominent figures in high-stakes cases involving complex allegations. Partners Vasyl Fedytnyk and Ivan Kholondovych draw on their experience in law enforcement agencies and in private practice to defend government officials, legislators, entrepreneurs, law enforcement officials and high-net-worth individuals. Clients note that they are ‘genuinely interested in achieving a positive outcome’.

MORIS joins the ranking this year, thanks to its ‘highly professional, reliable and impressive team’. The firm has built out its practice since hiring a team in 2022, and it has quickly built a high-end client roster, which includes commanders in the armed forces and executives at large domestic and international companies. The ‘highly professional, attentive and effective’ Stanislav Peliuk and experienced litigator Tetiana Honchariuk lead the eight-lawyer practice.

Shkrebets & Partners, based in Kharkiv, plays a prominent role in white-collar crime matters in the Eastern region of Ukraine. The firm focuses on representing political figures, municipal and state officials, as well as the executives of its corporate clients. Oleksii Meniv leads the practice, in which Ruslan Bekuzarov plays a key role in criminal defence matters.

Skliarenko, Sydorenko and Partners routinely represents state officials, senior executives, state institutions and commercial businesses in criminal matters concerning the embezzlement of funds, fraud, abuse of power, bribery, money laundering and forgery. Lead partner Andriy Sydorenko calls up on the litigation talents of Andriy Trigub. Both are highly regarded litigators.

Vidar Law Firm joins the ranking thanks to its team of ‘punctual, honest and proactive lawyers’. Partners Stanislav Borys, Victor Vinitskiy and Maksym Boyko specialise in white-collar crime, criminal law, and bribery and corruption matters, as well as business defence. Vinitskiy has a niche in cases involving military personnel, and Borys is frequently involved in litigation concerning cryptocurrency.