AEQUO Law Firm

Partner Babych Anna has been Highly Regarded in the M&A, Restructuring & Insolvency practices by the international IFLR1000 ranking. This recognition highlights Anna’s exceptional expertise in supporting complex, market-shaping deals. IFLR1000 highly values professionals who create legal solutions that set new standards for the industry. Importantly, alongside analyzing the substance and exclusivity of legal support provided, IFLR1000’s analysts also consider feedback from clients and market peers, who also hold Anna’s contribution to the industry in high regard. Congratulations to Anna on this new distinction! We continue working for our clients with an extra mile approach. 

Denis Lysenko, executive partner, has been recognized as "Highly regarded" by IFLR1000 ranking.    Based on project research, as well as feedback from clients and peers, Denis Lysenko was highly commended for his achievements in the following practices and industries:     - Competition law  - M&A  - Private equity  - Restructuring and insolvency  - Consumer goods and services  - Food and beverage     IFLR1000 is a leading international ranking, specializing in the evaluation of law firms and lawyers in the financial and corporate sectors. 

Aequo Partner Nataliya Dryuk will moderate a Ukrainian Bar Association roundtable on the topic "Insights on IP Case Law." The discussion on current IP practices will take place on November 14, featuring leading practitioners in the field. Register for the event at https://bit.ly/4hzeoex. *** The Ukrainian Bar Association’s Intellectual Property Committee aims to shape a strategy for developing the IP sector in Ukraine and to prepare and promote legislative initiatives essential for business.

At Aequo, we believe that the true milestones of our 10-year journey are marked not just by the years, but by successful projects! One such project, of which we are especially proud, is the Aequo Friends innovation internship program, which celebrated its 10th anniversary wave this year. Throughout these years, we’ve been united by a single purpose: to inspire future leaders in the legal profession, giving momentum to their ideas, energy, and ambitions. We teach, and we learn alongside them. Aequo Friends in numbers:  * The internship program was recognized in the prestigious FT Innovative Lawyers rankings in the category “Managing and Developing Talent.” * Up to 40% of our program’s graduates join the Aequo team. * Over the 10 waves, we’ve received 1,577 applications, and 106 interns have completed the program. We look forward to the next wave of Aequo Friends in 2025!

AEQUO team is proud to support Kyiv International Economic Forum/KIEF in 2024. The event attracted over 1000 attendees, including entrepreneurs, business leaders, government officials, and media. The program was jam-packed with engaging content: in three conference halls, intense and open discussions took place on complex topics such as European integration, social policy, business strategy under constant war threats, macroeconomics, safeguarding national interests in the information space, defence tech development, and the evolving relationship between business and government. Oleksiy Filatov, senior partner at Aequo moderated a discussion on building new, more transparent, and constructive relations between business and government. The panel featured: * Danylo Hetmantsev, Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Tax, and Customs Policy; * Roman Waschuk, Business Ombudsman in Ukraine; * Igor Mazepa, Founder and CEO of Concorde Capital; * Oleksiy Boniuk, Head of the Department of Criminal Policy and Investment Protection at the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine; * Michael Polyakov, Deputy General Manager for Corporate Affairs at Philip Morris Ukraine. This panel was, without exaggeration, one of the most intense at KIEF, as it addressed pressing issues such as forceful pressure on businesses, retrospective taxation, the use of criminal cases to initiate dialogue between business and government, and competition with the shadow sector. For many panelists and attendees, these challenges are personal. Government representatives urged businesses not to remain passive observers in the state’s efforts to correct its deficiencies and shared information on reforms already underway. They also discussed plans to shrink the shadow economy and support lawful businesses. Participants of KIEF also had the opportunity to be among the first to learn about the results of the "Court Index 2024," conducted by the European Business Association in partnership with AEQUO. The index serves as a barometer of business and practicing lawyers' trust in the judicial system. Overall, KIEF 2024 showcased the unwavering resilience of our country and underscored that building a competitive, strong state is not merely a vision for the future but a reality we are creating today. We are proud that this year AEQUO became the exclusive legal partner of the Kyiv International Economic Forum!

On Tuesday, November 12, Partner Babych Anna will participate in the webinar “Law Firms’ ESG Decisions in Our Current Geopolitical Environment,” organized by the ESG Subcommittee of the International Bar Association.     The webinar will offer a timely discussion of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) expectations and challenges for lawyers and companies in light of global factors—such as war, the climate crisis, and AI development—that are driving changes in the geopolitical landscape.     Details and registration link: https://lnkd.in/dmEDqZHe     ***     Aequo's expertise and impact in ESG have been repeatedly recognized by the international community (shortlisted for Most Impactful ESG Initiative, The Lawyer 2024, UN Global Compact recognition, etc.). Today, Aequo’s priorities include supporting the rebuild of Ukraine, in particular by attracting investments and enhancing the country's investment appeal.

Business issues with law enforcement agencies have accompanied Ukraine’s economy throughout its recent history. According to the Business Ombudsman’s statistics, in 2024, up to 12% of all complaints concerned the actions of law enforcement agencies. Transforming criminal proceedings from a tool of pressure into a civilized means of holding those who commit crimes accountable becomes even more pressing amid the unprecedented challenges of war. Among Ukraine’s key steps and commitments within the EU’s "Ukraine Facility" implementation plan is precisely the reform of the Prosecutor’s Office, based on transparent staffing and increased accountability of prosecutors. However, this reform is scheduled for implementation no earlier than 2026. We thank Oleksiy Boniuk, Head of Criminal Law Policies and Investments Protection Department of the Office, Prosecutor General's Office, for participating in the KMEF panel “Transforming Relations Between Business and Government,” moderated by Oleksii Filatov, Senior Partner at AEQUO. Don’t miss the open discussion on business issues with law enforcement agencies! November 7, Kyiv International Economic Forum 2024, starting at 4:30 PM, Hall B. 

Aequo partner Mariya Nizhnik lectured on the Antimonopoly Committee to the GR Specialist program participants at the KSE Graduate Business School.  Specifically, the discussion covered:  - Areas of the AMCU’s activity.   - The most common myths about the AMCU and whether they hold.   - Primary forms of interaction and recommendations on communicating with the AMCU.  “Effective interaction with the AMCU is not only an opportunity to protect oneself but also a chance to inform the regulator about market needs and to help in developing policies that take industry specifics into account,” noted Mariya. ***  Expert support of educational programs is a key component of Aequo's work in the field of education development. The firm’s partners and lawyers also lecture at leading Ukrainian universities and mentor young lawyers as part of the innovative Aequo Friends internship program. 

Partner Yulia Kyrpa 🇺🇦 has been recognized in the Market Leader category for Restructuring and Insolvency, as well as in the Women Leaders category, by the international ranking IFLR1000 for 2024. The Market Leader recognition is awarded to law firm partners who are regarded as true leaders in their field and jurisdiction by clients and peers, with an outstanding track record of handling the most high-profile, innovative, and complex deals in their markets. For many years, her inclusion in the Women Leaders category has confirmed Yulia’s contributions to gender equality and women`s leadership in the profession. In 2018-2019, Yulia was the only representative from Ukraine included in the IFLR1000 – Women Leaders list. Congratulations to Yulia on this recognition, which reaffirms her leadership in the field of Restructuring and Insolvency, as well as her significant work in promoting women`s leadership.

In October, the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine (ESB) reported that since the start of this year, its detectives had facilitated the recovery of 5.1 billion UAH in damages, while in September, analysts prevented the misuse of an additional 9.8 billion UAH in budget funds. However, interactions between law enforcement and the judiciary with businesses in 2024 revealed less optimistic results: an audit by the Prosecutor General's Office showed that 77% of cases against businesses did not reach court. An effective ESB is essential for safeguarding the country’s financial interests, formalizing the economy, protecting business rights, and fostering investments. This makes the reform of ESB, initiated in June 2024, highly anticipated. We thank Igor Mazepa, founder and CEO of Concorde Capital, for participating in the Kyiv International Economic Forum panel “Transforming Relations Between Business and Government,” moderated by Oleksiy Filatov, Senior Partner at AEQUO. Mr. Mazepa, an active participant in the “Manifesto 42” movement, has personal experience with interactions involving law enforcement and judicial authorities, which gained public attention earlier this year and is still ongoing. Join the KIEF panel discussion to explore how reforms of ESB and other state institutions can build trust with businesses and reduce the shadow economy.