News date: 26 March 2025
The Legal 500 – EMEA 2025 ranks Ilyashev & Partners as the country’s leading law firm. The reputable international survey rated Ilyashev & Partners highly in all 12 practice areas evaluated in Ukraine. The firm holds prestigious Tier 1 recognition in Dispute Resolution for Ukraine for 13 years running.
Recommendations in the ranking published on March 26, 2025 received the following practice areas and firm’s experts:
Competition – tier 1
Leading Partners: Oleksandr Fefelov
Other Key Lawyers: Valeriia Gudiy
Ilyashev & Partners is a go-to for representation in unfair competition, abuse of dominance and violation of antimonopoly legislation cases. It also demonstrates particular prowess in alleged cartel cases. The team’s broad competition practice ranges from obtaining merger and concerted clearances to advice on competition aspects of commercial agreements and public procurement to state aid matters. Oleksandr Fefelov leads the team and excels in matters related to unfair competition, abuse of dominance and anti-competitive practices. He brings to the team a wealth of experience and a successful track record representing clients before the Antimonopoly Committee in disputes, violations and state aid cases. Valeriia Gudiy is regularly called upon to represent clients in courts at all levels in unfair competition appeals.
Dispute Resolution – tier 1
Hall of Fame: Mikhail Ilyashev, Roman Marchenko
Leading Associates: Oleh Trokhymchuk, Andrii Konoplia
Other Key Lawyers: Marina Riashchenko, Roman Protsyshyn, Sergey Nedelko, Vadym Kizlenko
‘Market legend’ Ilyashev & Partners is a go to for domestic and international businesses, HNW individuals and high-ranking state officials. The team has a strong cross-border offering and advises on cross-border litigation and international arbitration, with notable expertise in investment, international commercial and sports arbitration. It has noticed a recent increase in maritime and insurance disputes alongside its specialist practice in tax, IP, labor, shareholder, and real estate and construction disputes. Debt collection and insolvencies are other areas of expertise. Roman Marchenko is active in international arbitration proceedings, with experience in courts in Ukraine, England and the Supreme Court of the Seychelles. Mikhail Ilyashev boasts an active national and international practice. Appointed as co-head of the team in December 2023, Oleh Trokhymchuk advises an impressive roster of national, foreign and international companies and state enterprises. Insolvency expert Andrii Konoplia was also appointed practice co-head in December 2023, and Sergey Nedelko heads the firm’s Odesa office. Roman Protsyshyn focuses on arbitration, particularly investment, commercial and sports matters, along with Marina Riashchenko, who has experience in arbitration involving sovereign parties.
Intellectual Property – tier 1
Ilyashev & Partners ‘stands out for their exceptional client care and deep expertise in trade mark and licensing matters’. Best known for its work in litigation, the practice led by Mikhail Ilyashev continues to expand its commercial IP expertise to include portfolio management, trade mark and patent prosecution, enforcement, franchising and licensing.
International Trade – tier 1
Leading Partners: Olena Omelchenko
Ilyashev & Partners is among the busiest firms in trade investigations carried out by the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine. The firm has a diverse practice that handles trade remedies, export control, customs, sanctions, trade preference agreements, rules of origin and dispute settlement procedures. Lead partner Olena Omelchenko ‘carries a reputation for authority and respect’.
White-Collar Crime – tier 1
Leading partners: Mikhail Ilyashev, Roman Marchenko
Other Key Lawyers: Kostiantyn Kryvenko
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.
Banking, Finance and Capital Markets – tier 2
Drawing on its network of offices throughout Ukraine, Ilyashev & Partners is well-placed to advise on cross-border matters. The team excels in multi-creditor restructurings on both a domestic and international basis, as well as boasting an established insolvency and debt recovery practice. It is also active in the insurance and online payment sectors, with expertise in e-commerce, cryptocurrency and licensing matters. Practice head Mikhail Ilyashev counts several prominent banks and corporations among his clientele and is regularly engaged to advise on debt collection. An established figure in the restructuring and insolvency space, Roman Marchenko leverages his experience in both the dispute resolution and corporate sectors.
Commercial, Corporate and M&A – tier 2
Hall of Fame: Mikhail Ilyashev
Leading Partners: Roman Marchenko
Other Key Lawyers: Oleksandr Fefelov, Yevgen Solovyov
Boasting a ‘highly skilled and outcome-driven team of professionals’, Ilyashev & Partners is regularly called upon by both Ukrainian and international companies for specialist corporate governance advice. ‘Exceptional negotiator’ Mikhail Ilyashev leads the team alongside Roman Marchenko, who excels in advising insolvent and distressed companies on corporate restructurings. Oleksandr Fefelov has proven expertise in foreign investment, international M&A and asset acquisitions. With particular expertise in the agribusiness, construction and energy companies, Yevgen Solovyov brings to the team ‘vast experience and in-depth knowledge of corporate and regulatory matters’.
Employment – tier 2
Leading Partners: Valeriia Gudiy
A go-to for Ukrainian branches of multinational corporates, the team of ‘experienced and highly qualified lawyers’ at Ilyashev & Partners advises on defence legislation and mobilisation. The team is well-placed to advise on labor relations under martial law, from employee booking to military registration, deferment and exemptions. Valeriia Gudiy‘s international employment practice sees her advise multinational companies on Ukrainian labor law and labor unions relations, with a strong track record representing clients in trade union and collective labor disputes.
Energy – tier 2
Recognised as one of the country’s leading litigation firms, Ilyashev & Partners is predominantly involved in energy disputes. Founding partner Mikhail Ilyashev and counsel Oleh Trokhymchuk, who ‘grasp the technical and industry aspects’ of any matter, are the key contacts. They recently handled a claim for compensation for damages caused by an alleged illegal regulatory act of the state regulator concerning renewable energy tariffs.
Private Client – tier 2
Leading partners: Mikhail Ilyashev, Roman Marchenko
Other Key Lawyers: Yevgen Solovyov, Ivan Maryniuk
Ilyashev & Partners is widely recognised for its prowess in litigation, and its private client practice benefits from the vast disputes and asset recovery experience of practice heads Mikhail Ilyashev and Roman Marchenko. They ‘focus on creating an environment of trust that allows to discuss their most sensitive matters openly without hesitation’. Yevgen Solovyov advises high-net-worth clients on inbound investments. Together they form ‘a dream team to guide clients through a storm’.
Real Estate and Construction – tier 2
Leading Associates: Dmytro Hrybov
Other Key Lawyers: Dmytro Hruba
With ‘highly qualified lawyers across various sectors of the economy’, Ilyashev & Partners fields a considerable workload, notably handling environmental protection, infrastructure projects and land regulation. Dmytro Hrybov leads the practice and is proficient in leasing and property transactions, while Dmytro Hruba is knowledgeable of agricultural matters.
Tax – tier 2
Leading Partners: Roman Marchenko
Other Key Lawyers: Dmytro Lazebnyi
Ilyashev & Partners has key strength in tax matters with international elements, regularly advising clients based outside the country on inward investments. The department is active in the industrial, agricultural, and technology sectors, and demonstrates experience advising NGOs. ‘Highly competent and promising lawyer’ Ivan Maryniuk leads the team, specialising in international tax planning. Roman Marchenko is a key name for contentious tax matters, including litigation. Dmytro Lazebnyi provides additional support in tax disputes, and acts for both businesses and private individuals.