News date: 6 November 2025
Roman Marchenko, Attorney at Law, Honored Lawyer of Ukraine, Senior Partner at Ilyashev & Partners Law Firm, and Counsel, MCIArb Roman Protsyshyn presented at the XIII Annual Forum of Legal Counsels, which took place on November 4, 2025, in Kyiv. The event was organized by Yurydychna Praktyka Publishing House.
In his presentation titled “Outside Counsel: Expense or Investment in Dispute Resolution?”, Roman Protsyshyn discussed the advantages of engaging outside legal counsel in dispute resolution and shared examples from practice. Roman emphasized that cooperation with outside consultants is a strategic investment, as it ensures an objective assessment of the case, professional control over each stage of the process, and reduces the risk of critical errors. He cited a case in which an inaccuracy in a document prepared by a company’s in-house attorneys resulted in the loss of almost EUR 3 million during an arbitration proceeding.
“Engaging a law firm is an investment, not an expense. You invest in a professional strategy that delivers results. And when the strategy is properly built, arbitration costs for legal assistance are reimbursed by almost 100%,” emphasized Roman Protsyshyn.
Roman Marchenko moderated the session “Transformation of the Legal Function” and raised the issue of organizing the work of legal departments in Ukrainian companies, as well as the role of outside consultants. He noted that a modern attorney must not only know the law but also understand the specifics of the business they work with.
“The legal function today goes beyond purely legal expertise. Business expects a partner who understands its logic, sees the risks, and proposes solutions that support the company’s growth,” noted Roman Marchenko.
The session participants, including representatives of legal departments from the largest Ukrainian and international companies and representatives of law firms, also discussed innovative solutions in the work of in-house attorneys, motivation of legal teams, in-house attorneys’ response to business risks and challenges, as well as the use of artificial intelligence in the daily work of attorneys.
The XIII Annual Forum of Legal Counsels is a key specialized event of the year, serving as a platform for communication between and exchange of professional experience by representatives of the law departments of the largest Ukrainian and international companies operating on the Ukrainian market, as well as significant players in the legal business and government officials. Ilyashev & Partners Law Firm acted as a professional partner of the Forum and the general partner of the Best Legal Departments 2025 Award Ceremony.