News date: 4 November 2026
Roman Marchenko, Attorney at Law, Honored Lawyer of Ukraine, Senior Partner at Ilyashev & Partners Law Firm, and Partner Valeriia Gudiy spoke at the XIV Annual Forum of Legal Counsels held on 3 November 2026 in Kyiv. The event was organized by Yurydychna Praktyka Publishing House.
Valeriia Gudiy moderated the session “External Counsel” and raised the issue of transforming cooperation between in-house departments and external advisers amid current economic and security challenges. The speakers focused primarily on establishing criteria for selecting legal advisers for 2027. The panel participants identified key business priorities: deep industry expertise and professionalism of the consulting team; understanding of the client’s business, operational processes, and strategic goals; adaptability to shifts in business activity and wartime challenges; level of service automation and the safe use of artificial intelligence tools in legal practice.
“The role of external counsel is not merely to issue a formal legal opinion, but to help a business improve, offer an independent perspective, and provide an effective solution. Engaging experienced advisers enables corporate legal departments to strengthen asset protection, minimize regulatory risks, and focus on strategic goals,” emphasized Valeriia Gudiy.
Session participants also analyzed the practical aspects of integrating artificial intelligence into day-to-day legal operations, the role of in-house counsel in managing external advisers, and the balance between internal expertise and legal outsourcing.
Roman Marchenko opened the Best Legal Departments 2026 Awards Ceremony. He congratulated the research winners – the top legal teams of companies and corporations operating in the Ukrainian market – highlighting their valuable contribution to maintaining the resilience of the Ukrainian economy.
The XIV 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 2026 Award Ceremony.