The Ukrainian Bar Association invites you to the XVIII Corporate Law Forum

When? October 24, 2025

Where? Kyiv / online (the venue address will be provided to participants in the confirmation email)

The Corporate Law Forum is an annual event that brings together lawyers, government officials, judges, business owners, and executives to discuss key changes, challenges, and solutions in the field of corporate regulation.

This year’s program focuses on the most relevant issues shaping the corporate environment in Ukraine and aligning it with European standards.

You can expect:

• A practical overview of changes aimed at harmonizing corporate law with EU standards
• Current approaches to corporate governance
• Lively discussion on court practice in corporate disputes
• Innovations and practical solutions that will transform corporate law
• Networking with professionals shaping the future of corporate law

This forum is for those working in corporate law, supporting businesses, shaping policy, or making strategic decisions.

Register now to join the professional community developing corporate law in Ukraine.

PROGRAM:

9:30 – 10:00 Participant Registration. Welcome Coffee.

10:00 – 10:30 Welcome Remarks. Opening of the Event.

Mykola Stetsenko, President of the Ukrainian Bar Association, Managing Partner at AVELLUM

Larysa Rohach, Head of the Commercial Court of Cassation within the Supreme Court

10:30 – 12:00 Session 1. Harmonization of Corporate Law with the EU

Moderator:

Maria Orlyk, Head of the UBA Committee on Corporate Law and Capital Market, Partner at CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang

Focus:

• Consequences of the repeal of the Civil Code for corporate relations
• Legal entities in the updated Civil Code: the fate of state-owned enterprises and beyond, public law entities, correlation of new rules with special legislation
• Approximation of Ukrainian corporate law to EU law, including digital tools, BRIS, director disqualification, gender balance, institutional investors’ policies as shareholders
• Changes in the supervisory powers of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission (NSSMC)

Speakers:

Oleksii Movchan, Member of Parliament of Ukraine, Deputy Chair of the Committee on Economic Development of the Verkhovna Rada

Maksym Libanov, Member of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission (NSSMC)

Oleksii Kot, Director of the Institute of Legislation and Legal Expertise of NAS of Ukraine (Online)

12:00 – 12:30 Coffee Break

12:30 – 13:50 Session 2. Corporate Governance

Moderator:

Volodymyr Ihonin, Deputy Head of the UBA Committee on Corporate Law and Capital Market, Partner at Vasyl Kisil & Partners, Member of the Board of the Professional Association of Corporate Governance

Focus:

• Public sector: One year with the State Property Policy – first results and next steps
• Municipal sector: draft law on corporate governance in major municipal enterprises
• Private sector: case study of a board in a private company

13:50 – 14:50 Lunch Break

14:50 – 16:10 – Session 3. Judicial Practice. Disputes with Management

Moderator:

Olesia Lukomska, Head of the Analytical and Legal Work Department, Commercial Court of Cassation within the Supreme Court

Focus:

• Dismissal of a director — voluntary or by company decision
• Director’s liability for company losses
• Extrajudicial safeguards: charter, corporate agreement, director contract – what tools work?
• Formation of governing bodies: judicial practice

Speakers:

Oleksandr Banasko, Judge of the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court

Olena Kibenko, Judge of the Commercial Court of Cassation within the Supreme Court

16:10 – 16:40 Coffee Break

16:40 – 18:00 Session 4. Practical Trends in Corporate Law

Co-Moderators:

Mykola Stetsenko, President of the Ukrainian Bar Association, Managing Partner at AVELLUM

Illia Tkachuk, Deputy Head of the UBA Committee on Corporate Law and Capital Market, Senior Partner at INTEGRITES

Focus:

1. Structuring M&A Transactions and Contractual Practice

• Common M&A structures
• Choice of forum for dispute resolution and use of mediation
• Typical deal-breaker issues and ways to address them

2. Corporate Agreements

• Most common provisions in Ukrainian practice
• Exit rights: drag-along and tag-along conditions – trends regarding thresholds, notice periods, and price determination
• Pre-emptive rights: ROFO vs ROFR – when each mechanism is preferred in Ukraine
• Lock-up provisions: typical duration and exceptions in high market volatility conditions
• Mechanisms for deadlock resolution: escalation clauses, “Russian roulette,” “Texas shootout” – what is practically used in Ukraine
• Trends in choice of applicable law
• Key conclusions from dispute resolution practice

Speakers:

Maria Orlyk, Head of the UBA Committee on Corporate Law and Capital Market, Partner at CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang

Volodymyr Ihonin, Deputy Head of the UBA Committee on Corporate Law and Capital Market, Partner at Vasyl Kisil & Partners, Member of the Board of the Professional Association of Corporate Governance

Serhii Benedysiuk, Member of the UBA Committee on Corporate Law and Capital Market, Partner, Head of Corporate Law, M&A and Antitrust Practice, LCF Legal Group

Mykhailo Lukashenko, Partner at Aequo

18:00 – 20:00 Reception and Networking

*The program is preliminary and subject to updates.

Registration is mandatory to attend.

Participation is confirmed after payment of the registration fee.

For more information about the event, speaking opportunities, or partnership inquiries, please contact us at +38 (098) 764-21-53 (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) or email forum@uba.ua. Contact person – Tetiana Fodor.

For media accreditation, please email pr@uba.ua. Contact person – Daria Sydorchuk.