Hillmont Partners Strengthens its Positions in the Legal 500 EMEA 2021 Ranking with Eight Practices Featured
We are delighted to announce that Hillmont Partners has strengthened its positions in the newly published 2021 edition of the Legal 500 EMEA. The firm ranks as a Leading Firm in Ukraine and its top lawyers are recommended in 8 practice areas as follows:
- Dispute Resolution
- Energy
- Banking, Finance & Capital Markets
- Commercial, Corporate and M&A
- Private Client
- Intellectual Property
- Tax
- White Collar Crime
The firm’s Co-Managing Partner Serhii Nyzhnyi, whose death in January 2021 is a tragic loss to the team, is featured in the elite “Leading individuals” list for Dispute Resolution.
The client testimonial reads ‘Serhii Nyzhnyi is a skillful litigator and an effective project manager. He is a bright communicator and well-educated lawyer in dealing with the challenges of the energy businesses in Ukraine.’
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Hillmont Partners has strengthened its rankings in Dispute Resolution moving up one tier. The firm is cited as ‘uniquely well-placed to manage complex disputes involving Ukrainian and other Eastern European parties, and has particular expertise in complex bilateral investment treaty arbitration’.
Experts featured: James Hart, Co-Managing Partner; Andrii Chornous, Counsel; Ivan Kovalenko and Serhii Regeliuk, Senior Associates.
Selected client testimonials:
‘Hillmont’s dispute resolution team is comprised of seasoned individuals experienced both in national and international litigation. The scale and skill set of their practice puts them in top-10 of Ukrainian law firms. Hillmont is one of few Ukrainian law firms that have a representative office in London, which allows for close cooperation and access to the best English lawyers.’
‘The team is particularly competent and very knowledgeable. Work is performed in various levels from junior lawyers, reviewed by more senior counsels whilst partners are always on hand and actively involved. We recommended clients to Hillmont and they were extremely satisfied with the handling of the lawyers involved. The team is capable of handling any type of transaction. They have the necessary characteristics to find solutions for any problem, no matter how substantial.’
‘This is a team that specialises in dispute resolution with a number of good successes to show for their efforts. I have found their team excellent, pragmatic and effective.’
‘James Hart is an outstanding operator, with an exceptional intellect and natural sensitivity for navigating complex and evolving client demands. He is a go-to individual whenever a situation needs a careful and experienced hand.’
‘Sergii Regeliuk and Andrii Chornous are both very dependable and hardworking, and key names to watch for the future.’
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The firm’s Energy practice has also jumped up one tier and features in the editorial as ‘truly unique because it combines international legal expertise with domestic Ukrainian connections and understanding’.
Experts featured: Tetiana Mylenka, Counsel, Head of the Energy practice.
Selected client testimonials:
‘The firm has exceptional lawyers who are very knowledgeable, ethical, have significant expertise and can overcome any issue which may arise in the context of any transaction. They are also very flexible and above all, responsive. It is the kind of lawyers that each client feels in very safe hands.’
‘They have a focus on international investors to the Ukraine that is unlike any other law firm. They are the go-to law firm for investors looking to invest in Ukraine, especially in the energy sector.’
‘We are very happy that our lawyers’ advice is always in line with the energy sector regulations. Their experience of working with energy companies and dealing with legal risk management in the sector has played a great role in our decision-making regarding cooperation.’
‘Tetiana Mylenka is a star. As the head of the energy practice, she brings insider knowledge of Ukrainian energy issues after serving as the head of Ukraine’s largest state-owned gas company.’
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Hillmont’s Banking & Finance practice that according to the research ‘assists corporates and investment banks, IFIs, borrowers, project sponsors, developers and investors, foreign and local lenders in domestic and multi-jurisdictional financing’ has reconfirmed its positions in the ranking.
Experts featured: James Hart, Co-Managing Partner
Selected client testimonials:
‘This team is strong on attention to detail and strong on giving real advice. Many lawyers give you risk analysis, but the Hillmont team gives distilled risk analysis which leads to more reliable advice.’
‘The well-organised team, is able to combine an international approach with expertise and practical advice on Ukrainian law issues.’
‘James Hart is definitely a skilled lawyer who have solid legal background. He is competent and prompt. He is focused and flexible to the needs of the client.’
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Corporate and M&A practice has once again reconfirmed its positions and ranks as an ‘increasingly involved in sophisticated and challenging transactions in Ukraine, owing to its expertise in corporate, commercial, finance, private equity and regulatory matters’.
Experts featured: James Hart, Co-Managing Partner; Oleksandr Ilkov, Partner; Alyona Shulima, Associate Partner; Tetiana Mylenka, Counsel
Selected client testimonials:
‘The team is intellectually very strong versus its peers, is very client focused and committed and levels of communication are very high. The team generally is innovative in its legal structuring and produces high-quality outcomes.’
‘The team is particularly competent and very knowledgeable. Work is performed in various levels from junior lawyers, reviewed by more senior counsels whilst partners are always hand on and actively involved. The focuses only on business areas and this makes them highly specialised and unique. We recommended clients to Hillmont and they were extremely satisfied with the handling of the lawyers involved. the team is capable of handling any type of transaction. They have the necessary characteristics to find solutions for any problem, no matter how substantial.’
‘The lawyers are superb at all levels. Their team has a thorough knowledge of legislation and judicial practice. The team provides an excellent level of service at fair and reasonable fees.’
‘They provide depth of knowledge, deep understanding of case law, excellent understanding of clients’ needs.’
‘James Hart provides excellent leadership and a very fine overlay of the commercial aspects to the discussion. His client focused style is extremely refreshing.’
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Hillmont’s Private Client practice is recommended for ‘branching out from its traditional focus on cross-border family law matters to advise more frequently on the structuring and protection of assets and investments, as well as reputation management’, while the firm’s Intellectual Property practice is praised for its ‘professionalism, openness and availability’.
Experts featured: James Hart, Co-Managing Partner; Andrii Chornous, Counsel
Selected client testimonials:
‘The firm has great competence and a wide range of legal practice, conducted with professionalism, openness and availability.’
‘They speak with clients in a way that is understandable for non-lawyers.’
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In this pandemic year, the firm’s Tax and White Collar Crime practices have successfully debuted in the ranking. According to the research, Hillmont’s tax lawyers are ‘worth praising for its excellent knowledge of tax regulations and remarkable experience of tax litigation’. White Collar Crime practice is featured for its ability to efficiently assist ‘corporate clients with fraud prevention and their response to fraud’.
Experts featured: Igor Pugaiko, Counsel, Head of Administrative and Tax Law Practice; Oleksii Miagkyi, Counsel, Head of White Collar Crime practice; Serhii Kryzhov, Counsel; Liudmyla Boiko, Senior Associate; Oleksandr Vorontsov, Associate
Selected client testimonials:
‘Hillmont is helping us with challenging a complex decision by the state tax authority which affects operations of our business significantly. Their advice is comprehensive and very professional. The proposed legal solutions and tax concepts are well prepared and secured. I would especially praise them for research and argumentation, also for a perfect balance of legal knowledge and practical experience.’
‘The tax team is worth praising for its excellent knowledge of tax regulations and remarkable experience of tax litigation. Despite lockdown and anti-Covid measures in Ukraine and, as a result, the inability to meet personally, we have had efficient communication with lawyers and necessary information updates in a timely and proactive manner. This makes me think Hillmont’s team is really client-focused and result-orientated.’
‘Igor Pugaiko is our lead adviser. He is great in know-how, has excellent business sense and is very cooperative. Associate Oleksandr Vorontsov is a persistent trial lawyer with a permanent intention to deliver outstanding results.’
‘We have a very positive experience of communication and cooperation with Igor Pugaiko and senior associate Liudmyla Boiko. They have a high level of competence, great knowledge of tax laws, and deliver quick responses, and cost-efficient legal advice. They have a responsive approach and achieve positive results for our business.’
‘Serhii Kryzhov is well organised, highly driven and a pleasure to work with.’
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Commenting on the firm’s and individual rankings James Hart says: ‘I am very proud of my team and our fantastic result. This is a worthy testament to the hard work and skill of our dear late partner Serhii Nyzhnyi whom we miss terribly. We are also grateful to our clients for collaboration and trust.’
