‘Svarog’ is a law firm in Kyiv which, since 2014, has been representing the interests of private clients and businesses in courts of all levels, before tax and law enforcement authorities, registration bodies and the enforcement service. The firm’s office is located in the Podil district of Kyiv.
We deliberately operate as a full-service firm rather than a specialist practice: private clients rarely come to us with just one issue. A dispute over the division of property raises issues of business taxation; a road traffic accident involves administrative, civil and criminal aspects simultaneously; and a corporate dispute often culminates in enforcement proceedings. The firm is structured so that clients do not have to assemble a team from several different firms to deal with a single situation.
Key facts
- 2014 — the year the firm was founded
- 4 partners and solicitors with between 12 and 20 years’ legal experience
- Over 120 practice areas — ranging from family and inheritance law to tax, commercial and criminal cases
- Kyiv, Podil — the firm’s office; we handle cases throughout Ukraine
Our approach
Our work begins not with a list of services, but with the legal assessment of the situation. We determine which legal provision applies, which time limits are about to expire, what evidence can still be obtained, and what has been irretrievably lost. Only then do we discuss the strategy: pre-litigation settlement, a claim, a complaint to a regulatory authority, or a combination of these actions.
This approach often changes the very nature of the task at hand. Instead of a lengthy court case, a single application submitted within the prescribed time limit may suffice; conversely, where a client had anticipated a mere formality, it may turn out that there is a need to secure the claim and seize assets before they are transferred to third parties. We discuss this at the first meeting, including in cases where the case’s prospects are weak.
We do not promise the outcome of court proceedings — no solicitor can promise that. We are responsible for the quality of the legal position, the completeness of the evidence and compliance with procedural deadlines.
Practices
As a full-service law firm in Kyiv, ‘Svarog’ handles cases across several areas of law; specific areas of practice are assigned to individual lawyers in line with their experience.
- Family and inheritance law — divorce, division of matrimonial property, maintenance, disputes concerning children, inheritance matters.
- Property and construction — privatisation, recognition of ownership rights, legalisation of properties, pre-purchase legal due diligence.
- Tax disputes — support during audits, administrative and judicial appeals against tax assessment notices.
- Commercial disputes and financial services — contractual work, debt recovery, factoring, legal due diligence.
- Criminal law — defence during the pre-trial investigation and in court, challenging charges and pre-trial measures, and the return of seized property.
- Military law — appeals against fines imposed by the Military Registration and Enlistment Office, medical examination board conclusions, deferment from conscription, payments to military personnel.
- Banking law and debts — disputes with banks, MFIs and debt collection agencies, restructuring, bankruptcy.
- Land law, traffic accident cases, employment and immigration matters.
Working Principles
The firm’s principles have specific legal substance, rather than being merely declaratory.
Confidentiality. Information received from a client is subject to legal professional privilege under Article 22 of the Law of Ukraine ‘On the Bar and the Practice of Law’. A solicitor may not be questioned about circumstances that have come to their knowledge in connection with the provision of legal assistance. Consulting a specialist without a solicitor’s certificate does not provide such protection.
Transparency of arrangements. The relationship with the client is formalised by a written contract for the provision of legal assistance; the scope of work and the amount of the fee are agreed upon before work commences (Articles 27 and 30 of the same Law). The client knows from the outset which stages are included in the fee and which require a separate agreement.
Working with evidence. We build up the evidence base prior to filing a claim by using a solicitor’s request: under Article 24 of the Act, public authorities, enterprises and institutions are obliged to provide information and copies of documents within five working days, and failure to respond is punishable under Article 212-3 of the Code of Administrative Offences.
Bringing the case to a successful conclusion. Our support does not end with the court’s decision. We conduct enforcement proceedings, as a court decision that is not enforced does not alter the client’s situation.
Case management standards
- Legal analysis. Review of documents, assessment of the situation, evaluation of timeframes and prospects with reference to the relevant legislation and Supreme Court case law.
- Contract and work plan. A written contract specifying the scope of work by stages.
- Building the evidence base. Solicitors’ enquiries, extracts from state registers, engagement of valuers and experts.
- Pre-litigation settlement. Claims handling and negotiations where these can resolve the dispute more quickly and at lower cost than court proceedings.
- Litigation. Representation before courts of first instance, appeal and cassation, and measures to secure claims.
- Enforcement of judgments. Support during enforcement proceedings, challenging the actions of the enforcement officer, and lifting attachments.
Following the outcome of the case, the costs of professional legal assistance are apportioned between the parties (Article 137 of the Code of Civil Procedure, Article 126 of the Code of Commercial Procedure, Article 134 of the Code of Administrative Procedure). The party in whose favour the judgment is made is entitled to recover these costs from the opposing party — provided that a duly executed agreement and payment documents are in place. We prepare these documents from the outset of the case, rather than at the end of the proceedings.
Our team
The firm’s partners are listed on the Team page.