Press Release

Dear Clients and Friends,

We are pleased to share with you the results of the latest Ukrainian legal market research:


YURIDICHESKAYA PRAKTIKA
/Ukraine's premier legal newspaper/
Shevchenko Didkovskiy & Partners has been ranked second among all Ukrainian law firms.

GLOBAL COUNSEL 3000 /9th edition/
This year Shevchenko Didkovskiy & Partners rates among the top highly recommended law firms for company and corporate transactions in Ukraine (p. 790).

UKRAINIAN LAW FIRMS 2004

Firm No. 1 in Antitrust Law.
“Shevchenko Didkovskiy & Partners is highly recommended for antitrust-related expertise. Igor Svechkar and Alexander Padalka are well known for their highly respected antimonopoly law advice. This year they advised a number of large foreign companies on Ukrainian antimonopoly law issues such as merger filings, share-purchase operations, concerted practices analysis, unfair competition and others. Among others, they have represented Compagnie Gervais Danone (France) and successfully obtained the approval of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine for merger with Springs of Eden B.V.” (p. 14)

Firm No. 1 in Telecommunications Law.
“Shevchenko Didkovskiy & Partners, having Telenor AS, the Norwegian telecommunication company and the major shareholder of Kyivstar G.S.M. as a major telecom client, is always in the focus of the latest telecom developments in Ukraine. Alexei Didkovskiy, partner of the firm, received the largest number of references from both colleagues and clients. The lawyers of the team participated in the development of the new Telecommunications Act and advised on the peculiarities of the newly introduced “calling party pays” principle. Moreover, they collaborated with the Ukrainian State Committee for Communications and Informatization and World Trade Organization on regulatory issues. One more example of the firm’s successful practice in the telecom industry is Kyivstar G.S.M. USD 100 million and USD 60 million Eurobond issues (the first and only corporate Eurobond offerings in Ukraine) where Shevchenko Didkovskiy & Partners acted as a counsel to Telenor AS.” (p. 26)

Firm No. 2 in Real Estate.
“Shevchenko Didkovskiy & Partners has really strengthened its real estate team with the addition of a new partner, Rysbek Toktomushev, a distinguished expert who has been practicing in the real estate industry for over 7 years. In September 2003 the firm’s real estate experts advised on the multimillion sale of the Artyom Business Centre in Kiev, which was the first real estate investment sale in Ukraine. “Yield and structuring of the transaction would set the benchmarks for similar transactions to follow in the future”, Rysbek Toktomushev said. “Taking into consideration that investment sale is the most complicated of all professional real estate transactions where a building with multiple occupiers is being sold to a strategic investor, the high level of professionalism of legal advisors is vital for overall success. The creative input and “how is it possible” attitude of Mr. Toktomushev were invaluable during the 9-month process’, says Sergei Sergienko, General Director of Colliers International (Colliers International was responsible for the general management of the transaction)". (p. 82)

Firm No. 2 in Banking and Finance.
“This year was marked with extensive growth in securities and corporate transactions for Shevchenko Didkovskiy & Partners, one of the most famous and respected Ukrainian law firms. The firm was also involved in the above-mentioned pioneer deal of the City of Kiev as a counsel to lead managers – Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, JP Morgan, UBS Investment Bank on Eurobonds issuance. The firm also acted as counsel to Telenor AS, a major shareholder of Kyivstar G.S.M., in connection with USD 100 and 60 million fferings of 12.75 % loan participation notes (Eurobonds) due 2005 (so far the only corporate Eurobond offering in Ukraine)". (p. 18)

Firm No. 2 in Securities.
“Shevchenko Didkovskiy & Partners is heavily involved in all aspects of securities operations. Its top securities lawyers are Alexei Didkovskiy, Vadim Samoylenko and Michael Kharenko. The firm’s securities-related practice includes advising Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, JP Morgan, UBS Investment Bank on USD 150 million 8.75 % Kiev City Eurobond offering (the first municipal Eurobond offering in Ukraine)." (p. 86)

Firm No. 2 in Corporate Law.
"This year the firm has expanded its international corporate practice by establishing working relations with such international law firms as Clifford Chance, White & Case, Arnold & Porter, Cleary, Gottlieb, Steend Hamilton in addition to long-lasting cooperation with Coudert Brothers, Skadden Arps, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, and others. The firm’s corporate lawyers are Igor Shevchenko and Alexander Padalka.” (p. 34)

Firm No. 3 in M&A.
“Shevchenko Didkovskiy & Partners is one of the top law firms in Ukraine for M&A transactions. The firm’s team represents Lukoil (Russia) in connection with acquisition of Azmol plant, the leading Ukrainian oil products manufacturer, through establishment of a joint venture. It also served as counsel to the acquirer in connection with the acquisition of the Ukrainian branch L’escale, a leading chain of perfumery boutiques” and advised on a number of other large-scale transactions. "Igor Shevchenko and Armen Khachaturyan were especially recommended for their M&A related experience.” (p. 70)

Firm No. 4 in Labor & Employment.
“Shevchenko Didkovskiy & Partners, a Ukrainian law firm deeply involved in almost all aspects of legal advice, can boast its high professional labor specialist Armen Khachaturyan. The firm’s labor-related practice included advice to the Coca-Cola Company regarding labor reduction and reorganization, advice to Telenor, Elite, AC Nielsen Ukraine, Edipresse Publishing and other clients on complicated labor law issues.” (p. 54)