World Tax - Home
The comprehensive guide to the world's leading tax firms

Ernst & Young is led by Alexei Kredisov in the Ukraine, a managing partner who has a specialist interest and experience in developing emerging markets. The team is respected in the market with Vladimir Kotenko unanimously recommended for corporate and ... [more]

Ernst & Young is led by Alexei Kredisov in the Ukraine, a managing partner who has a specialist interest and experience in developing emerging markets. The team is respected in the market with Vladimir Kotenko unanimously recommended for corporate and indirect work and Igor Chufarov put forward as a top capital markets and financial productions tax practitioner.

The team has boosted its numbers this year with 18 new professionals, and also has a good standing with the Ukrainian government bodies, which it advises on tax issues and tax reform strategies.

"Ernst & Young's strength is legal – very strong team," said one adviser.

Ernst & Young also won International Tax Review's National Tax Firm of the Year award for the Ukraine in May 2012.

Baker & McKenzie's full service tax team is led by partner Hennadiy Voytsitskyi, who is assisted by six other fee earners. It specialises in international tax planning, and makes use of the global Baker & McKenzie network to facilitate inbound and outbound ... [more]

Baker & McKenzie's full service tax team is led by partner Hennadiy Voytsitskyi, who is assisted by six other fee earners. It specialises in international tax planning, and makes use of the global Baker & McKenzie network to facilitate inbound and outbound investment in Ukraine.

The practice has been active on various kinds of work this year and is advising a global manufacturing and technology company in challenging a transfer pricing adjustment by the tax authorities. In the indirect tax practice, associates Tetiana Gryn and Andriy Sydorenko, in July 2012, advised a financial services management company on the VAT implications of inbound and outbound derivative oil trading.

Corporate matters include Voytsitskyi acting for a wealth management boutique and private bank on Ukrainian tax planning. In court, Voytsitskyi and senior associate Yuriy Zaluskyy are representing a German construction materials producer in a criminal case over tax charges.

Lastly, on a consultancy basis, the firm advised a banking and financial service group as to the tax facets and risk valuation of the client establishing a permanent entity in the country. This is pending completion.

Deloitte has been involved in the changes to the tax system over the past year, providing advice and feedback to the government. The team is led by Victoria Chornovol in the Ukraine, working alongside highly recommended M&A senior tax manager Vladimir ... [more]

Deloitte has been involved in the changes to the tax system over the past year, providing advice and feedback to the government. The team is led by Victoria Chornovol in the Ukraine, working alongside highly recommended M&A senior tax manager Vladimir Yumashev. The practice also prides itself on its varied team of lawyers, economists and accountants, so it can cover all aspects of a case.

Corporate work did take up the bulk of the practice's time this year. Chornovol, partner Grigory Pavlotsky and manager Yevgeniy Ratmansky carried out a strategic tax review on a Ukrainian metals producer, and partners Yevgen Zanoza and Yumashev devised and implemented a tax structuring of a spare parts management service for a mobile phone operator. Pavlotsky was also tasked, along with Taras Kozhushko, with producing a handbook on distressed asset transfers in Ukraine, which was completed in December 2011.

The firm's indirect work also reflected the adaptation of companies to the new tax regime, including developing a new tax accounting methodology for a metals producer and automotive company in addition to a focused VAT analysis for the latter.

Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners – Taxand replaces former CIS stalwart, Magisters, after the Russian firm acquired and absorbed Magisters's practices. Vladimir Didenko keeps his position as the head of the tax team in the Ukraine, which has four ... [more]

Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners – Taxand replaces former CIS stalwart, Magisters, after the Russian firm acquired and absorbed Magisters's practices. Vladimir Didenko keeps his position as the head of the tax team in the Ukraine, which has four professionals covering all tax services and which works very closely with its M&A practice. In addition to its own CIS offices, the firm is also part of the wider Taxand network.

"Egorov is still very good. They do a lot [of work]," comments a partner.

A good example of the firm's work this year is a tax due diligence case for a US private equity fund in December 2011, the precursor to it taking a minority stake in an IT outsourcing company.

Egorov has an acknowledged ability in litigation, and has been demonstrating this over the past 12 months. One particular case was the positive ruling it secured for Unilever Ukraine in relation to VAT and personal income assessments. This judgment was handed down in December 2011.

Dentons boasts a small but successful tax practice. It is led by Igor Davidenko, who oversees two associates to make up the tax team. These numbers are further bolstered by the team's close relationship with both the real estate and corporate teams, ... [more]

Dentons boasts a small but successful tax practice. It is led by Igor Davidenko, who oversees two associates to make up the tax team. These numbers are further bolstered by the team's close relationship with both the real estate and corporate teams, whose partners also advise on tax matters in Ukraine.

"Absolutely satisfied. They are always ready to meet our expectations," comments a client, and another also reports: "All ordered services were done to a good quality and in time."

Much of the firm's work remains confidential, though it is at the moment advising a handful of global hotel chains on the tax implications of setting up in Ukraine. The team is also active on contentious matters, representing an agriculture and food production company with regard to a VAT refund dispute.

DLA Piper is an international law firm with a recognised tax team in Ukraine. It is led by Svetlana Musienko, who is feted by clients."Svetlana Musienko is extremely professional, with substantial knowledge and a really profound understanding of the ... [more]

DLA Piper is an international law firm with a recognised tax team in Ukraine. It is led by Svetlana Musienko, who is feted by clients.

"Svetlana Musienko is extremely professional, with substantial knowledge and a really profound understanding of the tax and legal issues in Ukraine," says one, while another adds: "What impressed me was the professionalism and readiness to help. Very client-oriented."

They couldn't improve a thing, really happy with their level of service," comments another.

The team has seen variety in its work this year, with Musienko advising a major international sportswear company on the compatibility of a transfer pricing model in addition to representing a global pharmaceutical company in court in a dispute over tax credit recoverability.

The corporate side has also kept Musienko and team busy, including advice to Fairmont Raffles on the structuring of properties operated by them, and also working with Italian oil and gas company Eni on the tax aspects of its plans to expand into Ukraine.

Lavrynovych & Partners is a local law firm with a small tax team led by Iryna Marushko. The firm is considered by the market as skilled in tax litigation and that has been a significant area of work for the practice over the past 12 months. "The ... [more]

Lavrynovych & Partners is a local law firm with a small tax team led by Iryna Marushko. The firm is considered by the market as skilled in tax litigation and that has been a significant area of work for the practice over the past 12 months.

"The quality is very satisfactory. The impression is of quality lawyers and an almost 100% success in winning litigation," says one client.

"Lavrynovych is strong on tax litigation," comments a partner from a different firm.

In court, the team has represented one client in disputes totalling $145 million in an attempt to seek a revocation of tax assessments. These decisions are still pending.

Marushko has also been acting for Danone Unimilk Ukraine over the tax treatment of royalties in the customs value of goods, worth $1.1 million. The firm has also been consulting for other clients on income tax issues and VAT refunds.

Vasil Kisil & Partners is a notable local law firm with a good-sized tax team of four partners and seven associates. Denis Lysenko and Oleg Makarov are recommended names and have been very active on the firm's work over the last 12 months.The practice ... [more]

Vasil Kisil & Partners is a notable local law firm with a good-sized tax team of four partners and seven associates. Denis Lysenko and Oleg Makarov are recommended names and have been very active on the firm's work over the last 12 months.

The practice is full-service and has been busy in all areas, including in court. One big case is Makarov leading the team in representing the Ukrainian subsidiary of a global IT company in a dispute over the VAT treatment of consulting services provided to non-residents. Worth $20 million, this case is awaiting final judgment.

In advisory work, Lysenko has been advising Inditex and Otto Group on VAT and customs issues, while also carrying out the tax aspects of the corporate restructuring of a leading Ukrainian retail group, which is expected to complete during 2012.

Members of the firm also hold positions in important advisory and professional bodies, such as Ivan Yurchenko, who serves as the chairman of the Ukrainian Bar Association tax committee.

Pavlo Khodakovsky heads up the tax team at Arzinger, a Ukrainian law firm with a good local reputation and clients such as Nufarm, Telekom Austria and Porsche.A standout piece of work for the firm concerned Porsche. In October 2011 the team successfully ... [more]

Pavlo Khodakovsky heads up the tax team at Arzinger, a Ukrainian law firm with a good local reputation and clients such as Nufarm, Telekom Austria and Porsche.

A standout piece of work for the firm concerned Porsche. In October 2011 the team successfully represented the car manufacturer in court proceedings about the taxation of its investment proceeds earned through share sale and purchase transactions.

Khodakovsky gave tax advice to the insurance group Wienerstaedtische as it underwent a corporate reorganisation, and in March 2012 Svitlana Yazykova rendered advice to Zhitomir Biomass Group, which works in the green power sector, on the special VAT taxation regime for biomass power producers.

Baker Tilly is led by Roman Prannyuk in the Ukraine, and has a burgeoning reputation within the market. It has three offices, in Kiev, Odessa and Donetsk, and works across almost all areas including international structuring, transaction support, audits ... [more]

Baker Tilly is led by Roman Prannyuk in the Ukraine, and has a burgeoning reputation within the market. It has three offices, in Kiev, Odessa and Donetsk, and works across almost all areas including international structuring, transaction support, audits and dispute resolution. Its clients include Omega, Coal Energy, packaging company Graphia and Arricano Property.