Sayenko Kharenko

Sayenko Kharenko offers equal career opportunities to people irrespective of their gender, religion, sexual preference or ethnic background. Our entire firm is committed to inclusivity and diversity. We believe a diverse workforce is a powerful tool when it comes to understanding the needs of our diverse clientele. This allows us to deliver maximum value while offering innovative and unique legal solutions.

Sayenko Kharenko admires, inspires and encourages its staff. We aim to keep our team motivated while emboldening the best legal and interpersonal skills. We are committed to sustaining an innovative environment for professional education and development at all levels of the firm. Our training programs support newcomers and help established employees to keep their skills sharp. We rely on internal experts as well as external coaches. Over the past twelve months, we have added new programs to our existing training opportunities:

• Individual Development Plan (IDP) and Goal Setting (separate modules for managers and their teams). This program teaches managers to set clear expectations and SMART goals with defined steps, timeframes and expected results for their employees while preventing them from micromanagement.

• Legal workshops include practical training for our lawyers in various legal areas focusing on new Ukrainian laws.

• Regular BD training with internal and external experts aimed at improving our lawyers’ BD skills, client service and retention efforts. This includes a special internal program focusing on the development of employee capabilities to identify new growth opportunities for business via the creation of new products and services.

CSR is an essential part of Sayenko Kharenko’s business strategy and includes community involvement, pro bono legal work and environmental responsibility. As a major employer in Ukraine’s legal market, we believe that acting responsibly is fundamental to our sustainable future, as well as that of the community in which we work. In 2017, our firm supported over 100 social impact projects. Selected latest CSR stories include:

• Harmonization of the Ukrainian national legislation with EU legislation (including antitrust, capital markets, criminal law, corporate law and governance, labour law, energy efficiency, IP, real estate, land and financial restructuring)

• Growing legal talents - SK Innovative Summer School is a two-week law marathon which gathers top law students, offers an inside look at how law firms work, broadens student horizons and enhances understanding of the business world, the legal profession, and their own abilities. As a result, students grow and obtain personal development by expanding awareness, awakening curiosity and thinking differently. Last year we welcomed two of our clients as guest speakers who shared their inspiration and insights on doing business in Ukraine. The most talented and dedicated students are offered Sayenko Kharenko internships.

• Sayenko Kharenko joined the initiative of Coca-Cola and Osvitoria Public Union to support Socially Vulnerable Youth Development Program.This project supports graduates in preparation for Standardized External Testing exams and helps determine their future profession. Within the framework of the implementation of the educational iLearn project, the SK team visited eight boarding schools, introducing children to their rights and conducting interactive courses aiming to raise the level of legal literacy and awareness, while also helping them enjoy the social benefits and guarantees provided by Ukrainian legislation.

• Blood Donation series of events.
Sayenko Kharenko supported a blood donation program that included two events: Halloween Blood Donation and AmCham St. Valentine’s Day Blood Donation. Both were initiated and organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine in partnership with DonorUA.

• Corporate gifts policy. We believe that corporate gifts to partners and clients must be a part of our corporate culture. At Sayenko Kharenko, we established a corporate gifts policy of made in Ukraine goods. This way we chose to support Ukrainian small and medium-size business.

• Ukrainian language book publishing support
In 2017, we launched a joint project with the publishing house Knigolove to support books printing in Ukrainian translation and to popularize reading culture among our clients and partners. So far, two books have been published with our support, joining our corporate gifts to clients and partners.