Michael Kharenko, partner at Sayenko Kharenko, is one of the most successful dealmakers in the region. For over two decades, he has been structuring major international investments and attracting capital to Ukraine. This has included some of the most innovative and complex deals in Ukraine’s history worth a total amount of over USD 40 billion. Much of his work has an international element to it, and he often works closely with key players in capital markets, multinational financial institutions and top law firms around the world. Michael has worked on a wide range of major private and public securities offerings, syndications and secured finance transactions in Ukraine, representing leading investment banks, multinational financial institutions, and corporates. Among his clients are Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Barclays, BNP Paribas, Citigroup, Commerzbank, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, EBRD, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, ING Bank, J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Oschadbank, UBS, Ukreximbank, and the World Bank. Michael has a very strong IT and disruptive technologies practice, acting for a variety of investors, global IT-companies and IT-start-ups on various sector-specific regulatory, commercial and legal issues. Michael Kharenko serves as a supervisory board member of the Ukrainian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (UVCA) crated by top Ukrainian VCs.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘A really advanced law firm, capable of engaging equally with transactions of high complexity. Expertise and in-depth knowledge of local issues. We love them - we would always use them.’
‘Anton Korobeynikov. Excellent, energetic and intellectual. ’
‘Igor Lozzenko (partner) - very hands-on partner Denis Nakonechnyi (senior associate) - good and solid lawyer Vladyslava Mitsai(associate) Yevgen Koval (associate)’
‘Sayenko Kharenko are an excellent Ukrainian law firm. They always have a very client-oriented, problem-solving and meticulous approach to advice to clients. I can always be certain that the answer to a legal issue they provide will be well-researched and practical. They maintain well-structured and clear communication paying attention to how they can meet client's expectations in the best possible way. ’
‘Sayenko Kharenko has a team of profound finance lawyers. They are our to-go firm when we need external legal advice. They are the top banking and finance legal team in Ukraine and we enjoy working with them. ’
‘Anton Korobeynikov and Oles Trachuk are the core of the SK team we have been working with last year. Anton has a very creative legal mind and is able to find a structure or solution for all kinds of difficult situations. Oles is great in documenting and implementing unorthodox legal structures and concepts. Vladyslava Mitsai is another associate that we interacted with. In addition to her legal skills, she is an exceptional manager and always makes sure that everything is done in time.’
‘Really hard working, extremely competent and endlessly creative in challenging circumstances ’
‘Anton Korobeynikov is a great guy to work with, technically very proficient, very creative and great at finding solutions to difficult issues.’
Key clients
- Citibank
- Dragon Capital
- European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
- French Development Agency
- International Finance Corporation (IFC)
- Investment Capital Ukraine (ICU)
- J.P. Morgan
- Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO)
- The Government of Canada
- The Government of the Netherlands
- UK Export Finance (UKEF)
Work highlights
- Advising J.P. Morgan, the solicitation agent in connection with the consent solicitation for 13 series of Ukraine’s outstanding Eurobonds (amounting to approximately USD 19.5 billion) and separate consent solicitation in relation to approximately USD 3 billion GDP-linked securities issued by Ukraine in 2015.
- Advising J.P. Morgan, the solicitation agent, in relation to the consent solicitation by Joint Stock Company “State Savings Bank of Ukraine” (Oschadbank) from the noteholders of its USD 700 million loan participation notes due 2023 and USD 500 million loan participation notes due 2025
- Advising the Government of Canada in connection with the new CAD 2.4 billion loan to Ukraine provided through International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Multi-Donor Administered Account
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Nazar Chernyavsky, partner at Sayenko Kharenko, specializes in banking, capital markets, secured and structured finance. Mr Chernyavsky advises clients on a wide range of major private and public securities offerings, syndications and secured finance transactions. He has extensive experience of handling the most complex financing projects in the Ukrainian market including the first securitizations in Ukraine, Rule 144A share offerings, Tier II Eurobond offerings, UAH linked LPN issues, etc.
Mr Chernyavsky combines his professional expertise in cross-border finance and capital markets with unique understanding of the transactional aspects of intellectual property law. He has helped to create tax-efficient IP holding structures in Ukraine and handled complex projects providing for the transfer of IP rights and setting up technology-related businesses. He has a reputation as one of the top IT sector lawyers in Ukraine, advising investors and start-ups on various aspects of their operations.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Igor Lozenko, partner at Sayenko Kharenko, has over ten years of experience in cross-border finance, capital markets, debt restructuring and renewable energy.
Igor advises corporates, investment banks and international financial organizations on all types of financings, including secured financings, syndicated lending, project finance transactions, private and public securities offerings across a wide range of industries including the agriculture, energy and natural resources sectors. In addition, Igor has extensive experience of advising on distressed debt sale transactions coming out of Ukraine
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Nazar Chernyavsky, Michael Kharenko, Anton Korobeynikov, Igor Lozenko