Dispute resolution

Hillmont Partners LLC

Excelling in international disputes, Hillmont Partners LLC handles cross-border restructurings, insolvency proceedings and white-collar crime cases. The team represents clients in IP and shareholder disputes, as well as in international arbitration and ADR. Its broad sector expertise ranges from the oil and gas, mining and energy to the FMCG, real estate and retail industries. ‘Strategic genius’ James Hart leads, with a successful track record in international litigation. Head of domestic litigation, Andrii Nyzhnyi has an active commercial and investment disputes practice. Valentyn Zasukha is active in debt recovery and insolvency disputes, leveraging his experience as head of the corporate and M&A and restructuring practices. ’Excellent litigator’ Andrii Chornous excels in cross-border debt recovery and restructuring projects, while Andrian Artsishevsky heads the Lviv office. Bohdan Novyk also receives high praise from clients.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘Hillmont Partners have an excellent multinational team spanning key hubs in Ukraine (Kyiv and Odessa) and London. They are highly professional, efficient and strategic in their approach to legal disputes. The firm is particularly well-placed in cross-border commercial and enforcement disputes, including post-arbitration award enforcement and civil fraud asset recovery. The team is a delight to work with.’
‘James Hart is co-managing partner and heads the international dispute resolution practice at Hillmont Partners. James is highly diligent, smooth and incredibly hard-working. Above all, he is a strategic genius and able to crack the most complex and intractable cases. Andrii Chornous is a highly efficient and dynamic new partner. He is always reliable, to the point and very knowledgeable. Ivan Kovalenko is an excellent tactician and a very diligent lawyer. He is a partner and heads the firm's Odessa office which is involved in cutting-edge asset recovery and general commercial disputes.’
‘James Hart is a superb strategist and phenomenal at building relationships with clients and counterparts alike. Comfortable with presidents and oligarchs. An irreplaceable agent in settling complex disputes. Andrii Chornous is an excellent litigator. Enormous knowledge, now bolstered with multiple international accreditations.’
‘Hillmont Partners team are very professional, skilful lawyers with deep knowledge and experience in this field. Bohdan Novyk is a unique lawyer with great knowledge. He is extremely responsive and helpful.’
‘James Hart is an extremely sophisticated operator. He has created in Hillmont one of Ukraine's leading law firms with a disputes team of real quality and strength. The firm is involved in very complex multi-jurisdictional disputes which has led to them amassing invaluable experience of interim remedies and cross over with regulatory and criminal proceedings. They are the real deal in Ukraine.’
‘James Hart is an exceptionally good leader, combining his background in finance, strong commercial acumen and appreciation of different legal systems, to deliver a service that others cannot match. Bohdan Novyk is a real star. He is extremely responsive, tenacious and super smart. You want him on your team.’
‘Unique offering for cross-border cases requiring local advice and international oversight. James Hart is tactically astute with a vast network. Bohdan Novyk is unbelievably hard-working and responsive. All over the detail.’
‘James Hart is a first-class commercial operator. Very smart, finds solutions to every problem and a core asset in any team. Andrii Chornous is one to watch for the future. Super smart, easy to work with and great attention to detail.’

Key clients

AlixPartners
Argentem Creek Partners LP
Bunge
Gillett Holdings
GIR International
Glovoapp Ukraine LLC
F.G. Financing / Nonolet (Foxtrot Group)
MBWS (Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits SA), France
Anatole Stati
Tristan Oil

Work highlights

Acting as a global counsel to Tristan Oil, which underwent a $810m restructuring of liabilities under a scheme of arrangement between Tristan and its creditors that was subsequently challenged by the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Appointed global coordinating counsel, along with Astraea Group, by the Statiparties in the 11-year battle to enforce a Stockholm Energy Charter Treaty award owed by the Republic of Kazakhstan following the expropriation of their assets in 2010.
Representing Argentem Creek Partners, Madison Pacific, FTI Consulting in the $150m debt recovery dispute with GN Terminal Enterprises Limited (GNT).