Young lawyers of the year named
The Ukrainian Young Lawyers Council honored lawyers who demonstrated the highest level of professional skill, responsibility, and dedication to their profession in 2024–2025.
The awards ceremony for the All-Ukrainian competition «Young lawyer of the year 2024/2025» took place on November 8 in Kyiv.
The expert jury, which included the Vice President of the UNBA, BCU Valentin Gvozdiy and the chairman of the UNBA NextGen Igor Andreyev selected the winners in the following categories:
- young civil servant – Olga Kozub (Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine);
- young advocate - Vyacheslav Kolomiychuk (Miller Law Firm);
- young legal assistant - Fedir Kolosov (Mitrax Law Firm)
- young scientist - Natalia Bulat (I. I. Mechnikov Odessa National University);
- young legal advisor - Maria Shutko;
- young lawyer - Public Figure - Oleksandr Yavtushenko;
- young judicial system employee - Ihor Kritsak (Kyiv Court of Appeal);
- law student - Anna Korniash (Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University);
- young lawyer from the FLA system - Yulia Nenko (Bila Tserkva FLA Bureau of the Northern Interregional Center for FLA);
- young lawyer - defender of military personnel - Serhiy Lankin (Globa&Globa LLC);
- young partner of a law firm, law office, or law association - Dmytro Zaika (Office of Legality LLC);
- young employee of the prosecutor's office - Artur Krysan (Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office);
- legal clinic - FENIX Law Firm, Kyiv University of Law of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine;
- young lawyer in the field of intellectual property - Alina Volobueva (Legal Firm «Ligalact»);
- legal blog - Yana Talizina (Office of the Prosecutor General).
I. Andreyev emphasized that working with young people is one of the priority areas of activity of the Ukrainian National Bar Association. He stressed that participation in organizing the event and evaluating the nominees was a logical continuation of a systematic policy aimed at developing the young legal community, supporting the professional growth of future leaders of advocacy, and strengthening the role of advocates in shaping the modern legal environment.
Popular news
European integration
The UNBA presented the CCBE with an overview of legal reform and challenges
Reform of the legal profession, Ukraine’s European integration commitments, guarantees of the profession’s independence, and practices of bar self-governance in European countries — these issues were the subject of discussion at the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE).
Rule of Law Roadmap
The UNBA is compiling the findings of the subgroups regarding the implementation of the Rule of Law Roadmap
Today, May 28, the Ukrainian National Bar Association hosted a meeting of the Coordination Bureau of the Working Group on the implementation of the Rule of Law Roadmap regarding the reform of the advocacy profession. Following a series of meetings by thematic subgroups, the work is now moving to the stage of consolidating proposals and preparing a coordinated package of recommendations.
Discussion
UNBA discussed removing barriers at border crossings for families with children with disabilities
Families of children with disabilities face additional requirements when traveling abroad, particularly regarding consular registration. What is happening and what changes are needed to remove these obstacles were discussed during the roundtable «Borders without barriers for families of children with disabilities».
Discussion
New rules, old problems: the UNBA discussed the work of the ETAIDF and MMC
The reform of medical-social assessment and military medical commissions has changed procedures but has not resolved practical issues. People face situations where documents are not issued, decisions are based on technicalities, assessments are delayed, and they struggle to demonstrate their actual health status in specific life situations.
Discussion
Co-parenting shouldn't be reduced to a 50/50 formula, — roundtable discussion
Following a divorce, joint custody can serve as a mechanism for ensuring equal parental rights. However, this model requires clear criteria and cannot be applied automatically without taking into account the child’s age, the level of conflict between the parents, the risk of violence, and the feasibility of enforcing the future decision.
Legislation
Penalties for errors in military registration require clear rules, – UNBA
The liability of officials for violations of military registration rules must be legally defined, proportionate, and effectively enforceable. Otherwise, the new fines will not protect citizens from registration errors but will create additional risks.
European integration
Lidiya Izovitova: In the context of European integration reforms, advocacy is a partner of the state, not a target of reform
The war has significantly altered the working conditions for advocates, while European integration has presented the profession with new institutional challenges. The ongoing negotiation process covers issues such as the rule of law, judicial independence, fundamental rights, justice, freedom and security.
Guarantees of the practice of law
The Verkhovna Rada discussed the next steps for ratifying the Convention on the Protection of the Professions of Lawyer
The Verkhovna Rada Committee on legal policy held a working meeting to prepare for the ratification of the Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer. The meeting was attended by members of parliament, representatives of the Office of the President, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ukrainian National Bar Association.
Publications
Volodymyr Matsko Extradition during wartime: when the risks outweigh the request
Volodymyr Matsko Extradition as a systemic form of rights violations
Victoria Yakusha, Law and Business The anti-corruption vertical cannot «take care» of the Bar as an institution, - acting head of the HQDCB
Censor.net Protecting advocates – protecting justice: addressing concerns about the new law
Ihor Kolesnykov A BRIEF SUMMARY REGARDING THE APPLICATION OF THE ORDER ON EXTENDED CONFISCATION IN LATVIA REGARDING FINANCIAL ASSETS OF…
Valentyn Gvozdiy WORKING IN A WAR ZONE
Lydia Izovitova Formula of perfection
Sergiy Vylkov Our judicial system is so built that courts do not trust advocates