Ukrainian and American Bar Association Meet in Nation’s Capital
Discuss current challenges to the rule of law in Ukraine
Washington DC – (Wednesday, October 28, 2015) – A delegation of the Ukrainian National Bar Association met with representatives of the American Bar Association, Rule of Law Initiative, Wednesday in Washington DC. The aim of the visit by the UNBA was to discuss the role and history of the UNBA in Ukraine and issues of current legal reform in the country. The UNBA delegation was led by it’s Deputy Head Mr. Valentyn Gvozdiy, who was joined by the UNBA Secretary Pavel Grechkivsky and Deputy Head of International Relations Committee Ivan Grechkivsky.
The meeting focused on the still relatively recent establishment of the UNBA and its role vis-à-vis attorneys within Ukraine. Gvozdiy discussed several key relationships they UNBA has formed with international partners, and its initiative to develop a strategic vision for the organization with the help of the Council of Europe and European Union. The discussion also focused on potential threats to legal profession, (first of all for the Bar), and the rule of in Ukraine, and the need for continued reform in this sector, including urgent need of reform in the state’s current imperfect scheme for providing of legal aid according to best world practice.
Participants agreed on the paramount importance of the freedom and exercise of the legal profession, and the independence of attorneys, in well-established and new democracies alike.
Popular news
Rule of Law Roadmap
Lidiya Izovitova: reform of the advocacy profession should make the profession stronger and individuals better protected
The Ukrainian advocacy community is finalizing work on a new version of the relevant law. The roadmap on the rule of law has set the fourth quarter of 2026 as the deadline for achieving results in this area. The draft is intended to ensure safeguards for the practice of law through mechanisms of accountability for violations.
Abroad
The first country to ratify the Convention on the Protection of the Professions of Lawyer
Bosnia and Herzegovina became the first country to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Professions of Lawyer (CETS No. 226). The country signed the Convention on March 17, 2026, so it took just over seven months to ratify it.
Support
In Edinburgh expressed gratitude to those who are helping Ukrainian advocates and citizens
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Scottish legal institutions and the Ukrainian community, with the participation of the UNBA, have been helping Ukrainian advocates obtain their qualifications and Ukrainians receive legal assistance. The parties are now planning joint professional and educational events.
Educational events
What to do when you need immediate protection in the LCIA
A dispute with a counterparty has been referred to the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), but it will take several weeks to appoint the arbitrators, and the client needs legal representation immediately? This can be achieved through an emergency arbitrator or expedited tribunal formation.
Educational events
An advocate's meeting with a client outside the office: how to conduct it without giving away too much
If a client suggests meeting in a public place, keep in mind that any name or amount mentioned aloud could be overheard by bystanders. Therefore, it’s important to plan ahead regarding the table, seating arrangements, and the scope of the conversation.
Legislation
The UNBA explained what could undermine the plan to introduce plea agreements
Information regarding who pays whom, how much, and on what grounds under a plea agreement must be made public. However, as long as this information is classified as a state secret or personal data, the court will continue to be able to close proceedings and restrict access to judgments.
Interaction
The UNBA and the German Institute for Eastern Law will prepare joint legal opinions
Ukrainian advocates and German legal scholars will jointly prepare comparative legal studies, expert opinions, and professional events. The UNBA reached this agreement with the Institute for Eastern European Law in Regensburg, which has been researching the laws of Central and Eastern European countries for nearly 70 years.
Educational events
What an advocate can delegate to an assistant, colleagues and AI — and what they cannot
An advocate can delegate even a complex lawsuit to an assistant, consult with colleagues daily, and ask artificial intelligence to find relevant case law. However, it is up to the advocate to proofread the document, verify every reference, and decide what to disclose about the client’s case.
Publications
Vasyl Kolishnyi, «Law and Business» Supporting mental health should become part of the professional culture of the Bar, - H. Udovenko
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
