Sayenko Kharenko makes history at IFLR Europe Awards 2026 with four awards in a single night
Sayenko Kharenko has claimed four awards at the IFLR Europe Awards 2026 – an unprecedented result in the history of Ukraine’s legal market. The firm was named Ukraine Firm of the Year for the tenth time. It also received the Impact Deal award for the Kyivstar Group and Cohen Circle Acquisition Corp I business combination, while Oleksandr Nikolaichyk was recognised as Ukraine Lawyer of the Year and Oles Trachuk as Rising Star – Central Eastern Europe.
The breadth of this year’s recognition is particularly significant. The awards span every level of the firm – from a landmark cross-border transaction and firm-wide excellence to individual leadership and the development of the next generation of legal talent.
The tenth Ukraine Firm of the Year title further reinforces Sayenko Kharenko’s long-standing position at the forefront of Ukraine’s legal market. The firm was the first Ukrainian law firm to receive this recognition when IFLR introduced the Ukraine category in 2011 – and has claimed it ten times since, reflecting a consistent track record in advising on many of the country’s most complex and high-profile transactions.
The recognition of the Kyivstar transaction is especially notable. The business combination between Kyivstar Group and Cohen Circle Acquisition Corp I resulted in the first-ever NASDAQ listing of a Ukrainian company and the first SPAC transaction involving a Ukrainian asset – demonstrating that Ukrainian businesses remain capable of accessing the world’s most sophisticated capital markets even in wartime.
“This recognition confirms something we have long believed: local expertise is most valuable when combined with international capability and close collaboration with global players,” said Volodymyr Sayenko, partner at Sayenko Kharenko. “The Kyivstar NASDAQ listing demonstrated that even in wartime, the most sophisticated capital markets transactions are achievable for Ukrainian businesses. We are proud of what our team and our clients have accomplished, and we are ready for what comes next. “
The IFLR Europe Awards are among the legal industry’s most respected distinctions, recognising legal innovation and the most significant cross-border transactions across Europe.
About Sayenko Kharenko
Sayenko Kharenko is a leading Ukrainian full-service law firm advising domestic and international clients on complex commercial, regulatory and dispute matters. The firm has been involved in many of Ukraine’s most significant cross-border transactions, financings, and disputes. It is consistently recognised by Chambers Europe, Legal 500, IFLR1000, Managing IP, IAM Patent 1000, and other leading international legal directories.
