Corporate Law and M&A in Ukraine

Registering an LLC with the Unified State Register is typically completed within one business day after the application is filed. Foreign founders also need a Ukrainian taxpayer number, usually issued within five business days. In practice, most registrations are complete within one week. We prepare the documents and manage the process for you.

Yes. Ukrainian law places no restrictions on the nationality or residence of shareholders, and no local partner is required. There is no statutory minimum capital. Limits apply only in a few regulated sectors, such as agricultural land, defence or banking. We check upfront whether your sector is affected and handle the full registration.

A representative office is not a separate legal entity and suits market monitoring or support functions on behalf of the foreign company. A subsidiary, usually an LLC, is a separate legal person and is liable only with its own assets. Which structure fits depends on your business model. We advise on the right structure and handle the setup.

An extract from the Unified State Register can be obtained online through the Ministry of Justice or the Diia portal, and a basic extract is free. Contract negotiations or due diligence often call for a certified or translated version. We obtain and review the extract for you.

An acquisition starts with due diligence on the target company, followed by the choice between a share deal and an asset deal. We then negotiate the purchase agreement, including warranties and indemnities, and support the closing and registration of the ownership transfer. For larger deals, we also check antitrust filing requirements.

Yes, legal due diligence is a standard part of our M&A work. We review the target's corporate structure, contracts, assets, permits and pending disputes. Based on this, we assess risk and propose contractual protections for the purchase agreement.

We handle most registrations and transactions fully remotely, under a notarised power of attorney granted to us or a local representative. Travelling to Ukraine is not required for the registration itself. Some banks, however, require the director's personal presence to open a bank account. We plan the process to keep your time on the ground to a minimum.

A Ukrainian company can be voluntarily liquidated, which includes deregistration with the tax authority and social security, and removal from the Unified State Register. Depending on outstanding liabilities and tax audits, the process typically takes several months. We handle the liquidation from the decision through to deregistration.