We are pleased to inform that Ukrainian Law Firms. ”A Handbook for Foreign Clients” this year once again named Managing Partner of AGA Partners Law Firm, Aminat Suleymanova as one of the notable practicing lawyers in the areas of «International arbitration», «International trade», and «Agribusiness».

Aminat Suleymanova invariably is named among the top leaders of the Ukrainian market in these sections during last 9 years.

Client's interests during the process were represented by Iryna Moroz, Partner of AGA Partners Law Firm. The dispute has arisen out of the contract that had been concluded by the parties over the phone and by way of email correspondence. The contract in written was signed only by one of the parties. "Was there a contract?" - this was the Tribunal' main question.

As the result of legal position thoroughly prepared in details and provided evidences, tribunal of GAFTA arbitration supported claim demands of AGA Partners' Client and reached a conclusion that parties concluded a contract despite the absence of the contract signed by both parties. Arbitration awarded default price, interests and costs of the arbitration.

On May 13-14, 2014 in Istanbul international conference VegOils Trade Outlook-2014 took place. APK-Inform became one of the organizers of this event.

On May 14 Ivan Kasynyuk, Partner of AGA Partners Law Firm made a presentation on the international arbitration: Legal issues. New risks and challenges. The report of Mr Kasynyuk received very positive feedback from the conference audience. 

Nearly 150 delegates representing more than 100 companies from 29 countries, participated in the event, discussing the most topical issues of functioning of the reporting segment of the oilseed market, and the issues relating to macro- (price formation, demand) and micro-economic trade-related aspects.

On 7-11 May 2014 the 2nd Arbitration School organized by the Ukrainian Arbitration Association and the Students’ League of the Ukrainian Bar Association, took place in Kyv. Dmitry Koval, junior associate of the AGA Partners Law Firm took part in the learning program of the school. Ivan Kasynyuk, Partner of AGA Partners Law Firm was invitated as the speaker, reporting to the audince some issues on the career development and promotion at work in international arbitration.

The intensive five-day program of the School encompassed general and specialized courses in international arbitration. Trainings were provided in the form of lectures, interactive workshops, mock case. The working language was English. Among almost 30 participants there were representatives from Ukraine, Germany and Georgia. 

Leading Ukrainian publishing house “Yurydychna Practyka” held the II Annual judicial and legal forum on April 18, 2014 in Kyiv. Dmitry Koval, junior associate of AGA Partners Law Firm took part in the forum.

Participants of the event worked in three parallel sessions and discussed issues on the Criminal, Administrative, Civil and Economic processes (procedures).

On December 5, 2013 First International Forum for the promotion of legal services took place in Kiev, in the hotel “Premier Palace”, which was visited by Irina Moroz, Partner of AGA Partners Law Firm.

The main purpose of the Forum was the promotion of legal services market development, formation of the international stage for the exchange of experience in promotion of the legal business. 

The representatives of the leading companies in the Ukrainian legal services market took place in the event. The participants shared their experience in regard to the promotion of their businesses and discussed current trends of the legal services market development in future. 

Irina Moroz commented the general thesises, which were sounded in the forum: "Formula for success of the company is the client orientation upon rendering of the legal services and and solid work of the whole team directed at the quality legal services. Such combination creates good reputation of the company and ground for the new clients acquisition".

The twelfth international conference "Fat-and-Oil Industry – 2014", organized by APK-Inform Agency, took place in Kiev on November 27-28, 2013. AGA Partners Law Firm was represented by its Partner, Ivan Kasynyuk in this event.

Within two days nearly 260 delegates representing more than 200 companies from 20 countries visited the event, and discussed the most pressing issues about functioning of the world and Ukrainian oilseed markets, estimate the current condition and prospects of development of the fat-and-oil industry in Ukraine and Russia, prospects for changing of the domestic consumption of vegetable oils in Ukraine and its export potential, and a number of other topics.

According to Ivan Kasynyuk: "Annual conference held by APK-Inform is one of the most largest regional grounds for the meetings of all Black sea countries market participants. Taking part in this conference - is the possibility for us to evaluate direction of movement and perspective of the market in the beginning of the season. Moreover, this is perfect chance to meet old friends as well as to get acquainted with new participants.  

The 11th annual global grain conference in Geneva, the world's premier trading event in the grain calendar, Global Grain Geneva was held on 12-14 November 2013 in Geneva, Switzerland.

This year AGA Partners Law Firm was represented by its Managing Partner, Aminat Suleymanova who took part in the forum along with the more than 1000 delegates from 60 countries.

On October 9-11 the fifth international conference Oilseeds and Oils - 2013, traditionally organized by APK-Inform Agency, was held in Istanbul, Turkey.

During two days of the event, the participants, representing nearly 220 companies from 31 countries, were discussing the results of the season for the world leading countries-exporters of oilseeds and vegetable oils in 2012/13 MY (Ukraine, Russia, Bulgaria, Argentina, Brazil, the EU, Turkey, etc.), prospecting directions for exports of these commodities, driving powers of the global trading with vegetable oils.

Managing Partner of AGA Partners Law Firm, Aminat Suleymanova gave her report during the event.

The report of Ms Suleymanova was covered issues of risks of the Black Sea oilseeds & vegoils trading and was highly appreciated by the audience of the conference.

GAFTA Tribunal supported claim of AGA Partners Law Firm Client in full. The Client during arbitration was represented by Ivan Kasynyuk, Partner of AGA Partners Law Firm.

The award of arbitration satisfied the default price - as the difference between contract price and resale price. Moreover, GAFTA Tribunal agreed to the points of AGA Partners regarding the applying of the rate of 8,25% per annum for the delay in payment (refinance rate of the Russian Federation). Also the damages for the cancellation of the fixture recap were satisfied in full.

All the points of the Buyers regarding the force-majeur circumstances, non-approval of the vessel and applying of the rates LIBOR/EURIBOR were recognized to be incompetent.

The whole amount of the satisfied claim is more than 220 000 USD.

With a rise in the geographical mobility of families and the number of international marriages, the consequences of marital breakdown increasingly have a cross-jurisdictional dimension. It is important for clients and practitioners alike to be aware of the complexities involved in dealing with international family law issues. In light of this background, we are pleased to announce the publication of Family Law Jurisdictional Comparisons (2^nd edition), published by European Lawyer/Thomson Reuters.

The unprecedented success of the first edition of Family Law Jurisdictional Comparisons, published in 2011, is indicative of the growing importance of international family law and the huge appetite amongst family lawyers for a definitive guide to family law in core jurisdictions around the globe. 

Ivan Kasynyuk, Irina Moroz - international family lawyers and Aminat Suleymanova - fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (IAML), were invited to author an analysis of Ukrainian family law for the second edition of Family Law Jurisdictional Comparisons.

Family Law Jurisdictional Comparisons has become the “must-have” publication for all family and divorce lawyers throughout the world who require a comprehensive and practical guide to the key components of family law across a multitude of major jurisdictions. It is also a tremendous resource for family office advisers and those professionals who advise international families.

Cases involving conflict of laws and questions about the application of foreign law are becoming increasingly common and many international family law issues such as the recognition of same-sex marriages, surrogacy agreements and pre and post-nuptial agreements have been hotly debated in the press and in wider society. Similarly, developments such as the Japanese government’s decision to ratify The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, and Russia’s recent ratification of the Convention, have come about following years of domestic and international campaigning. Against this background, Ms Suleymanova and her fellow authors, Ivan Kasynyuk and Irina Moroz felt that it was vital to provide family law professionals with a second, definitive, edition of Family Law Jurisdictional Comparisons which includes 16 new jurisdictions as diverse as Bermuda, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Monaco, Spain and the United Arab Emirates. 

On this, partner Aminat Suleymanova stated, "The publication of the analysis of Ukrainian family law in the 2013Family Law Jurisdictional Comparisons is a testament to the expertise of our firm's contributing lawyers."

Aminat Suleymanova, who is member of the IAML and a recognised expert in the field of international family law, was named as one of the leading individuals in the field of family law in Ukraine and has acted in many leading family cases including Ukrainian jurisdiction.

Family Law Jurisdictional Comparisons provides an update on the issues covered in the 2011 first edition, such as jurisdiction and conflict of laws, financial arrangements, children, cohabitation and marital agreements, and introduces new topics including surrogacy, adoption and alternative methods of dispute resolution. Comparing different laws across 46 jurisdictions, the book examines the varying details, solutions and problems of controversial family law issues.

According to Irina Moroz, “This publication is the culmination of what has been a substantial research project and I am proud to see the finished result. Our objective was to provide the reader with a simple and accessible guide in which those at the very forefront of their fields highlight the different family law issues which are defining and changing our society around the world.”

Mr Ivan Kasynyuk continued, “There has been a phenomenal increase in the number of family law cases with an international element, and there is no evidence that this growth will abate any time soon. The trend is partly caused by the growth of truly ‘international cities’ such as London and New York, but also by the myriad of international conventions that govern issues such as child abduction. Against this backdrop, I felt it was essential to provide family law practitioners with an up to date, and improved, comprehensive resource book.”

Reviews of Family Law Jurisdictional Comparisons

“This supremely practical book provides basic information on international family law operating in no less than forty-six jurisdictions.  The General Editor was particularly astute to ensure that all these jurisdictions adopted the same template for their presentations. In this busy world the provision of basic legal information in an easily digestible form is what we all seek”.

Lord Justice Thorpe, Head of the Office of International Family Justice

"Truly a 'comparative overview' as the foreword claims - same questions posed to each jurisdiction - and, as such, truly indispensable to all international family lawyers."

Tim Amos QC (Queen Elizabeth Building)

“This publication will be a tremendous resource for all family lawyers... The fact that the information is provided by so many Fellows of the IAML, who have the knowledge and expertise to identify and favourably resolve international issues, contributes significantly to its value."

Cheryl Hepfer, President of the IAML

To purchase the book, please visit the Thomson Reuters/Sweet & Maxwell website:

http://www.sweetandmaxwell.co.uk/Catalogue/ProductDetails.aspx?productid=610526&recordid=5483

AGA Partners Law Firm was mentioned by Ukrainian Law Firms (A Handbook for Foreign Clients) 2013 edition in the list of the leading law firms at the Ukrainian market.

High professionalism and excellent reputation of AGA Partners seventh time in row allowed us to be mentioned among the leading Ukrainian law firms in such practice field as Foreign Trade, Agribusiness and International arbitration. Moreover, our Managing Partner, Aminat Suleymanova, was mentioned among the leading lawyers in the International arbitration, Foreign trade and Agribusiness legal practice areas.

Thanks to our colleagues and clients for the high appreciation of our work!

On March 6-7 Managing Partner of AGA Partners Law Firm, Aminat Suleymanova, and Senior lawyer of the company, Ivan Kasynyuk participated in the Eighth International Trading Summit Grains & Oilseeds-2013, Casablanca (Morocco). AGA Partners Law Firm was the the sponsor of this important event.

The event gathered nearly 200 participants from more than 80 companies, public and government organizations from 23 countries.

During the event Aminat Suleymanova made a report on important aspects of the international grain trade, highlighting such issues as prohibition clause and force-majeure circumstances. The report of Ms. Suleymanova drew the special attention of the summit participants and was highly appreciated by the audience.

During two days the Summit participants discussed the trends and prospects of development of the world market of grains and oilseeds, with special emphasis on the specific needs of these markets in the Maghreb countries, and in particular Morocco.

Another successful consideration of the case in the institutional arbitration of the Federation of Oils, Seeds and Fats Associations (FOSFA), London, in which client’s interests were represented by Irina Moroz, Senior associate of AGA Partners Law Firm.

The central issue in this dispute was the buyer’s refusal to pay the agreed contract price for three deliveries of the goods that were made by two different types of transport: rail wagons and river barges. The buyer refused to pay for the goods, raising in defense the issue of defective quality of the goods, but eventually missed the terms of claiming arbitration on the issue of quality. As the result, the tribunal fully supported position of AGA Partners Law Firm lawyers and satisfied all of the claimed losses in the total amount of over 630 000, 00 USD.

It is important to note that this case included numerous details important for this arbitration proceeding and affecting the outcome of a case. Thanks to the hard work over the legal position and over the arguments in support of the claim, the lawyers of AGA Partners has managed to maintain their position and successfully represent the interests of the client. 

On February 14-16, 2013, Managing Partner of AGA Partners Law Firm, Aminat Suleymanova, and Senior lawyer of the company, Ivan Kasynyuk participated as speakers in the second part of the training: "Analysis of the physical and futures market, the pricing forecast and the choice of effective trading strategy to improve profitability of sales of agricultural products".

During training Aminat Suleymanova reported the audince on some aspects international business structuring, the order of non-resindent companies registration, bank accounts opening and also on pecularities of profit taxation of non-resident companies.

Ivan Kasynyuk gave his report on the legal aspects of trade under contracts GAFTA and FOSFA and informed the audience about the risks and responsibilities on the basis of supply CPT, FOB, CIF; basic rules of negotiation and contracting. In his report, he described the procedure for sending notices of appropriation, renewal of contracts, estimation of damages, as well as some of the nuances of dispute resolution under the GAFTA and FOSFA arbitration institutions.