Aminat, today you are the managing partner and leader of the successful Ukrainian law firm, AGA Partners, which provides legal support for the most high-profile cases of leading global companies, international businesses and private clients. Please tell us about your journey to get here.
How did your law career begin? What made you choose to practice law?
I am the managing partner of a leading law firm and one of the most famous lawyers in Ukraine. This almost 30-year-long journey began when I decided to become a defence lawyer at the age of 16. By the time I got into the law academy, I had already realised that I wanted to be a person who protects the rights of others. I started practising when I still was a student. Later, after graduating from the academy, I moved to Kyiv, where in 6 years, having worked in both small and large Ukrainian law firms, I founded my own — AGA Partners.
What area of law does your company mainly specialise in?
Our unique specialisation is international business and resolving cases in international courts and arbitrations.
In addition to business legal support, we are globally known for unparalleled counsel in resolving the private affairs of our clients.
The practice of private clients was born from our communication with owners and CEOs of large businesses. Our approach is built on reason, sound judgement, balancing harm and benefit, and the ability to wisely resolve sensitive cases. In private matters, the personal qualities of the counsel are key. People want to receive support from a smart, intelligent and experienced person who can understand all the intricacies of the personal situation and is able to help their client through a crucial stage of their life, offering them support as well as wise and professional advice.
How big is the AGA Partners team, and what main areas of law are within the scope of your company’s activities?
This year AGA Partners celebrates 20 years in business. We have three partners, three counsels and about 20 lawyers. Businesses from Ukraine, Europe and Asia trust us. We provide legal counsel to international and intergovernmental organisations, UNICEF.
Learn more about the biggest achievements of our private client practice team:
Aminat Suleimanova:
• Leading Lawyer in Private Client Practice: Legal500, 2018–2024
• Leading Lawyer in Private Client Practice: Legal Awards 2020, Yurydychna Praktyka
• Top Lawyer in Family Law in Ukraine: Legal Awards 2017, Yurydychna Praktyka
• Among the TOP-3 women who influenced the development of the legal business in Ukraine: Ukrainian Women in Law 2018–2021, 2023, Yurydychna Gazeta
• Leading Lawyer in Ukraine in Family Law and Dispute Resolution Practice: Best Lawyers 2022
• Included in the TOP-5 Best Partners of Law Firms: Legal Awards 2021, Yurydychna Praktyka
• Leading Lawyer in Private Client Practice: Ukrainian Law Firms, 2021–2022, 2024
• Listed in TOP-15 effective managing partners in law firms: Market Leaders. Law Firms Ranking 2022–2023, Yurydychna Gazeta
Olena Sibirtseva:
• Leading Lawyer in Ukraine in Family Law: Ukrainian Law Firms, 2022, 2024
• The international award of the Order of Saint Sophia for outstanding professional achievements and public activism, 2023
• Leading Lawyer in Ukraine in Family Law: “Client’s Choice 2023, 2024”, Yurydychna Gazeta
Oleksandr Gubin:
• Rising Star in Private Client Support Practice: The Legal500 2020–2024
• New Generation Lawyer: The Legal500 2019
• Leading Lawyer in Ukraine in Family Law: Ukrainian Law Firms, 2022, 2024
Client Reviews.
“This is a team of leaders with a deep understanding of family law and international affairs.”
“Legal field in Ukraine can get rather tricky, and having experienced local lawyers is the key to success.”
“I wholeheartedly recommend the AGA Partners team. They are true professionals, among the best in family law in the country. They are highly motivated and fully committed to each case.”
What are the most complex issues you resolve as part of family law practice?
People most often come to us to formalise “family papers”. Having developed a vision for a particular family, we get to work on specific documents such as a marriage contract, a will, a parenting agreement, as well as design roadmaps for doing business and form an overall vision for a particular family. We use a range of legal tools and offer legal counsel on private affairs.
Family lawyers are more than just people who practice law. A family counsel would be a more accurate description of our work with a client. Strategy development, ongoing
support, both personal and professional, through the highs and lows of marriage — this is what we do for our clients.
Most of our practice deals with international cases and procedures related to the development and well-being of the family. As you might know, having left Ukraine and staying in another country for more than six months, a person falls under the jurisdiction of the host country. This means that in the event of any disputes or requests for a peaceful settlement within the family, it is important to comply with the laws of this country and act in accordance with its legislation.
Numerous proceedings such as divorces, parental disputes, property disputes, which in peacetime would take place in Ukraine, are currently being considered in foreign courts. We offer counsel in such cases, including providing expert opinions on Ukrainian law for foreign courts.
An important area of our services is preparation for choosing the most favourable jurisdiction. For instance, if you plan to move abroad, we will analyse legal considerations for the family, involve foreign colleagues and prepare a “legal plan for family life” in a specific country.
Our expertise includes support for cases of international child abduction to protect the rights of the child and parents in disputes within multinational families. After all, the law stipulates that one of the parents cannot arbitrarily take the child abroad for permanent residence.
Some believe that a marriage contract kills romance in relationships. What do you think?
This is a myth. A marriage contract is about trust and an adult, responsible attitude towards your family. Property and financial issues will affect family life either way, so you should discuss all expectations, fears and a general vision of the family budget at the initial stages.
Are there differences in approaches to marriage contracts in Ukraine and abroad?
Sure. Some countries might not take the marriage contract into account at all during a divorce in court, while others prioritize it in determining the status of the spouses’ property.
It all depends on the local laws and customs of a particular country. This is a major point to be considered by any couple planning to get married and live in several countries and build assets there. While in Ukraine a marriage contract covers only property issues, in some other jurisdictions it may also regulate personal obligations such as going out, taking care of the dog, washing dishes, etc.
What are the key terms and conditions most often included in a marriage contract?
In Ukraine, a marriage contract can only stipulate property-related conditions. It cannot contain any provisions on marital obligations, upbringing and place of residence of children.
We recommend always discussing marital debts and the division of responsibility for them. After all, debts that arose in marriage are joint debts.
Another area of concern is moving certain property to the joint ownership of the family and the procedure for deciding the fate of this property in the event of divorce.
Finally, a common section in the marriage contract is financial support for one of the spouses and children. For example, stipulating the financial support the wife will receive during pregnancy and after childbirth, or each of the spouses in case of serious illness and disability.
As for children, a marriage contract covers child support and additional expenses, that is monthly baseline financing of children’s livelihood and large expenses such as education, recreation, medical insurance, etc.
Can marriage contracts be challenged in court? On what grounds?
Indeed. Such cases are common in those families where the assets are distributed between spouses with imbalance. The law is clear that a marriage contract cannot put the other spouse in an extremely disadvantageous financial position. In simple words, a marriage contract cannot allocate 90% of the property to one spouse and 10% to the other.
Please indicate the company’s achievements, successes, awards, articles, certificates, rankings
AGA Partners is one of the leading law firms in Ukraine, recognised by international and national ratings.
Here are some of the most important awards:
● Leader in Family Law according to the “Market Leaders. Rating of Law Companies 2024”.
● Recognition among leading companies in international arbitration, international trade, maritime, agricultural and land law practices.
● Managing Partner Aminat Suleimanova is listed among the TOP-15 most effective managing partners of Ukrainian law firms.
● High positions in international rankings such as Chambers & Partners, The Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal.
AGA Partners is renowned for its expertise, winning complicated international cases and setting a high bar in the legal field.