The Kyiv Post presents its third annual ranking of the Top 10 Legal Stars and Top 10 Rising Stars in Ukraine’s legal business.
They may not be in the spotlight as much as politicians, celebrities and oligarchs. But get a good glimpse of their faces, for by virtue of sealing the biggest deals and cases in town, Ukraine’s top lawyers have more than a rare ability to see through Ukraine’s muddy legal waters.
They often have an inside view on what’s really happening in the country.
Subjective by nature, this Kyiv Post ranking was compiled by surveying more than 40 leading law firms that appeared in our June 29 Top Law Firms ranking. Twenty companies responded, naming their candidates for Top 10 Legal Stars and Top 10 Rising Stars. The criteria included reputation, legal insight and experience. Law firms were not allowed to name in-house lawyers.
In total, more than 100 candidates were identified. Lawyers mentioned the most made it into the final ranking and are presented in alphabetical order.
The survey showed that about half of the nation’s top lawyers have legal degrees from abroad.
A typical “top lawyer” is male, in his mid-40s or 50s, with more than 20 years of experience. They are often managing partners. Some have studied at the world’s best universities, including Harvard, Yale and Columbia.
Typically, Rising Star lawyers are in their early 30s and have more than 10 years of experience. Some are partners at their firms.
The legal market still lacks gender balance, though (See related story on page 8). No female lawyer made it into the Top 10 Legal Stars category.
Yet three women figure among the Top Rising Stars, a glimmer of hope that, with time, more women will take their rightful place at firms and in future rankings.
Click below to see the:
and
Kyiv Post staff writer Oksana Faryna can be reached at [email protected].
