Vasil Kisil & Partners advise St Sophia Homes on opening new office for Goethe-Institut in Arsenal Palace

Goethe-Institut has announced their move to a new office in Zitadelle at 16 Lavrska st. in Kyiv. Zitadelle is a historical building in Lavrskiy business quarter, which is a part of Arsenal Palace project being developed by St Sophia Homes. Goethe-Institut became the biggest tenant in Zitadelle. Opening of a new office was preceded by around 18 months of negotiations, documentary work and refurbishment of a unique 1814 protected building of former Kyiv-Pecherska Fortress (Citadel).

Vasil Kisil & Partners acted as the main legal advisor on the project and advised St Sophia Homes on all legal matters of lease, including drafting and negotiating the definitive lease agreement and associate documentation, checks of requisite approvals from the cultural heritage protection authorities in Kyiv and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Ukraine. The transaction was complicated by the landlord's commitment to perform and formalize certain structural and finishing works in the premises, which were partially financed by the tenant. These arrangements were structured as part of the overall agreement.

VKP's team advising on the matter involved Mr. Alexander Borodkin, partner, and Ms. Tetiana Revutska, associate.