Vasil Kisil & Partners has become a member of Cathay Associates, a China-based global legal service network of law firms. The mission of the network is to provide cross-jurisdictional legal services to Chinese enterprises with ambitious global expansion strategies, as well as international companies from other countries seeking to do business with China, and to be a bridge between China and the rest of the world. Launched late in 2015 the network already aggregates more than 43 offices and continues to grow rapidly.

Located within One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative of the Chinese government, right at its entrance to Europe, Ukraine has become a growing target for Chinese direct investment and is expected to gain a significant amount of attention from Chinese companies.

In 2015, the overall turnover between China and Ukraine was over USD 7 billion. Chinese companies are ready to invest in a number of industries in Ukraine. The China Exim Bank has extended a USD 3 billion loan facility in Ukraine’s agriculture. Besides, Chinese private and state companies already participate in various private projects in Ukraine, including agriculture, silo operation and port facilities. Notably, in the agricultural industry, Ukraine has become the largest exporter of corn to China, and Chinese-Ukrainian agricultural trade has increased by 56% since 2014. Recent data on China-Ukraine trade relations by Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine can be seen here.

Vasil Kisil & Partners is one of the most long-standing and reputable law firms in Ukraine. For over 25 years VKP was a gateway for foreign investors to Ukraine offering them deep knowledge of local market and affairs, international-level services and diligently tailored solutions. Particularly, the Firm has already gained deep industry expertise in the sectors of most interest for Chinese investors, like agriculture, infrastructure, transport, energy, IT and technology to name just a few.

Alexander Borodkin, partner of Vasil Kisil & Partners and the Cathay Associates main point of contact said: "The requisite capacity and established leading market position helped Vasil Kisil and Partners to become one-stop-shop advisor for Chinese investors in Ukraine. The latest meetings in Shanghai and Beijing proved investor’s high interest to Ukraine’s jurisdiction and we are looking forward to enhance this collaboration, making our input into growing Ukraine’s economy".

Rupert Varnai, Global Chief Executive Officer of Cathay Associates noted: "Now that we are present in Ukraine and China, we can work seamlessly between the two countries to eliminate the headaches that can occur when Ukrainian companies are seeking out Chinese investors, and also when Chinese businesses are looking to do business in Ukraine. Cross-cultural issues can be daunting as well as the full magnitude of the different legal and business aspects can be time consuming for investors. Now we have leading legal counsels that can tap into, simultaneously, in both countries".

Vasil Kisil & Partners Teams Up with Cathay Associates