SQUIRE SANDERS EXPANDS PRESENCE IN UKRAINE, CENTRAL & EASTERN EUROPE'S (CEE) NEWEST ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE
Squire, Sanders and Dempsey L.L.P.
Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, May 06, 2008

KYIV, Ukraine - Building on more than 15 years of experience in Ukraine, Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P. is expanding its Kyiv presence to meet the needs of clients investing in Ukraine's booming economy.

The firm's Kyiv office was founded in 1992 by Helen Z. Kryshtalowych, one of Ukraine's best known international lawyers.

Squire Sanders launched its Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) practice in 1990, rapidly becoming a leader in the region with six offices and more than 100 legal professionals.

The firm has continued its steady growth in CEE, opening an office in Poland in 2005 and, in 2006 and 2007, expanding its offices in Hungary, Poland and Russia.

"We have broad perspective and deep experience throughout Central and Eastern Europe," said Chairman R. Thomas Stanton. "Our clients have an increasing investment interest in Ukraine and our office expansion is in response to their needs."

Mark A. Cusick, the firm's European practice coordinator, said Squire Sanders' extensive experience in Ukraine-based telecommunications, energy and infrastructure transactions provides global investors with essential insight about the country.

"These sectors are essential to this dynamic economy and we believe we are extremely well qualified to assist clients in evaluating and closing deals in this market," Cusick said.

The firm's CEE telecommunications practice has been rated by Legal 500 EMEA as one of the top legal industry advisers. Squire Sanders has counseled on privatizations, establishing regulatory regimes, structuring mergers and acquisitions, and negotiating non-Ukraine investment in Ukraine telecommunications companies.

The firm also represents several of the largest oil, gas and power companies operating in Ukraine and has counseled the Ukrainian government on the country's energy law.

The firm's recent experience in Ukraine includes advising longtime client Vimpel-Communications in its bid for Golden Telecom, one of the top Europe-based transactions.

Cusick said Kryshtalowych and Peter Z. Teluk, the newly appointed managing partner of the Kyiv office, are an ideal team to continue the growth of the practice.

Teluk and seven associates recently joined Squire Sanders from The Silecky Firm, with which Squire Sanders had an affiliation. Teluk has worked with a number of international law firms, including Baker & McKenzie and Covington & Burling, and has worked in Ukraine for more than 10 years.

Founded in 1890, Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P. has more than 850 lawyers in 32 offices and 15 countries around the world. With one of the strongest integrated global platforms and a longstanding one-firm philosophy, Squire Sanders provides sophisticated seamless legal counsel worldwide.

LINK: http://www.ssd.com/resources/news_detail.aspx?newsid=12878