Ilyashev & Partners

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the CEO of a shipbuilding company.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Ukrainian state-owned strategic shipbuilding enterprise specializing in the construction of naval vessels, high-speed patrol boats, and hydrofoil ships for defense and civilian use.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Ilyashev & Partners to accomplish?

• To represent a Ukrainian state-owned strategic shipbuilding enterprise in legal proceedings aimed at recovering damages caused by the unlawful seizure of its assets in Crimea following the Russian Federation’s occupation of Ukrainian territory.

SOLUTION

How did you find Ilyashev & Partners?

Referral

Why did you select Ilyashev & Partners over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Ilyashev & Partners were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Scope of Work

The mandate covered comprehensive legal representation of our company in proceedings seeking recovery of damages resulting from the unlawful expropriation of the company’s shipbuilding facilities and related assets located in Crimea following the occupation of Ukrainian territory by the Russian Federation. The work included detailed legal and factual analysis of the circumstances of asset seizure; development of a litigation strategy under applicable Ukrainian and international law; collection, systematization, and evidentiary verification of corporate, financial, technical, and valuation documentation confirming ownership and the extent of losses; engagement and coordination with financial, forensic, and valuation experts to quantify damages; preparation and filing of procedural documents, claims, legal opinions, and evidentiary submissions; representation of the client before courts and relevant authorities; management of procedural timelines and interactions with counterparties; and strategic advisory support regarding enforcement prospects and parallel legal remedies.

Key Deliverables

• Legal assessment memorandum outlining available legal remedies and litigation strategy.
• Comprehensive evidence package confirming title to assets and documenting expropriation circumstances.
• Independent expert-supported damages calculation and valuation reports.
• Drafting and submission of statements of claim, procedural motions, and supporting legal briefs.
• Court representation throughout all procedural stages, including hearings and evidentiary proceedings.
• Advisory memoranda on enforcement mechanisms and post-judgment recovery strategies.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

In November 2024, the Commercial Court of Kyiv Region awarded our company USD 154 million in damages against the Russian Federation, recognizing the losses resulting from the occupation and unlawful expropriation of the company’s assets.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs? 

The legal team applied a structured project-management approach, establishing a clear work plan with defined milestones, responsibilities, and reporting timelines, while maintaining continuous coordination with the client and external experts involved in evidence collection and damages assessment. All key deliverables - including legal memoranda, evidentiary submissions, expert-supported valuation materials, and procedural filings - were prepared and submitted within the agreed deadlines, ensuring full procedural compliance. The team remained highly responsive, promptly addressing requests for additional analyses, adapting the litigation strategy to procedural developments, and providing regular progress updates and strategic recommendations throughout the engagement. 

What was your primary form of communication with Ilyashev & Partners?

In-Person Meeting

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Most impressive was the company’s ability to combine deep litigation expertise with strong strategic coordination of technical, valuation, and forensic experts, ensuring a well-substantiated damages claim supported by rigorous evidence and delivered through a highly disciplined, deadline-driven approach.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Ilyashev & Partners could have done differently?

Given the complexity and geopolitical sensitivity of the matter, the engagement was handled effectively overall; the only potential area for improvement could be expanding the early-stage parallel enforcement and asset-tracing strategy in additional jurisdictions to further accelerate post-judgment recovery prospects, although this did not affect the quality or timeliness of the core legal work delivered.