Aerospace & Defence

We advise on establishing Ukrainian operations, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and partnerships with private and state-owned defence enterprises. Our work includes legal due diligence, ownership and control arrangements, merger clearance and applicable national security and foreign investment approvals. We structure shareholder protections, deadlock mechanisms and exit rights, and advise on restrictions affecting state-owned assets and changes of control.

We support suppliers through defence procurement, supplier qualification, tenders and direct contracting, including procurement financed by international partners. We advise on pricing and cost substantiation, advance payments, guarantees, testing and acceptance, warranties, liability and termination. Our work also covers subcontracting, industrial cooperation, local production and offset arrangements where relevant, together with maintenance, training, spare parts and long-term support contracts.

We advise on military and dual-use classification, exporter registration, relevant authorisations, and import, export, transit, brokering and re-export requirements. Our advice covers controlled software, technical data, remote access and technical assistance, as well as physical equipment. We support end-user and end-use checks, sanctions screening, anti-diversion controls and internal compliance programmes, coordinating advice on Ukrainian, EU, UK and applicable US controls, including ITAR and EAR requirements.

We help clients protect and commercialise intellectual property through research collaborations, co-development, technology licensing and contract manufacturing. We address ownership of existing technology and project-generated IP, employee and contractor inventions, software and source code, trade secrets and improvements. We also negotiate government and customer usage rights, exclusivity, territorial restrictions and the treatment of technology when a partnership ends.

We advise on the legal requirements for defence manufacturing, product testing, codification and authorisation for operational use. Our support includes applicable permits, quality assurance and certification obligations, contractual NATO standards, product liability, and the rules governing controlled materials and equipment. We also assess regulatory requirements for unmanned and AI-enabled systems, communications equipment and the use of radio frequencies.

Our banking and finance lawyers advise on equity investment, venture capital, debt, supplier finance, security packages and intercreditor arrangements. We assess eligibility for grants, export credit support, government guarantees, public-private partnerships and development finance where available for the relevant defence activity. We also advise on EU and bilateral programmes, including ownership, sourcing, IP, reporting and funding conditions, and on war-risk and political risk insurance.

We advise on corporate and transaction taxes, VAT and customs treatment of defence supplies, transfer pricing, royalties and cross-border payments. Our work covers Ukrainian currency controls affecting investment, financing and the repatriation of funds, as well as customs procedures for components, equipment, repairs and temporary movements. We help clients assess eligibility for Defence City and other relevant incentive regimes, obtain the necessary status and meet ongoing conditions.

We support the acquisition, leasing, development and relocation of manufacturing facilities, R&D centres, repair workshops and logistics hubs. Our advice covers land and title due diligence, construction and environmental approvals, utilities and energy supply, and the storage and transport of hazardous materials. We negotiate construction and equipment contracts, including completion obligations, performance guarantees, delay remedies and arrangements for business continuity.

We advise on employment, secondments, immigration and work permits for local and international personnel. We support applications for critical-enterprise status and employee reservation from mobilisation, together with military registration obligations and ongoing compliance. Our work also covers contractor arrangements, confidentiality, staff incentives, workplace safety and the employment implications of relocating teams or operating across borders.

We advise on cybersecurity obligations, personal data, cross-border data transfers, cloud services and the protection of sensitive technical information. We help clients assess state-secret restrictions, requirements for access to classified information, and applicable organisational and personnel clearances. Our support includes contractual security requirements, supplier access controls and the legal response to cyber incidents and data breaches.

We help clients establish proportionate anti-bribery and corruption controls, assess agents and intermediaries, and conduct ownership and integrity checks on business partners. Our compliance and investigations work covers conflicts of interest, procurement integrity, competition risks in teaming arrangements, internal investigations and responses to regulatory or law-enforcement enquiries. We also advise on supply chain due diligence and responsible end-use policies.

We represent clients in contract, procurement, shareholder and regulatory disputes through negotiation, litigation and arbitration. We advise on payment and performance claims, contract suspension, force majeure, changes in law and termination arising from wartime disruption. Our support also covers insurance disputes, the preservation of evidence of war damage, investment protection, sovereign immunity and the recognition and enforcement of judgments and awards.