Partner

Olga Shenk

Languages

Ukrainian
Russian
English
French

Social media

Olga is a Partner and Head of the Dispute Resolution and Compliance practice group at CMS Ukraine.

She has more than 15 years’ experience in highly complex litigation and arbitration proceedings in Ukraine and abroad, including in international investment and commercial arbitrations (under ICSID, UNCITRAL, LCIA, ICC, SCC, VIAC, ICAC rules), enforcement of arbitral awards in Ukraine and abroad, and cross-border litigation.

Olga efficiently handles all kinds of disputes, from straightforward claims to complex, high-value, challenging ones in a way that meets clients’ commercial objectives, whether that is to litigate aggressively, arbitrate, or conduct employment mediation.

With domestic litigation, Olga has not only in-depth experience in commercial dispute resolution cases, but also specialist knowledge of sectors such as IT, agribusiness, pharmaceuticals, insurance, energy and banking.

Olga’s practice also covers tax and compliance; Olga has conducted numerous compliance investigations of alleged/reported corrupt practices and regularly delivers anti-corruption trainings for management and compliance officers of top-ranked international businesses.

Olga is a recommended lawyer in the field of International Arbitration and Litigation by Best Lawyers 2022 rankings.

Awards & Recognitions

01 –

Quote

‘Partner Olga Shenk is a legal gem, who has been instrumental to success in an impactful case for our business, which has created a precedent in local legal practice. Jet-fast grip of matter coupled with efficient and swift communication style, Olga is able to deliver pragmatic practical client-tailored legal solutions within dispute resolution and beyond. Olga is very comfortable to communicate with, she displays a genuine interest in client’s needs and outcomes bringing added value to the matter. On a separate note, it’s a great pleasure to work with professional and strong female leaders like Olga Shenk.’

The Legal 500, 2024

Relevant experience

Represented a UK-based major retail and commercial bank on a complex cross-border debt recovery under a credit facility regulated by German laws, successful recognition of multi-million debt in the bankruptcy proceedings of a major Ukrainian industrial corporation and initiating the SCC arbitration against the joint debtors in Hungary and Ukraine
Prepared the expert witness opinion on Ukrainian law matters (legal regulation of the natural gas market in Ukraine) in international commercial arbitration for a major Italian gas company against the largest Ukrainian energy company
Represented a Slovenian state-owned company, specialised in the management of state capital assets, in Ukrainian loan enforcement proceedings against two Ukrainian construction companies
Acted as a Ukrainian counsel for the foreign highly specialized contractor in the ICAC case against the largest gas production company in Central and Eastern Europe related to the supply of goods and services
Represented a commercial airline services provider in the employment litigation against the former employee due to the global staff redundancy decision triggered by the structural developments, including Covid-19 pandemic
Advised mining and processing plant on the implications of the Ukrainian ecological and land regulation, providing legal support in relation to the requests and demands of the Ukrainian regulatory and enforcement bodies, as well as represented the plant in the litigation on challenge of the decisions of the State Environmental Inspectorate in the Ukrainian courts
Represented one of the Ukrainian subsidiaries of a multinational electric utility company in a dispute with the Ukrainian tax authorities
Represented a large international group specialised in optimising mature oil and gas field operations in a complex litigation related to an employee’s alcohol intoxication at work
Representing a large international group specialised in optimising mature oil and gas field operations before the Ukrainian enforcement authorities in the criminal proceedings concerning the performance of the Ukrainian contractor
Advised an American multinational technology corporation on a potential dispute resolution with one of the largest state-owned banks in Ukraine regarding the repayment of debt for the provision of cloud services
Advised an American digital service provider on the litigation risks of terminating the lease agreement due to the ongoing war in Ukraine and representing the client before the Ukrainian landlord during the settlement negotiations
Acted as a Ukrainian law counsel for an international investor in the Ukrainian telecom sector, in the international commercial arbitration proceedings under the LCIA Rules in a circa $1.3 billion commercial dispute with another international group regarding the collection of unpaid installments under the SPA regarding the shares of Ukraine's largest telecom company
Represented a global reinsurance company in a complicated ICAC arbitration arising out of a fraudulent reinsurance claim
Represented a large European food provider in a dispute on the quality of supplied products before the ICAC
Represented a major Israeli technology company in an international commercial arbitration before the ICAC against its Ukrainian customer
Advised an international group of companies whose major investments are concentrated in the nitrogen, titanium and gas businesses on Ukrainian law matters in the process of preparing for a highly complex tort claim resulting from the fraudulent actions of a large Ukrainian gas station operator
Represented the international trader of the supply chain services, in a court dispute in the Netherlands between the client and group of steel and mining companies on charges of the latter masterminding and directing the activities of two Ukrainian companies with a view of avoiding liability under two valid international arbitral awards
Represented an international trader of supply chain services in a complicated network of proceedings in all instances of Ukrainian courts including bankruptcy, contracts invalidation, challenging assets dissipation

Publications

2023

2022

December 2022 – European parliament recognises Russia as sponsor of terrorism
2022 – Shareholders v. Managers. Conflict in Priorities in Supreme Court Jurisprudence
September 2022 – Ukraine allows foreign private parties to conclude 'forum selection clauses'
July 2022 – Ukraine ratifies Hague Judgements Convention
July 2022 – Ukraine’s Constitutional Court rules asset forfeiture to be lawful
June 2022 – Ukraine implements anti-raider measures
May 2022 – War Damage In Ukraine: All You Need To Know To Obtain Compensation
May 2022 – Ukraine to amend legislation to ensure functioning of judiciary during martial law or state of emergency
May 2022 – Making Russia Pay for War Damage in Ukraine’s Courts
April 2022 – Ukraine allows the nationalisation of assets of sanctioned persons
April 2022 – "We have a plan to celebrate once the war is over": A CMS Partner in Kyiv on Being Promoted During Russia`s Invasion of Ukraine
April 2022 – Ukraine temporarily reallocates High Council of Justice powers
April 2022 – Ukraine develops the guideline for evaluating war damage and losses
March 2022 – Що робити, якщо ваш дім чи бізнес зруйнувала війна Росії. Практичні поради юристів
March 2022 – Compensation for War Damage: Eleven Essential Steps
March 2022 – Ukraine suspends debt collection by Russian creditors and modifies enforcement procedure

Memberships & Roles

Ukrainian Arbitration Association member
American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine (Member of Anti-Corruption Working Group, Compliance Club)
Admitted to the Bar in Ukraine
UNIC

Education

2022 - ICA international diploma in Governance Risk and Compliance
2016 – ICC Advanced Arbitration Academy for Central and Eastern Europe
2006 – diploma cum laude of the specialist in law, Academy of Labour & Social Relations of Federation of Professional Unions of Ukraine, Faculty of Law
2005 – diploma cum laude of the bachelor in law, Academy of Labour & Social Relations of Federation of Professional Unions of Ukraine Faculty of Law
2002 – diploma cum laude of the specialist of foreign languages (English and French) of, Faculty of Foreign Languages, Lviv National University Ivan Franko, Faculty of Foreign Languages

Practice Areas

Intellectual Property Antitrust, Competition and Trade Public Procurement

sectors

Insurance Life Sciences & Healthcare Consumer Products

Insights

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Olga Shenk

Languages

Social media

Relevant experience

Publications

Memberships & Roles

Education

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Insights by Olga

Rebuilding Ukraine

Ukraine discontinues War and Sanctions Portal

Register of Damage for Ukraine is open for claims submission

Ukraine launches official website of the Register of Damage