ARIO Strengthens Its Position Among The Legal 500 EMEA Leaders

ARIO Law Firm has once again strengthened its position in The Legal 500: Europe, Middle East & Africa, one of the most authoritative international legal directories.

According to this year’s edition, ARIO maintained and improved its rankings across several key practice areas. For the fifth consecutive year, the firm has been ranked in Tier 1 for White-Collar Crime. Its Dispute Resolution practice has once again been ranked in Tier 2. At the same time, ARIO moved up from Tier 3 to Tier 2 in Commercial, Corporate and M&A.

The Legal 500 also recognised ARIO Senior Partner Yulian Khorunzhiy as a Leading Partner in Commercial, Corporate and M&A.

White-Collar Crime
Tier 1

ARIO’s White-Collar Crime practice, led by Partner Yevhen Hrushovets, has been ranked in Tier 1 by The Legal 500 for the fifth consecutive year.

The Legal 500 notes ARIO’s substantial experience in criminal proceedings involving public officials and businesses. In particular, the team represents clients in cases brought by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office. The firm also has expertise in white-collar crime matters in the energy and real estate development sectors.

Among the key practitioners, The Legal 500 highlights Yevhen Hrushovets, who advises clients on cross-border matters involving tax offences and defends individuals in anti-corruption investigations, as well as Olha Koval, who represents clients before the High Anti-Corruption Court.

Commercial, Corporate and M&A
Tier 2

In 2026, ARIO strengthened its position in The Legal 500’s Commercial, Corporate and M&A ranking, moving up from Tier 3 to Tier 2.

The Legal 500 notes that ARIO advises on the full range of corporate and M&A transactions, including deals involving the transfer of assets from state to private ownership, corporate conflicts arising from hostile shareholder decisions, and business expansion into new markets.

The practice is co-headed by Senior Partner Julian Khorunzhiy, who has deep expertise in bankruptcy and corporate restructuring, and Partner Anna Sydorovych, who focuses on M&A, tax and corporate matters. The Legal 500 also highlights Partner Serhii Derkach, who advises on corporate structuring and the formation of consortia, supporting complex Ukrainian and cross-border investment projects.

Clients note the following strengths of the team:

“The team combines technical knowledge with a practical business focus, enabling it to develop clear and workable strategies in complex situations.”

“ARIO Law Firm has a strong reputation for handling complex corporate restructurings and shareholder disputes.”

The Legal 500 also recognised ARIO Senior Partner Julian Khorunzhiy in the Leading Partners category, which includes the strongest partners in their fields who advise on market-leading matters and are recognised by peers and clients.

Dispute Resolution
Tier 2

In 2026, ARIO maintained its Tier 2 ranking in The Legal 500’s Dispute Resolution practice area.

The Legal 500 notes that ARIO handles highly complex disputes involving public law issues, regulatory intervention, enforcement of judgments and complex cross-border elements. The practice covers disputes in the banking and finance sector, regulatory matters, energy and infrastructure. The Legal 500 also highlights the firm’s experience in war-related disputes, as well as matters of institutional, political and financial significance.

The practice is co-headed by Senior Partner Julian Khorunzhiy, whose expertise includes bankruptcy and restructuring, corporate law, M&A, competition, banking and finance, and Partner Anna Sydorovych, who focuses on corporate and tax disputes.

Clients say the following about the team:

“The team is small but highly focused, with partners such as Yulian Khorunzhiy and Anna Sydorovych directly involved in matters. They are responsive, collaborative and not afraid to be creative when the situation calls for it. Compared with larger firms, ARIO provides more personalised partner-level attention and a team culture that clients find both effective and reassuring.”

“ARIO is significantly more flexible. The partners are deeply involved in the work, always available and do not simply delegate key issues. Their direct involvement gives a real sense of confidence that no detail will be overlooked. What truly sets ARIO apart is the way the firm combines strong arbitration and restructuring expertise with a highly practical, business-oriented approach.”

“You never feel that you have simply received a memorandum. Instead, you get clear options for action, clear explanations of risks in plain English and a strategy that actually works in practice.”

“Julian Khorunzhiy stands out for his exceptional strategic vision and a rare combination of technical depth and commercial understanding. In our case, he was personally involved - not merely providing general oversight, but directly shaping the strategy. This level of personal involvement is unusual for senior partners and gave us real confidence throughout the process.”

“ARIO’s dispute resolution team is known for handling some of the most complex and high-value disputes in Ukraine. What sets the team apart is its combination of deep procedural expertise with a highly practical, business-oriented approach. Clients receive clear strategies that go beyond the courtroom and take into account commercial risks and international enforcement.”

“Julian Khorunzhiy stands out for his ability to see several steps ahead in a dispute. He combines a sharp legal mind with the ability to build solutions that protect the client beyond the immediate case. He is trusted not only as a lawyer, but also as a strategist who understands the broader commercial and procedural implications of every step.”

The ARIO team’s results are available here:
https://www.legal500.com/firms/17982-ario-law-firm/c-ukraine/rankings