Yuriy Tsvetkov
London
Summary
Astute General Counsel with expertise in corporate governance, risk management, and compliance. Recognized for high productivity and efficient task completion. Adept in negotiation and drafting complex legal documents. Excel in analytical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills for clear advice and effective leadership in legal matters.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
General Counsel
Readdle
London
08.2021 - Current
- Built the legal and privacy functions at Readdle from scratch
- Lead legal strategy, ensuring compliance with global regulations and mitigating risks, handle claims and disputes
- Oversee IP portfolio, privacy compliance, and corporate governance
- Manage legal team, drive contract policy updates, and product legal compliance, including the GDPR and other privacy laws
- Provide business advisory services and support strategic partnerships
- Handle employment law, regulatory audits, and key corporate projects
- Oversee corporate governance, including beneficial ownership updates and substance compliance across jurisdictions
Counsel
Baker McKenzie
Kyiv
07.2018 - 04.2021
- Managed legal and tax client projects and respective teams of lawyers
- Lead the firm's business development efforts by compiling target lists and designing approach tactics, identifying market opportunities, tailoring proposals in line with objectives sought by clients, winning competitive tenders, upselling, inter-office and intra-firm cross-selling of legal services, and monitoring competitors' activities
- Managed relations with existing clients by speaking at professional events and seminars, circulating targeted legal alerts, pitching new legal products, publishing articles, delivering personal presentations
- Assisted clients with international tax planning and structuring, provided help in addressing domestic tax and customs law controversies and navigating the labyrinthine regulatory landscape
- Advised domestic and multinational clients on oil & gas law and regulations, including sophisticated production sharing agreements, clean energy ventures, farm-outs, acquisition of assets
- Advised Tech multinationals on existing and contemplated projects in Ukraine, including IP rights, tax structuring, incentive programs, labour laws
- Led tax and commercial litigation and successfully represented clients in courts of law
General Counsel in Ukraine
Cub Energy Inc.
Toronto
04.2011 - 06.2018
- Led the legal function of the company's business in Ukraine with the primary focus on oil & gas (upstream and midstream), green energy, corporate, tax, currency regulations, licensing, contracts, employment, environment, and antitrust
- Advised C-level executives with respect to strategic M&A transactions, asset acquisitions, and farm-outs, negotiated and participated in drafting and implementing SPAS, SHAS, and JAAS
- Steered securing natural gas production and gas supply licenses, various permits, approvals, certifications and authorization from government agencies; secured individual tax rulings from the tax authorities
- Advised the company's management on tax planning and tax structuring, including joint ventures with foreign investors
- Negotiated deals and managed contracts;
- Managed customs clearance of heavy equipment imports
- Handled litigation and claims, including tax litigation
- Managed corporate compliance matters for the company and its Ukrainian subsidiaries;
- Prepared filings with the TSXV (Canada) and the SEC (USA), the Ontario and Alberta Securities Commissions, as well as with the Ukrainian securities, energy, and other regulators
- Spearheaded corporate re-organizations, purchases of T-bonds and participation interests in existing businesses, and establishing new SPVs
- Participated in drafting legislation proposals via the American Chamber of Commerce, the European Chamber of Commerce, and other business associations
- Supervised employment matters, including employment contracts, compensations structuring, collective bargaining agreements, employment termination
Tax & Legal Counsel
KPMG
Kyiv
01.2008 - 08.2010
- Performed tax and legal due diligence of acquisition/sale targets, including agricultural, insurance, and advertising agencies, industrial holdings
- Counseled multinational and local clients on tax, antitrust, investment, real estate, and customs matters
- Provided pre-investment legal advice to foreign clients, including on tax structuring
- Obtained approvals for mergers and acquisitions from the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine, as well as various licenses and permits from the National Bank of Ukraine, the tax authorities and other government agencies
- Represented the company in civil and commercial courts of Ukraine
- Managed clients relations
- Represented the firm in courts
- Performed tax reviews in the framework of annual financial audits
Legal Counsel
Procter & Gamble
Kyiv
04.2007 - 09.2007
- Provided in-house legal assistance to the CLO and the local management
- Advised on labor, corporate, commercial, and antimonopoly issues
- Reviewed and drafted various contracts, including supply, distribution, storage, transportation, lease, employment, etc
- Reviewed proposed advertising products and commercials to ensure compliance with the laws in force
- Was responsible for compliance with industry related laws and corporate policies
- Drafted internal policies and legal manuals for employees
- Prepared corporate resolutions, minutes, instructions, internal orders, etc
Legal Counsel
Investment Holding MTN
Kyiv
09.2005 - 04.2007
- Provided in-house legal assistance to the holding company and affiliated entities with tax and currency regulation issues, permitting and licensing, pre-acquisition legal due diligence of assets
- Managed litigation matters; represented the company in courts (commercial, administrative and civil proceedings)
- Drafted and reviewed real estate and land purchase contracts
- Obtained various licenses, permits and approvals
- Was responsible for corporate house-keeping, reporting, compliance and state registrations
Education
Master of Laws - LL.M
University of Toronto
01.2011
Master of Laws - LL.M Hons.
International Solomon University
01.2006
Bachelor of Laws - LL.B Hons.
International Solomon University
01.2005
Skills
- Seasoned legal manager with strong project management skills
- Extensive international experience in both consulting and in-house roles
- Expert communicator with exceptional verbal and written skills in three languages
- Proven leader in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments
- Skilled in prioritizing and managing multiple tasks efficiently
- Experienced negotiator of deals and commercial terms
- Proficient in managing stakeholders and external service providers
Languages
Ukrainian - Native, English - Fluent, Russian - Native
References
Professional references can be arranged for upon request
Accomplishments
- I steered the legal process of successful corporate restructuring of a tech company in several jurisdictions
- After winning competitive bidding, I managed a successful six-months-long legal project of the drafting of a production sharing agreement for 50 years and USD120 million investment commitment between an investor and the government of Ukraine
- As external counsel, I successfully represented several major clients in litigious disputes with the tax office and the customs in Ukraine, saving millions of US dollars in fines, additionally accrued taxes and duties for the clients
- Working out of Toronto, managed the due diligence and acquisition of a natural gas production company in Ukraine; contributed to the successful closure of a USD 17 million deal and subsequent smooth corporate integration
- Designed a legal mechanism to repatriate profits from Ukraine under the strict cross-border currency movement restrictions implemented in 2016, contributing to halting the rapid stock price decline of the public holding company
Awards
The John and Mary Yaremko Scholarship (2011) awarded by St. Vladimir Institute in Toronto to law students from Ukraine for outstanding academic achievements and active participation in the life of the Ukrainian community, The Best Student of 2002, 2004 - honorary awards from the International Solomon University for exceptional academic results
Publications
- Attribution of Profits to Permanent Establishments: Is Ukraine Adopting the Authorized OECD Approach? - The Ukrainian Journal of Business Law (January-February 2019), co-authored with V.Trachuk
- The DAC-6 - Legal Quarterly (5 October 2018), co-authored with T.Levkovets
- Vision of the Future of the Legal Profession - The Legal Practice (Юридична Практика) (18 September 2018)
- Advice to a Fresh Lawyer - The Ukrainian Lawyer (Український Юрист) (July-August 2018)
Certification
- The Kyiv Region Bar Association 2008 to present (in good standing)
- The International Bar Association 2018 to present (in good standing)
- The UK Roll of Solicitors (in progress)
Languages
Ukrainian
First Language
English
Proficient (C2)
C2
Russian
Proficient (C2)
C2
Timeline
General Counsel
Readdle
08.2021 - Current
Counsel
Baker McKenzie
07.2018 - 04.2021
General Counsel in Ukraine
Cub Energy Inc.
04.2011 - 06.2018
Tax & Legal Counsel
KPMG
01.2008 - 08.2010
Legal Counsel
Procter & Gamble
04.2007 - 09.2007
Legal Counsel
Investment Holding MTN
09.2005 - 04.2007
Master of Laws - LL.M
University of Toronto
Master of Laws - LL.M Hons.
International Solomon University
Bachelor of Laws - LL.B Hons.
International Solomon University
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