KIEV - 21 April 2011. The Ukrainian Bar Association (UBA) held the IV Annual In-House Counsel Conference. 

Counsels, chiefs of legal departments of leading companies and external consultants – lawyers and advocates joined together in Hotel Rus to discuss the current issues of profession. 

The theme of the conference was completely devoted to specific features of legal work in the service of a sole customer - a company. This year among the conference speakers there were only legal counsels, who delivered reports on the most pressing issues of legal practice. 

Speaking at the opening session, the UBA President Sergei Konnov said that the event was organized exclusively by members of the In-House Counsel Section of the Ukrainian Bar Association. He also drew attention to the fact that this year the majority of participants were not the UBA members, thus inviting everyone to join the organization. 

The conference began with the discussion of judicial issues. Vladimir Grynyuk (SC Ukragrohimholdyng) spoke about the criteria of separation of jurisdictions. Roman Tytykalo (Construction Company Contact Invest LLC) analyzed the necessary terms required in delivery, service and sales contracts in order to avoid disputes.  Conference organizers paid particular attention to the enforcement issues as well. Thus, participants could learn some secrets of court decisions enforcement in Ukraine from Vladislav Besedin (JSC Ukreximbank). 

After a coffee-break, lawyers returned to receive advice on the protection from trade unions’ "blackmail" from Oksana Diagileva (Metro Cash & Carry Ukraine). The current issue of personal data protection was highlighted by Kateryna Symchych and Svetlana Pogoryelova (Kraft Foods Ukraine). Chair of UBA Mass-Media Committee Iryna Strojko  (Broadcasting Studio 1+1) shared the secrets of an effective ad campaign, particularly in the context of cooperation with supervisory bodies. 

The third and fourth sessions of the conference were devoted to the practical issues of real estate and recent tax novels. Olexandr Onufrienko (Kinto) shared his thoughts on whether to engage external consultants in real estate due diligence. Keen interest was attracted by Dmitry Pavlenko (Ukrainian Association BTI), who described the establishment of new agencies and the new system of registration of title to real estate. At the end of the session Karina Lavrov (FOZZY GROUP) gave advice on the contractual formulation of commercial real estate lease nowadays. 

Speakers of "tax" session focused on particular issues. Chair of the UBA In-House Counsel Section Yuriy Vakhel (Noble Resources Ukraine) presented some good examples of holding written communications with the tax authorities. Iryna Pan'kova (Hyupo Alpe-Adria-Leasing LLC) focused on appeals against the controlling bodies and penalties involved. The final report of the conference was delivered by Tetyana Kowalska (Procter & Gamble Ukraine), who described the novelties in value added tax under the new Tax Code of Ukraine. 

The Ukrainian Bar Association of Ukraine expresses its sincere gratitude to all participants, speakers and partners of IV Annual In-House Counsel Conference, namely law firms Salans (conference partner) and Engarde (session partner), as well as media and informational partners of the event.