EQUITY – General partner of the XIII International Judicial Legal Forum

EQUITY acted as the General partner of the XIII International Judicial Legal Forum organized by Yurydychna Praktyka. This annual event is a major platform for discussing the current challenges, reforms and prospects for developing Ukraine's judicial system under martial law.

EQUITY was represented by managing partner, Oleh Malinevskyi; partner, Vyacheslav Krahlevych; and counsel, Bohdan Slobodian.

The forum began with a public interview «Roadmap for Judicial Reforms 2025» moderated by Oleh Malinevskyi, featuring Chairman of Supreme Court Stanislav Kravchenko and Irіna Mudra, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine. Participants discussed the personnel crisis in the judicial system, ways to improve the efficiency of justice and ensure access to courts in wartime, and the implementation of the Rome Statute and creation of military justice.

The first session was moderated by Vyacheslav Krahlevich, partner at EQUITY. Representatives of the Supreme Court, the Council of Judges of Ukraine, leading law firms and the corporate sector took part in the discussion.

 Key topics of discussion included:

•  the creation of military courts in Ukraine, drawing on international experience and legal models
• optimisation of the court network in accordance with the new administrative structure;
• threats to the stability of the judicial system due to an excessive number of reforms;
• the possibility of establishing an investment court to boost investor confidence was also discussed;
• building trust in the courts as an element of legal culture was also discussed.

During the sixth session of the forum on «Criminal law mechanisms in private disputes», Bohdan Slobodian, counsel at EQUITY drew attention to problematic aspects of law enforcement when choosing preventive measures. 

These include:

• a formal approach to the assessment of evidence;
• unreasonable bail amounts;
• conflicts with sanctions legislation;
• abuse of preventive measures.

The lawyer emphasised the need for a legal review of practices that undermine the principle of a fair trial.

As the managing partner Oleh Malinevskyi pointed out, reforms have been ongoing since 1992, but only a systematic and consistent approach can ensure the establishment of an effective, independent and predictable judicial system.

EQUITY team continues to actively participate in professional forums and expert discussions, contributing to the development of high-quality legal policies and the reinforcement of institutional capacity for the rule of law.