Why EVERLEGAL’s Victory at FT Innovative Lawyers Europe 2025 is the True "Oscar" for the Ukrainian Legal Market
Why EVERLEGAL’s Victory at FT Innovative Lawyers Europe 2025 is the True "Oscar" for the Ukrainian Legal Market
The European legal market has several prestigious rankings: Chambers Europe, Legal 500, IFLR1000, and The Lawyer European Awards. Usually, they assess firms based on size, revenue, the significance of cases, or client feedback.
FT Innovative Lawyers Europe Awards is a unique ranking that has recognized not only strong but truly innovative lawyers and firms for 20 years, those who change the rules of the game, introduce new approaches, technologies, and create value for clients and society. Every year, hundreds of cases from over 30 European countries are submitted, with only a few winners.
This award is often compared to the "Oscar for lawyers," and rightly so—competition is fierce, and victory signifies recognition at the highest level.
The first Ukrainian firms started appearing in FT Innovative Lawyers shortlists about ten years ago. Some of them have repeatedly made it to the shortlist in various categories and even received recognition. In 2019, AEQUO Law Firm Partner Anna Babych became the first Ukrainian to receive an individual FT Innovative Lawyers award. However, Ukrainian law firms have not yet made it among the winners until 2025.
2025: The Year of Breakthrough
This year, a record number of Ukrainian firms reached the finals: Asters, AVELLUM, AEQUO Law Firm, ARZINGER, EVERLEGAL, Imagine Lawyers, INTEGRITES, Sayenko Kharenko. Reaching the final is already a significant achievement. In 2025, around 600 submissions were made by law firms and legal departments from over 30 countries in Europe. Only about 100 firms from the UK, USA, Germany, Spain, France, Ireland, Portugal, Ukraine, etc., made it to the final.
The evaluation process lasts several months. The FT and RSGI team analyzes all submissions, with each case undergoing deep interviews, fact-checking, and expert discussions.
How many awards do law firms receive?
In 2025, Financial Times Innovative Lawyers awarded 28 prizes, but only about 22 were given to law firms; the rest went to in-house teams and individual lawyers. For comparison, the Oscars ceremony gives out about 24 statuettes, with hundreds of applications.
Disputes and Crisis Management — the Most Competitive Category.
Disputes and Crisis Management category is generally regarded as the true "Olympus" of the legal market. It’s where the strongest European players compete, as it involves protecting clients’ interests in the most complex and high-profile cases.
Each year, dozens of international giants with hundreds of offices worldwide, thousands of lawyers, and a century of history enter this category. Winning in this category is like winning the Champions League final for lawyers.
EVERLEGAL reached the final in this very category. In our category, the giants included: Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (UK), King & Spalding (USA), Mayer Brown (USA), Covington & Burling LLP (USA), Morgan Lewis (USA), Pinsent Masons (UK), Taylor Wessing (UK/Germany), Uría Menéndez (Spain), AEQUO Law Firm (Ukraine), Mishcon de Reya LLP (UK).
Each of these firms is a leader in its jurisdiction with years of experience in handling crises and disputes for their clients. We are the first Ukrainian firm to win in this category, proving that Ukrainian lawyers can be just as strong as international companies, even in the most challenging practices.
This is a signal for the entire market: Ukraine is not just about resilience, but also about innovation and leadership, about integrating Ukraine into the European business environment.
Finally, we would like to thank everyone once again. First of all, the lawyers of EVERLEGAL directly involved in this victory: Yuliia Tantsiiura, Yevheniy Deyneko, Andriy Olenyuk, Daria Kravets, and all Ukrainian law firms who represent Ukraine with dignity and demonstrate legal ingenuity.
Special thanks to the research team: Chris Sharp, Neville Hawcock, Isobel Thorley, Tom Saunders, Toby Weston, Jamie Judd, Rory Higgins, Robert Hewett, as well as FT editor Harriet Arnold and program founder Reena SenGupta for their work, independence, and objectivity.
Many more victories lie ahead. We believe the most important victory for Ukraine is still to come!
Get more information about the award at the LINK.
