The strategy for protection

The owner of Strateg Law Firm, the lawyer Oleg Nalyvayko – about the quality standards of legal business and exclusive services from his firm. 

lawyer Oleg NalyvaykoTo agree the interview with Oleg Nalyvayko, the founder of Strateg Law Firm, was an easy and quick task, but it was tough to arrange it: the frantic pace of life and busy schedule of the head of one of Kiev law firms, which is developing most rapidly, do not leave a lot of spare time. But the efforts were worth it: due to its principles of work, Strateg Law Firm compares favorably with many other law companies.

“Strateg” is one of the leaders of the Ukrainian legal services market. Tell us more about the main areas of activity of your company.

We specialize in the economic, administrative, civil, family and inheritance law. We provide legal support for the certification of products of Ukrainian manufacturers in the Islamic Republic of Iran. We also provide services of registering companies in foreign jurisdictions and opening accounts in foreign banks.

Does the company provide services only to legal entities or to individuals as well?

Strateg provides services to both legal entities and individuals.

What services do you provide separately to legal entities and individuals?

We offer one-time and customer legal servicing for legal entities; the individuals have a unique opportunity to use pre-paid and not limited in time packages of legal services.

lawyer Oleg Nalyvayko

How big was the list of company’s customers over the last year? Are there any large companies?

There were dozens of legal entities and individuals. As for large companies, this year Strateg Law Firm signed an agreement on legal services provision with Husqvarna Ukraine. It is the official representative of the well-known Swedish company Husqvarna, one of the oldest industrial companies in the world (founded over 300 years ago), which is a manufacturer of saws, lawn mowers, garden equipment and motorcycles licensed by BMW. Viking and Electrolux companies are producing sewing machines and home appliances respectively under the brand Husqvarna. In addition, among our clients there is now LLC “AC “Vinnytsia agro-industrial group” – the holding with a land bank of more than 50 000 ha, which according to Forbes Ukraine joined the list of agricultural holdings in Ukraine with the highest EBIDTA per hectare (an indicator that determines the effectiveness of the enterprise in agricultural business).

You are the founder of Strateg company. What does it mean for you?

Strateg company is the family business. It will belong to my children, that is why I take everything that my company does with maximum responsibility. This is my life’s work!

What is the goal of Strateg company and does it have a mission that distinguishes it from other national law firms?

Our goal is simple, but very responsible: to protect the human rights.

lawyer Oleg Nalyvayko

 When we talk about the goal or mission, at the same time we mean that the company should have its own values. What is the basis for “Strateg”?

Some time ago, five values were approved by the family council, which now guide the company in its activities. These are confidentiality, professionalism, responsibility, efficiency and respect.

An important element of the law firm’s image is membership in professional associations and chambers of commerce. Where is it possible to see the name of “Strateg”?

We are members of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce, as well as the American and Polish Chambers of Commerce. In addition, “Strateg” is the only law firm in Ukraine which is a partner of the Czech Chamber of Commerce.

Does the company have corporate policy peculiarities? For example, will you take a case against those companies which used to be your clients?

Our principled position is that the company is not involved and will never participate in the cases against our former clients.

“Strateg” is the only law firm on the Ukrainian market that provides individuals with a unique patented service: customer legal service packages. Tell us more about it.

Customer legal service packages for individuals are an exclusive product on the market of legal services in Ukraine. Its uniqueness is confirmed and protected by patents of Ukraine and the USA. This is a kind of legal insurance, but unlike traditional insurance policies which have an annual period of validity, our packages are termless. The owner of each package has access to a personal account through the company’s website or through a mobile application that allows them to control the volume of services provided and overall package opportunities.

Which benefits does a user of such service get?

The package is valid until the full use of all the services included in it. That is, having paid for one of the three types of packages – “Standard”, “Premium” or “VIP”, you can save from 30 to 35% of the sum that you would have to pay for the same amount “at retail”. Every owner of “Premium” or “VIP” packages has their own lawyer. The ultimate advantage of these packages is that every customer’s issue that requires legal analysis will be taken into work and resolved as soon as possible.

lawyer Oleg Nalyvayko

Which cases attract you in the first place?

First of all, these are complex cases requiring immediate “inclusion” and those which allow me to demonstrate my professionalism and experience.

Much of the company’s success depends on the team. What are your requirements to the employees?

The team is 50% of success, that is why the requirements to the employees are very high in our company. This is professionalism, experience and the ability to think outside the box, as well as stress resistance, knowledge of foreign languages and continuous self-improvement. I can declare with full responsibility: I am proud of our team!

One of the principles of successful business activity in general and of a law firm in particular is the systematic approach.  Does the company profess this idea? If so, in what way is it reflected?

Yes, systematic approach is an important part of the success of any business. Legal proceedings usually require passing many instances and stages, therefore strict adherence to all procedures and the understanding of the related processes are obligatory in order to achieve a positive result.

In your opinion, what is the current state of the domestic judicial system? Does it need any changes?

The judicial system has long needed reforming, and now this process takes place.

I hope that soon we will feel positive changes in this area due to the adoption and entry into force of the Law of Ukraine “On the Judicial System and the Status of Judges” from October 1, 2016. This law will make impossible the emergence of situations that occurred before – such as the traditional delay in the adoption of the resolutions of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on the election of judges who after completing a five-year period must obtain permanent status of the judge and begin to carry out their duties. This led to the fact that more than 700 judges for several years received the salary but did not have the right to run cases and make decisions. With an average monthly salary of a judge and assistants who ensure his or her work of 20,000 hryvnias, it turns out that over a year more than 160 million hryvnias from the state budget have been irresponsibly spent! And this happens at the time when our government is taking loans from international financial organizations and pays meager pensions.

Also, a significant drawback of the work of the High Qualification Commission of Ukraine (HQCJU) is over a yearly delay in announcing the competition for the vacant positions of judges which has led to the fact that more than 800 candidates who had successfully passed the selection were excluded from the reserve. Funds were spent on holding contests and training future judges. At the same time the judicial system needs purification and has a large number of vacant posts.

Now, in Ukraine there are 95 courts with less than 50% of the judges working. There are dozens of courts in Ukraine where one out of 5 judges is working. There are courts… with no judge!

As of today, the State Judicial Administration of Ukraine confirms termination of work of 8 courts due to the lack of judges’ powers.

A lot depends on the society; we must not be indifferent to those cases when the judges make illegal and criminal decisions. In such cases it is necessary to address the bodies which exercise the control over the activity of judges, such as the HQCJU and the High Council of Justice (HCJ).

I hope that the obligatory declaration of income of civil servants will also have a positive impact on our judicial system and the state in general.

Given such a proactive stance, it would be logical to assume that the company somehow manifests itself in social initiatives. What is the social component of its activities?

In 2015, Strateg Law Firm developed and launched a mobile application that is already available for free download in PlayMarket or AppStore. Each user will find a lot of useful and interesting information as the mobile application includes a base of Ukrainian laws, codes, drafts of more than 20 standard contracts (for example, an IOU, a lease agreement, employment contract), useful links, news, tips for drivers, free legal advice and many other convenient services.

Also, we offer free and termless help to public school №47 in Kiev and the public organization “Union of families with many children”. In addition, we provide guardianship to special boarding school №6 for children with impaired hearing and in 2015 we took the initiative to develop a website for better communication between school pupils, parents, teachers and the outside world.

What inspires you the most – the victory in a case, a grateful client or something else?

The whole process of running cases brings me pleasure because it involves a large team of professionals where each member clearly knows their responsibilities. And the victory in the case is like the icing on the cake.

What is your recipe for effective legal business management?

Legal business relates to the area of services, and therefore requires constant attention and direct control of the owner. The basis of effective management is a proper education, experience, and a great team. Plus, it is constant monitoring of all processes and responsible attitude to everything because we protect the rights and property of people. There is no place for negligibility in this business!

How do you see your company in, say, five years?

I am sure “Strateg” will be in the top ten law firms in Ukraine!

lawyer Oleg Nalyvayko

Biographical input

Oleg Nalyvayko was born in 1976 in a family of doctors in Ivano-Frankivsk. He graduated from the faculty of International Economics and Law in Kyiv National Economic University, received a master’s degree in Legal regulation of the economy. Started to work before his graduation – first at the National Agency for Reconstruction and Development, then at the Ministry of Economy. He passed all stages of the civil service and in 2001 became the youngest officer in the Ministry of Economy, occupying the post of a deputy head of the department.
Has been working as a lawyer since 2007, founded his own law firm “Strateg” in 2009.