ANK Law Office

What ANK Law Office does

ANK Law Office is a Ukrainian legal services firm founded in 1996 in Odessa, specializing in maritime law and serving primarily port operators, shipping companies, freight forwarders, charterers, maritime agents, grain traders, and foreign investors active in Ukrainian seaports. The firm self-identifies as the #1 maritime law practice in Ukraine and the leading firm in Southern Ukraine, with 26 years of practice and a 20th-place ranking among the 50 leading law firms of Ukraine 2022 (Yurydychna Praktyka). Two of its lawyers are ranked in Ukraine's Top-100 (Yurydychna Gazeta), and Managing Partner Oleksandr Kyfak — also Honorary Consul of Germany for Southern Ukraine since 2008 — is ranked #1 nationally in Maritime Law and PPP/Infrastructure.

The firm offers a full multi-practice legal portfolio organized into ten practice areas: Maritime Law, Public-Private Partnership and Investments, Tax Support, Foreign Economic Activity, Corporate Relations, Land and Real Estate, Labor Relations, Comprehensive Business Support, Courts and Arbitrations (ICAC, LMAA, GAFTA), and Document Translation/Legalization. Services are delivered in Ukrainian, English, Russian, and German. Revenue is generated through three streams: long-term retainer/subscription (abonent) arrangements described as the optimal form of cooperation, project-based and single-consultation engagements, and outsourced legal department services with lawyer delegation into client offices. Distribution is entirely direct, with no channel partners or marketplaces.

Strategically, ANK pursues a community-led and sales-led GTM hybrid anchored on thought leadership, professional publications, conference participation, and referral/repeat business. It is a member of Geneva Group International (since 1998), local partner of MACN (since 2020), Associate Member of LMAA (since September 2024), and active participant in the European Business Association, Maritime Chamber of Ukraine (where an ANK lawyer was appointed Executive Director in 2021), and the Association of Lawyers of Ukraine. The firm terminated services to Russian clients in 2022 in response to the military aggression against Ukraine. No proprietary technology, AI/ML capabilities, or external funding are associated with the firm; it operates as an independent partnership with no disclosed revenue, parent company, or institutional investors.

Name

ANK Law Office

Legal name

Юридична фірма "АНК"

Website

https://ank.odessa.ua

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ANK Law Office is an Odessa-based Ukrainian law firm founded in 1996, specializing in maritime law and serving port operators, shipping companies, freight forwarders, and grain traders through retainer subscriptions, project engagements, and outsourced legal department services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Odessa

HQ country

Ukraine

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Legal services – retainer / subscription: The firm offers comprehensive ongoing legal servicing under retainer arrangements, which represent the optimal form of long-term cooperation according to the firm's own description. Retainers cover full-service legal support across multiple practice areas.
2. Legal services – project-based / one-off consultations: The firm also handles individual legal projects and single-issue consultations on an as-needed basis, separate from retainer arrangements.
3. Outsourced legal department services: The firm provides outsourced legal department services, either as standalone support or by delegating staff into the client's office, covering contract work, ongoing consultations, and all aspects of current business activity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ANK Law Office is a Ukrainian law firm providing specialized legal services with a primary focus on maritime law (vessel arrests, charterparty and freight disputes, port operations, maritime claims and P&I matters) and complementary full-service offerings across public-private partnerships, tax, foreign economic activity, corporate, labor, real estate, court and international arbitration representation (ICAC, LMAA, GAFTA), and document translation/legalization. Services are delivered through subscription-based long-term retainers, individual consultations, and project-based engagements in Ukrainian, English, Russian, and German.

Product overview

ANK Law Office is a Ukrainian law firm offering comprehensive legal services organized into specialized practice areas: Maritime Law (ship arrests, cargo disputes, maritime claims, seafarer protection), Public-Private Partnership and Investments (project support, permitting, government negotiations), Tax Support (optimization, litigation, consulting), Foreign Economic Activity (international trade, customs), Corporate Relations (governance, audits), Land and Real Estate (transactions, construction permits), Labor Relations (disputes, contracts), Comprehensive Business Support (outsourcing), Courts and Arbitrations (ICAC, LMAA, GAFTA representation), and Document Services (translation, legalization). Services are delivered through subscription-based long-term arrangements, individual consultations, or project-specific engagements, available in Ukrainian, English, Russian, and German.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Maritime Law Practice Representation in vessel arrest disputes, cargo transportation, and forwarding; representation in damage claims and port incidents; maritime claim security; protection of seafarers' interests. Targeted at shipping companies, port operators, charterers, freight forwarders, maritime agents, and seafarers.
• Public-Private Partnership and Investments Legal analysis and risk assessment of investment projects; support for approval and implementation of investment projects; obtaining permits and licenses; negotiations with state and municipal authorities. Targeted at sponsors and investors in port infrastructure and large-scale PPP projects.
• Tax Support Tax optimization and elimination of double taxation; representation before tax authorities; tax litigation and mediation; tax consulting and accounting services. Targeted at enterprises with domestic and cross-border tax exposure.
• Foreign Economic Activity Legal analysis and drafting of foreign economic contracts; support for export-import trade operations; organization of mutual settlements under foreign economic contracts; consulting on customs clearance and control. Targeted at grain traders, importers, exporters, and dealers engaged in cross-border trade through Ukrainian ports.
• Corporate Relations Building effective corporate management structures; corporate audits; developing documentation for companies and structural units; combating unfair competition and commercial attacks. Targeted at Ukrainian companies and foreign-owned subsidiaries.
• Land and Real Estate Support for acquisition, alienation, and lease of land and real estate; legalization and registration of rights to land and real estate; obtaining construction permits; construction and reconstruction support. Targeted at enterprises undertaking property transactions or development in Ukraine.
• Labor Relations Resolution of individual and collective labor disputes; development and conclusion of collective agreements; labor relations organization model; preparation of local labor and occupational safety documents. Targeted at employers with workforce compliance and collective bargaining needs.
• Comprehensive Business Support (Legal Outsourcing) Outsourcing services for companies, with or without delegation of ANK lawyers to the client's office, including contract work, consultations on all current activities, and development/expertise/support of business projects. Targeted at companies seeking to supplement or replace in-house legal departments.
• Courts and International Arbitrations Representation before arbitration and international judicial bodies (ICAC, LMAA, GAFTA); handling all categories of cases in Ukrainian courts of all instances; court mediation. Targeted at enterprises in commercial litigation and international arbitration.
• Document Translation and Legalization Processing and adaptation of foreign official documents for use in Ukraine; qualified translation of legal texts into English and German. Targeted at foreign companies, international non-profits, and individuals requiring cross-border legal document handling.
• Subscription Legal Services (Retainer / Abonent Service) Long-term comprehensive legal support providing ongoing legal assistance as an alternative or supplement to in-house legal departments, under subscription/retainer arrangements. The firm's described optimal form of long-term cooperation. Targeted at enterprise clients needing continuous legal support.
• Individual Legal Consultations Single-issue consultations addressing specific legal matters as requested by clients. Targeted at clients with discrete, time-bounded legal questions outside of retainer scope.

Quantifiable outcome

• Recovered over UAH 1.5 million in debt for a Ukrainian freight forwarder
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and moderate.

• London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 September 2024ANK Law Office became an Associate Member of the London Maritime Arbitrators Association. This membership strengthens ANK's position in international maritime arbitration and facilitates closer collaboration with leading UK maritime law practitioners.
• Maritime Chamber of Ukraine (Morskaya Palata Ukraine / MPU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021ANK provides ongoing legal support to the Maritime Chamber of Ukraine (MPU). ANK lawyers actively participate in MPU's legislative initiatives, including drafts of amendments to the Commercial Navigation Code on P&I club guarantees and unified inspection acts. In 2021, an ANK lawyer was appointed Executive Director of the MPU.
• European Business Association (EBA)moderateGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021ANK actively participates in EBA's logistics committee, reviewing and drafting regulatory acts in transport, ports, PPP, leasing, privatization of state assets, and infrastructure projects. The firm regularly submits legislative initiatives to protect business interests and received EBA's 'Contribution to Infrastructure Development' award in 2021.
• MACN — Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (Denmark)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020ANK Law Office is the local partner of MACN (Maritime Anti-Corruption Network) in Ukraine. MACN is a global non-profit organization fighting corruption in the maritime industry. ANK participates in MACN initiatives, co-hosted anti-corruption training for Ukrainian port captains with MACN support, and works on transparency initiatives in Ukrainian ports.
• German Honorary Consulate in Odessa (Honorarkonsulat der Bundesrepublik Deutschland)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Managing Partner Oleksandr Kyfak has served as Honorary Consul of Germany for Southern Ukraine since July 2008, appointed by the President and Federal Foreign Office of Germany. ANK provides ongoing legal support to the Honorary Consulate, leveraging this unique diplomatic position for client benefit.
• Geneva Group InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1998ANK Law Office has been a member of Geneva Group International since 1998. GGI is an international legal network providing cross-border legal services. Membership enables ANK to connect Ukrainian clients with foreign legal counsel and vice versa, particularly in maritime, trade, and investment matters.
• Association of Lawyers of Ukraine (Асоціація правників України / APA)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerANK lawyers actively participate in APA events. An ANK lawyer spoke at the VII Southern Ukrainian Legal Forum organized by APA on the topic of legal costs recovery.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ASTERS: ASTERS is a leading full-service Ukrainian law firm with strong practices in corporate/M&A, antitrust, and dispute resolution. It competes with ANK for inbound foreign-investor mandates and sophisticated commercial clients operating across Ukraine.
• Avellum: Avellum is a Kyiv-based Ukrainian law firm with strong corporate, finance, and dispute resolution practices. It is comparable to ANK because it competes for the same corporate Ukrainian clients and handles commercial litigation at senior-court level.
• Redcliffe Partners: Redcliffe Partners is a Ukrainian full-service law firm with international arbitration and corporate practices. It is directly comparable to ANK as it serves foreign-owned Ukrainian entities and handles cross-border commercial disputes.
• ALEXANDROV & Partners: ALEXANDROV & Partners is a Ukrainian maritime boutique ranked among leading national firms, active in ship arrest, cargo claims, and international maritime arbitration. It competes head-to-head with ANK for the same Ukrainian shipowner, charterer, and freight-forwarder clients.
• Sayenko Kharenko: Sayenko Kharenko is one of Ukraine's top independent law firms with a well-known international arbitration and trade practice. While broader than ANK, it competes for the same multinational and Ukrainian corporate clients on cross-border transactions and arbitration matters.
• Interlegal: Interlegal is an international Ukrainian law firm specializing in maritime, shipping, and cross-border trade matters with offices across Ukraine and abroad. It directly competes with ANK on vessel arrests, charterparty disputes, freight forwarding claims, and port-related advisory in the same Odessa/Southern Ukraine geography.

Broad incumbents

• CMS: CMS is a major international law firm with deep Eastern European coverage and a strong energy/infrastructure practice. It is comparable to ANK because it covers Ukrainian inbound investment, PPP, and corporate matters that overlap with ANK's practice areas.
• Holman Fenwick Willan (HFW): HFW is a global law firm widely regarded as a leading international maritime practice with offices in major shipping hubs. It is comparable to ANK because it represents shipowners, charterers, and P&I interests on cross-border vessel arrest and arbitration matters that ANK also handles locally.
• Ince & Co: Ince & Co is a long-established international shipping and commodities law firm headquartered in London. It is comparable to ANK because it handles ship arrests, charterparty disputes, and international maritime arbitration matters for global maritime clients, including those touching Ukrainian ports.
• Clyde & Co: Clyde & Co is a leading global law firm with one of the world's largest shipping practices. It is comparable to ANK because it serves the same international shipping and insurance clients and competes for Ukrainian-related maritime mandates through its international network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ank-law-office

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ANK Law Office