Address: Business Center Carnegie Center, 14th Floor,
7 Klovsky Uzviz,
Kyiv, 01021, Ukraine
Tel.: +380 44 280 8887
E-mail: office@aderhaber.com
Web-site: www.aderhaber.com
ADER HABER Dispute Resolution Practice is renowned in Ukraine, has been successful in achieving results in a wide range of controversial cases — trial and appeal, international and domestic, and through arbitration and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.
Our clients know that we are fearless advocates who achieve winning outcomes by anticipating what’s next. They seek our help when working under the burden and urgency of possible litigation, and entrust us with their reputation and bottom line.
ADER HABER specialist team regularly handles complex commercial litigation, class actions, international litigation, securities litigation, bankruptcy and creditors’ rights matters, product liability, white-collar and enforcement defense cases, and labor and employment matters.
We apply our deep experience to deal with the matters in certain key industries, including government contracts, construction, agriculture, energy and natural resources, healthcare, banks and financial institutions, services, trade.
Our litigation team is led by Yuriy Petrenko and Andrii Hvozdetskyi, who is recognized by The Legal 500, as “pragmatic” and “robust”. Clients will be reassured to know that the firm as a whole receives recognition and is ranked by The Legal 500 and recommended for its expertise in Chambers.
The Legal 500 says it is about us: “They always make you feel like you’re their most important client.”
In 2020, the litigation team significantly strengthened its portfolio of projects. The clients of ADER HABER are companies from the USA, China, Switzerland.
White-Collar Crime practice has taken the place of the irreplaceable and most demanded in the portfolio of services provided by ADER HABER.
This is due to the fact that ADER HABER protects business structures and private clients both in case of accidental involvement in the investigation and threats of criminal prosecution, as well as in cases where the client is directly accused of committing a crime.
Our core expertise covers the investigation of fraud, money laundering, misappropriation and theft of assets, tax evasion and fictitious bankruptcy, abuse/excess of authority, negligence and illegal enrichment, as well as protection from political persecution of public figures.
We assist our clients within the scope of corporate defense, protect their rights as injured parties and advance their interests in an efficient and professional manner.
To identify weaknesses and flaws in corporate structures or existing compliance systems, we offer screenings and audits that enable clients to optimize the assessment and minimization of risks. Internal investigations are often a useful instrument when it comes to uncovering serious infringements within a company and preparing for possible litigations.
We also provide workshops to train employees on how to act in the event of searches and how to avoid corruption risks.
We represent our clients in dealings with investigative authorities, cooperating where appropriate but also contesting allegations if necessary.
This includes defense in possible investigative and administrative offense proceedings as well as in court. We also take care of the efficient crisis management that is often required in these proceedings.
Attorneys of ADER HABER have gained significant experience in matters with Interpol. We are well-versed in conducting cross-border internal investigations, bringing in partner law firms in other countries and beyond for advice on local legislation where needed.
Our multidisciplinary full-service approach ensures that we are able to provide all the advice you need.
Our efficient teams are made up of experts with a high degree of specialization and a breadth of practical experience in their field.
We never lose sight of our client’s business needs and potential risks to their reputation.
The company’s expertise in the field of White-Collar Crime is recognized as one of the leading in the Ukrainian legal market according to the Legal 500 and the annual research 50 Leading Law Firms of Ukraine published by Yuridicheskaya Practika Publising.
How to Protect Business in 2021
Business security now has much broader meaning than just legal support. Modern threats and risks are increasing every day, and the main task is to be able to manage them effectively.
According to a report from the World Economic Forum, cyberattacks, as well as fraud and data theft, will be one of the main risks of the future.
One of the main products, at the present moment, is the audit of existing business processes for criminal and legal risks. Timely adjustment of processes enables avoidance of seizure of accounts, summoning for interrogation and subsequent criminal prosecution.
We highlight five main areas of security that can raise the level of protection of your business.
Data Security
As a first step we suggest the conducting of an internal security audit and answers to the following questions: (1) who has access to data? (2) who and how does he/she work with data? (3) where is the most important/confidential data requiring a special approach stored and how can the necessary minimum necessary to it (e.g. where is the server, in whose name is it registered) be provided? (4) Who should have access to data? (5) What are the risks associated with redundant access?
It is natural for employees to leave important documents in front of everybody, on desktops, in a printer, etc. In order to discipline employees that this is unacceptable, we recommend the holding of surprise inspections of workplaces every third month, collection of all documents that are visible and then work on mistakes with explanations of what negative consequences this could cause.
A company’s information is often its main asset and many companies find it difficult to bring an employee to accountability who sells databases or shares commercial information with competitors.
If you know that employees are abusing their position and passing on information valuable to the company, we recommend you consider the following options: (1) a polygraph test (2) a fine (3) a reprimand or dismissal (4) criminal prosecution.
If the first three options are covered by an in-house lawyer, who should make sure that all these provisions are specified in the relevant employment contract, and the company’s security service, the last option in respect of criminal liability is a bit broader and more complicated.
There is responsibility for disclosure of commercial and banking secrets in Ukraine. And, one would think, if there is a regulation, then there is an opportunity to bring a culprit to liability, but it seems everything is not that simple.
To make it possible to bring an employee to criminal liability, it is required that you: (1) establish what is to be marked as commercial information (2) specify in official instructions that the employee has access to it due to his/her official duties and that disclosure, the passing of such information in any form, is prohibited without the owner’s consent. And in the process of providing proof, showing damage caused to the company and the fact of sale or transfer of such information is important.
Information protection methods: (1) cloud storage, (2) secure Internet and network connections, (3) data encryption, (4) restrictions of entry points for IP addresses, (5) separation in storing corporate and personal information on the mobile devices of employees, (6) implementation of software solutions ensuring information security like “DLP”, use of facilities ensuring information integrity (7) staff inspections.
HR Security
An HR specialist is not only a human resources office at the company. Unfortunately, a formal approach to HR exists in most companies. A HR specialist is definitely undervalued, but it is also worth noting that many of them do not possess the relevant expertise.
To enable a HR specialist to work at full capacity, it is required that his/her work be organized correctly at the beginning and determine what functions he/she will have and whom he/she will report to.
Let’s talk about his/her functions. The recruitment of employees is one of the main ones. In Europe, many companies use interactive tests for stress tolerance, the risk of theft and the tendency of a future employee to lie.
If the company has a security service, a HR specialist should definitely work together with them. It is sometimes worth using a polygraph test during the application stage for a job, though everything depends on what information and responsibility you plan to delegate to a new employee.
Team control is also an important function of a HR specialist. If the company has both managers and junior employees, a HR specialist should arrange regular meetings or tests to identify the mental condition of an employee. This is because many employees can become toxic and not only destroy a company from the inside, but also harm customers on the external market and pass commercial information to competitors.
A HR specialist should help with financial investigations in the company that require cooperation with the security service, have expertise in psychology and know as much as possible about all employees.
Now let’s move on to the second important component, whom a HR specialist should report to. The HR specialist should report directly to the business owner, as he should have authority, independence, respect and quite wide-ranging powers. Also, one should not forget that directors are usually hired employees. It is always important to set clear objectives to HR, to define their functions, and the best way to find them is to look among psychologists.
Methods of HR’s effective work: (1) training workshops for employees (2) regular meetings with employees, preparation of mental condition assessment within the team (3) polygraph tests (if necessary) (4) system of mutual coordination with the security service (5) development of recruitment policy.
Physical Security
Why does a company need physical security? In Ukraine, one in every three companies is involved in criminal proceedings. This means that your business could potentially be faced with searches and unexpected visits from law-enforcement agencies or unauthorized attacks by third parties.
First of all, you have to determine what type of property you have and what should be noted.
Rented Office
You should pay attention to who signs the documents with the owner of the building and where these documents are stored. In the event of an illegal takeover, due to the lack of control over these matters, documents may be re-signed by the dishonest “new owners” and your access may be restricted. Therefore, we recommend you to be always in touch with the building’s owner and to have additional methods of identification and protection.
The documents should be stored in a place that is known to a few people, it is also important to appoint a dedicated person in the lease agreement who will be authorized to sign any documents in respect of the lease agreement or have the power to terminate the agreement.
Security control. You need to establish a communication and control system in respect of security operation.
As to control over video recordings, we recommend that you agree initially with the owners that you have the right to access the recordings of surveillance cameras situated on your floor.
Your Own Office
You need to have the both originals and copies of title documents.
Install video surveillance around the office’s perimeter, including the street.
Install durable doors with multiple levels of protection.
It is also important to install outdoor lighting that will help you to react to possible threats as quickly as possible.
Choosing an Access Control System
You can use one of three types of access: passwords, smart cards, fingerprints, retina scanning, hand geometry, signature, etc.
Ways of ensuring the company’s physical protection: (1) surveillance cameras. It is very important that such cameras are difficult to access for turning off and that there is a backup server for storing video content (2) pass entry system (PIN-code system), if your office is located in a business center we recommend that you not give out guest passes but that you pick up a guest yourself and accompany him/her to the office (3) double or triple exterior doors (if construction permits this) (4) security service availability (5) lightning.
Legal Security
What does legal security consist of? When should we involve an external counsel, and when will an in-house be enough?
The majority of issues should be addressed by an in-house counsel. It is cheaper, easier to manage and more sufficient. However, in our opinion, you should always have external counsels on the safe side and sign contracts with them.
An in-house counsel should have expertise in (1) contract work (2) dispute resolution (3) development and implementation of human resources documents (4) experience of negotiating.
However, every company has a moment when it faces some secondary issues. For example, commencement of criminal proceedings, summons for interrogations, seizures of documents, etc.
Methods of legal protection: (1) due diligence at least once a year (2) audit of business processes for criminal and legal risks (3) setting up a budget needed for legal fees (4) selection of an external counsel on narrow-profile issues, signing of an agreement with them (5) a verification system for contractors.
Economic Security
It is impossible to cover everything about economic security in this article. However, I would like to focus your attention on a few issues.
A good accountant. This is probably the second most important person in the company following the director, and maybe even higher. You need to trust, but verify him/her, conduct an internal audit every six months or once a year. This will discipline the accountant and give you the true picture. If you announce these rules as common corporate rules, he/she will consider them as a working rule, but not as a lack of confidence in their person.
Proper communication with banks. Good communication with bank managers will enable you to solve problems that arise in the course of work much more promptly and to prevent the loss of money in the event of pressure from regulatory and law-enforcement agencies. Do not neglect their birthdays and other holidays, when you can reintroduce yourself and please an employee responsible for the financial health of the company, and there will be a pleasant bonus if the company’s owner visits the bank’s management with his or her personal congratulations.
Management of accounts payable; you should have a system in place for monitoring existing debts and a responsible person who will provide a statement of affairs, preferably once a month.
The Conducting of Two Types of Audit is Recommended
(1) Financial crime due diligence is carrying out a preliminary check of all contractors. Your impeccable business may, via a chain of financial and economic activities, face problems of a criminal nature. They can take the form of seizure of funds, or the summoning of your employees for questioning.
Conducting “Financial crime due diligence” will help you to understand whether or not it is worth working with new contractors, even if this contractor has been recommended to you, and whether the risks stated by law-enforcement agencies are real.
(2) Audit of business processes for criminal and legal risks. Many business processes can include hidden risks that can cause further criminal prosecution or attachment over a company’s accounts or property. Therefore, we recommend that you adjust your processes in a timely manner and minimize the risks borne for your company.
To sum up, please note that only the complex nature of the protection tools mentioned above will guarantee peace of mind for a business owner. One should remember that there are some more important components.
In addition, since the majority of them are expensive, their implementation should also be financially grounded, because each business risk also has its own price.