Lobbying Law overview for international companies

26/ 05/ 2025

Listen to online Stop   In 2023, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Law “On Lobbying” as part of the country’s commitments under the EU enlargement process. Originally set to take effect on January 1, 2025, the law’s implementation has been postponed to September 1, 2025, due to several technical and administrative hurdles — most notably, the lack of funding to establish a functioning Transparency Register of lobbyists. As Ukraine moves toward formal regulation of lobbying activities, foreign companies seeking to engage with Ukrainian government bodies face a series of structural barriers. Under the new legislation, only legal entities registered in Ukraine or representative offices of foreign firms established under national law will be allowed to act as lobbyists. This presents a significant challenge for international businesses still assessing market entry or project feasibility, as establishing a physical presence may not be viable at an early stage. In this environment, a practical solution for foreign investors is to partner with Ukrainian lobbying firms that are already registered and authorized to operate under the new legal framework. These firms can legally represent international clients, ensure compliance with Ukrainian law, and help mitigate regulatory and reputational risks — all without requiring companies to immediately establish a local legal entity. More details in the alert

In 2023, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Law “On Lobbying” as part of the country’s commitments under the EU enlargement process. Originally set to take effect on January 1, 2025, the law’s implementation has been postponed to September 1, 2025, due to several technical and administrative hurdles — most notably, the lack of funding to establish a functioning Transparency Register of lobbyists.

As Ukraine moves toward formal regulation of lobbying activities, foreign companies seeking to engage with Ukrainian government bodies face a series of structural barriers. Under the new legislation, only legal entities registered in Ukraine or representative offices of foreign firms established under national law will be allowed to act as lobbyists. This presents a significant challenge for international businesses still assessing market entry or project feasibility, as establishing a physical presence may not be viable at an early stage.

In this environment, a practical solution for foreign investors is to partner with Ukrainian lobbying firms that are already registered and authorized to operate under the new legal framework. These firms can legally represent international clients, ensure compliance with Ukrainian law, and help mitigate regulatory and reputational risks — all without requiring companies to immediately establish a local legal entity.

More details in the alert