Client - an individualinvolved in a high-profile anti-corruption criminal proceeding with aninternational dimension.

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Matter - сomprehensive defenceof the client in criminal proceedings concerning corruption-related offences,including trial representation, enforcement of the judgment, release of assetfreezes in Ukraine and abroad, recovery of seized funds, mutual legalassistance, and interaction with foreign law enforcement authorities.

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Role - BLACK FORT partnersprovide comprehensive legal support to the client at all stages of the criminalproceedings, coordinating the work of Ukrainian and foreign counsel acrossmultiple jurisdictions.

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Thework includes: representing theclient during the pre-trial investigation and court proceedings; assisting with theenforcement of the judgment of the High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine; initiating andhandling procedures for the release of freezes imposed on the client’s realestate, funds, and other assets; ensuring the effective implementationof court decisions and orders of competent authorities cancelling asset freezesand terminating restrictions on the disposal of assets; coordinatingprocedures for the release and recovery of funds blocked in France; liaising with Frenchcounsel, prosecutorial authorities, banking institutions, and other competentbodies regarding the unfreezing and return of the client’s assets; advising on mutuallegal assistance, cross-border enforcement of court decisions, and financialcompliance requirements; supporting the execution ofinternational payments pursuant to the court judgment, including interactionwith banks regarding AML/CTF procedures and sanctions compliance; representing theclient in communications with the law enforcement authorities of the Republicof Estonia in connection with a mutual legal assistance request and proceduralmeasures conducted within foreign criminal proceedings; and coordinating foreigncounsel and maintaining a unified legal strategy across multiple jurisdictions.

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Cross-BorderCooperation - BLACKFORT coordinated cooperation with French counsel and the competent Frenchauthorities regarding the release of asset freezes, the unblocking of funds,and the return of the client’s assets. The firm also facilitated interactionwith the Office of the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Estonia within theframework of mutual legal assistance.

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Jurisdictions - Ukraine | France |Estonia

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AuthoritiesInvolved - HighAnti-Corruption Court of Ukraine; National Anti-Corruption Bureau ofUkraine; competentauthorities of the French Republic; Office of the Prosecutor General ofthe Republic of Estonia.

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Practice - White-Collar Crime |Cross-Border Investigations

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Team - 2 partners; 3 lawyers.

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Status - The court proceedingshave been concluded. Certain procedures relating to the release of assetfreezes, asset recovery, and international legal cooperation remain ongoing.

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Significanceof the Matter - Theengagement encompasses the comprehensive defence of the client in criminalproceedings, assistance with the enforcement of the court judgment, the releaseof freezes imposed on property and funds, and the recovery of assets blocked ina foreign jurisdiction.

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TheBLACK FORT team provided legal support in securing the cancellation of freezesimposed on the client’s real estate and other assets in Ukraine, includingobtaining the relevant court decisions and orders of competent authorities andmonitoring their effective implementation in public registers.

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Aseparate workstream involved coordinating the release and recovery of funds inFrance, which required cooperation with foreign counsel, prosecutorialauthorities, banking institutions, and financial supervisory bodies.

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The complexity of thematter lay not only in obtaining decisions cancelling the asset freezes, butalso in ensuring their practical implementation across different legal systemswhile complying with mutual legal assistance requirements, AML/CTF rules,sanctions legislation, and banking compliance procedures.