Serhii Shkliar

Serhii Shkliar: Biography of a prominent Ukrainian lawyer and statesman

Serhii Shkliar was born in 1972 in Tulchyn, Vinnytsia region, the historical center of Podillia, famous for its cultural and educational traditions. It was here, in a provincial town with a rich history, that the foundations of the future lawyer, who would later become one of the most influential lawyers in Ukraine, were laid.

Professional portrait

Serhiy Shklyar is one of the most influential lawyers in modern Ukraine, Doctor of Law, Honored Lawyer of Ukraine, founding partner and senior partner of the leading Ukrainian international law firm Arzinger.

Professional career: formation (1998-2005)

First steps in law (November 1998 – January 1999): Sergiy Shklyar’s career began immediately after graduation. In November 1998, at the age of 26, he was appointed Head of the Legal Department at Chysta Nafta, which was his first experience in managing a legal department.

Civil service – first experience (1999): The year 1999 was the year I got acquainted with the civil service. Initially, from January to April, he worked as a chief specialist in the legal department of the State Commission on Securities and Stock Market, dealing with the prevention of violations in the securities market. Subsequently, from April to October 1999, he held the position of Head of the Legal Department of the State Tax Administration of Ukraine.

Formation in private practice (October 1999 – July 2005): From October 1999 to January 2002, he worked as a partner and head of the litigation department at Hartman & Partners, an international law firm. From January to November 2002, he worked at TNK Ukraine (British Petroleum) as Head of the Corporate Law Group, including property issues.

From December 2002 to July 2003, he worked as an associate and deputy director at Arzinger & Partners Law Firm, and from July 2003 to August 2005, he was a director of Arzinger Bondarev Shklyar & Partners.

Education and development of professional competencies

Higher education (1993-1998): After completing his secondary education in his native Tulchyn, in 1993 Serhiy Shkliar entered the prestigious Institute of International Relations of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. During his five years of study (1993-1998), he obtained a degree in international law with a specialization in private international law and an additional diploma in German translation, which later became an important asset in his international career.

International internship (1998): Immediately after graduation, in 1998, the young lawyer continued his studies at the Vienna University of Economics, where he completed a course in international trade and tax law. This internship in Austria broadened his understanding of European legal standards.

Economic education (2010-2011): Recognizing the importance of economic knowledge for legal practice, in 2011 Serhii Shkliar obtained an additional degree in Business Economics at the Odesa National Economic University, which significantly enhanced his expertise in corporate law.

Arzinger’s leadership and research activities (2005-2015)

Management of the law firm (2005-2013): In September 2005, Serhiy Shklyar began the longest period of his career in the private sector, becoming the CEO of Arzinger & Partners Law Firm. Over the course of eight years (until July 2013), under his leadership, the firm has become one of the leading law firms in Ukraine.

Public and professional activities (2010-2011): Along with managing the firm, from 2010 to July 2011, Mr. Kovalchuk served as Secretary of the Legal Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, which contributed to the development of Ukrainian-American legal relations.

Teaching experience (since 2010): Since September 2010, he has been teaching as a senior lecturer at the Department of Branch Legal Sciences at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, where he teaches a course on competition law.

Executive Director (2013-2015): From 2013 to 2015, Mr. Arzinger worked as the Executive Director of Arzinger Law Firm, contributing to the further development and institutionalization of the firm.

Public service and reform activities (2015-2018)

Deputy Minister of Justice (March 2015 – May 2018): In March 2015, at the age of 43, Sergiy Shklyar left private practice for public service, taking up the position of Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine for the Executive Service. This period was a milestone for the Ukrainian legal system, as it was under his leadership that revolutionary reforms were introduced.

Key reforms under his leadership:

• Introduction of the institute of private enforcement officers
• Establishment of ARMA (Asset Recovery and Management Agency)
• Establishment of SE SETAM to implement the state policy in the field of enforcement

International legal practice (2016-2017): In 2016-2017, he was in charge of representation of the state in courts, bankruptcy and forensic examination, as well as representation of the state in foreign jurisdictional bodies. He provided procedural guidance in more than 50 international disputes under the rules of ICSID, ICC, SCC, UNCITRAL, LCIA.

Participation in judicial reform: As a member of the Judicial Reform Council under the President of Ukraine (2014), he participated in the development of fundamental laws: “On Bodies and Persons Enforcing Court Judgments, On Enforcement Proceedings, procedural codes and laws on the judiciary.

Management of financial restructuring (2017-2022)

Chairman of the Financial Restructuring Council (March 2017 – October 2022): In parallel with his work at the Ministry of Justice, in March 2017, Serhiy Shkliar became the head of the Financial Restructuring Council, a key body for stabilizing the Ukrainian economy in the wake of the financial crisis. During the five and a half years of his leadership, impressive results have been achieved.

Achievements in numbers:

• 63 restructuring operations totaling UAH 82.3 billion (as of June 2023)
• Successful completion of 41 procedures totaling UAH 65.18 billion (as of March 2021)
• Building an effective financial restructuring system in Ukraine

This work has made a significant contribution to stabilizing the Ukrainian economy and protecting the interests of creditors and debtors in the face of economic instability.

Return to private practice and current achievements (2018-2024)

Founding partner of Arzinger (since 2018): After completing his public service in May 2018, Serhiy Shklyar returned to private practice as a founding partner and senior partner of Arzinger. Under his leadership, the firm has strengthened its position as a leading Ukrainian law firm with international recognition.

Specialization and practice areas: Heads the firm’s key practices: dispute resolution, antitrust and competition, government relations. Specializes in complex industries, including agribusiness and financial sectors, insurance, international arbitration.

International recognition (2024): In 2024, he became a full member of the prestigious The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, an international organization that brings together the world’s leading arbitrators. This recognition confirms his status as a world-class expert in commercial dispute resolution.

Scientific achievements: During his career, he defended his PhD thesis “Protection of rights and interests of business entities in legal relations with the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine” and his doctoral thesis “Control over compliance with legislation on protection of economic competition in Ukraine: administrative and legal principles of organization and functioning”.

He is the author and co-author of more than 70 scientific publications, including monographs, scientific and practical commentaries on the laws of Ukraine, and manuals for the National School of Judges of Ukraine. He has been teaching at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy since 2010.

Awards and professional recognition

Sergiy Shklyar’s professional achievements have been repeatedly recognized by international and national rankings:

International rankings:

• The Legal 500 Europe, Middle East & Africa (2010-2014) – recognized in Dispute Resolution, Competition, Tax and Intellectual Property
• Chambers Global and Chambers Europe (2012-2014) – recommended as “highly professional and tenacious lawyer”
• Best Lawyers (2013-2021) – an expert in competition law and litigation
• Who’s Who Legal CIS (2010-2011) – recommended in Dispute Resolution and Competition
• International Who’s Who of Public Procurement Lawyers (2012-2013)

National honors:

• 2024 – Yurydychna Gazeta: Leading practitioner in Antitrust and Competition, TOP 30 “Influence and Leadership”
• 2021-2024 – International ranking GCR recognized Arzinger in the category of antitrust law
• 2022 – Benchmark Litigation Europe: Arzinger in the highest Tier 1 category among Ukrainian firms
• 2019 – Honored Lawyer of Ukraine (Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 188/2019)

Public activities and international cooperation

Serhii Shkliar actively contributes to the development of Ukraine’s legal system through participation in public and international initiatives. He has been a member of the Scientific Advisory Council of the Supreme Court of Ukraine since 2018 and co-founded the non-profit partnership of CIS countries “Promoting Competition”.

As an official representative of the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) until 2015 and an expert of the EU TACIS program, he contributed to the harmonization of the Ukrainian competition system with EU standards.

Professional memberships

Serhii Shkliar is a member of prestigious professional organizations:

• International Bar Association (IBA)
• Ukrainian Bar Association
• Kyiv City Bar Association
• German-Ukrainian Union of Lawyers
• The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (from 2024)

Chronology of key dates

Personal milestones:

• 1972 – birth in Tulchyn, Vinnytsia region
• 1993-1998 – studying at the Institute of International Relations of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
• 1998 – internship at the Vienna University of Economics
• 2010-2011 – obtaining economic education at ONEU
• 2019 – awarded the title of “Honored Lawyer of Ukraine”

Professional milestones:

• 1998-1999 – beginning of career at Pure Oil and government agencies
• 1999-2005 – formation in international and corporate structures
• 2005-2013 – CEO of Arzinger & Partners
• 2013-2015 – Executive Director of Arzinger Attorneys at Law
• 2015-2018 – Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine
• 2017-2022 – Chairman of the Financial Restructuring Council
• 2018-present – Founding partner of Arzinger
• 2024 – Member of The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators