Oleksiy Filatov is a well-known Ukrainian lawyer, senior partner at the law firm "Aequo", a specialist in dispute resolution. As a lawyer, he represents international and Ukrainian companies in Ukrainian courts and international arbitrations in commercial and investment disputes, particularly in disputes between investors and the state regarding the protection of investments. He has been involved as a Ukrainian legal expert in court proceedings in the UK, Cyprus, Luxembourg, the USA, Switzerland, and as an arbitrator in international arbitrations under ICC, UNCITRAL, and VIAC rules. From 2014 to 2019, he held the positions of Secretary of the Constitutional Commission, Coordinator of the Judicial Reform Council, and Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of Ukraine. He coordinated the development of significant amendments to Ukrainian rules of court proceedings, Ukrainian Constitution and laws on judiciary, which were highly praised by the Venice Commission. He is a member of the Ukrainian Bar Association, the International Bar Association (IBA), and the American Bar Association (ABA).
The year began with tensions between business and the state authorities, when entrepreneurs began to speak openly about unjustified harassment by government agencies. The President's decisive actions contributed to resolving the conflict, but it became clear that the existing model of interaction needs to transform. Business is calling for a new social contract: honest work and tax payments by entrepreneurs in exchange for a guarantee of no unreasonable state intervention.
This panel discussion will focus on ways to build new, and much more transparent and meaningful, relations between business and government. How can a balance be reached to ensure mutual trust and promote economic development? What steps are needed to reset these relations and create conditions for sustainable business growth in Ukraine?