Aequo Shortlisted in Five Categories at the Women in Business Law Awards 2026

Aequo has been shortlisted in five categories at the Women in Business Law Awards 2026.

The firm has been recognised in three firm-wide categories — Career Development, Innovative Initiatives, and Firm of the Year: Ukraine. In addition, Aequo’s Executive Partners received two individual nominations: Anna Babych has been shortlisted for Lawyer of the Year – M&A, and Yulia Kyrpa for Lawyer of the Year – Banking & Finance.

Innovative Initiatives

In this category, Aequo presented initiatives reflecting a firm-wide transformation, including the implementation of iManage and the development of an AI-ready knowledge management infrastructure, the launch of Startup Desk to support innovative businesses, and Future Lawyer: Aequo Summer School — an educational programme for second- and third-year law students developed on the basis of Ukraine’s first nationwide research on legal internships.

Career Development

This recognition reflects initiatives shaping a comprehensive career development framework at Aequo, including the School of Senior Lawyer designed to prepare senior associates for leadership roles, Aequo Friends as a technology-driven internship platform incorporating mentorship and Aequo Academy, as well as Future Lawyer: Aequo Summer School, which provides early access to practical legal experience.

Firm of the Year: Ukraine

This category reflects the firm’s overall submission and key projects led by Aequo partners Anna Babych, Yulia Kyrpa, and Tetiana Kudrytska.

These include matters across corporate and M&A, banking and finance, intellectual property, recovery and reconstruction, energy resilience, digital transformation, talent development, and support for innovative sectors of the Ukrainian economy.

Anna Babych — Lawyer of the Year: M&A

Anna Babych, Executive Partner at Aequo, has been shortlisted for the Women in Business Law Awards 2026 in the Lawyer of the Year – M&A category.

This recognition reflects leadership that continues to move the market forward in a period of uncertainty. Anna advises on transactions requiring legal precision, strategic vision, and the ability to navigate complex investment, regulatory, and business challenges.

Another key area of work involves a complex cross-border project in a sector critical to Ukraine’s technological, industrial, and security capacity.

These matters demonstrate that the Ukrainian M&A market continues to evolve, adapt to new realities, and remain a platform for significant strategic decisions.

Yulia Kyrpa — Lawyer of the Year: Banking & Finance

Yulia Kyrpa, Executive Partner at Aequo, has been shortlisted for the Women in Business Law Awards 2026 in the Lawyer of the Year – Banking & Finance category.

This nomination brings together projects of strategic importance for Ukraine’s financial resilience, energy security, and investment development. The focus is on solutions that facilitate international financing, support critical infrastructure, and strengthen the confidence of institutional investors in the Ukrainian market.

Among the key matters is advising Naftogaz of Ukraine on EBRD and EIB financing for gas procurement and the stable passage of the heating season. These transactions required complex structuring involving international financing instruments, EU guarantees, IFI requirements, and regulatory considerations in the energy sector.

Another significant project includes advising Norfund on its first investment in Ukraine through the Investment Fund for Ukraine, relating to the M10 Lviv Industrial Park. The project supports the development of industrial infrastructure, logistics capacity, and investment activity near the EU border.

The submission also highlights Yulia’s contribution to systemic financial reforms, including work on Ukraine’s new Factoring Law, which establishes a modern framework for trade finance and business support.