Europe
Practice Areas
Roman Marchenko is a Senior Partner at Ilyashev & Partners and Head of the International Arbitration practice in Ukraine. He focuses on international commercial and investment arbitration, complex cross-border disputes, and related court proceedings before Ukrainian courts, including recognition, enforcement and setting aside of arbitral awards, as well as disputes in the aviation and defence sectors.
He also advises on restructuring and insolvency matters, particularly in cases involving state-owned enterprises and cross-border insolvency proceedings.
Career
Roman Marchenko is one of the founding partners of Ilyashev & Partners (established in 1997).
Roman is widely recognised for his work in international arbitration and dispute resolution in Ukraine. He has represented Ukrainian and international clients in high-value domestic and cross-border disputes, including proceedings under UNCITRAL, LCIA, ICC, SCC, LMAA, VIAC and ICSID, as well as related litigation before Ukrainian courts.
Professional Memberships
• Member of the Bar Council of Kyiv Region;
• Member of INSOL Europe.
Publications
Author of more than 100 publications in the Ukrainian and international legal and business media.
Regular speaker at conferences and professional events dedicated to arbitration, dispute resolution and insolvency.
Personal
Roman Marchenko is consistently top-ranked by Chambers Global (2012–2026) and Chambers Europe (2012–2025) for Dispute Resolution in Ukraine and is recognised among the leading arbitration practitioners in the country.
He has also been listed in The Legal 500 EMEA (2009–2025), including induction into The Legal 500 Hall of Fame for Dispute Resolution in Ukraine.
He was awarded the title of Honoured Lawyer of Ukraine by Presidential Decree in 2017. This lifetime distinction is granted for a significant contribution to the development of the rule of law and the protection of constitutional rights and freedoms and represents the highest state honour in Ukraine in the field of jurisprudence.
Clients
Advises major Ukrainian and international corporations, state-owned enterprises, foreign investors and multinational companies in complex commercial and investment disputes in Ukraine and internationally.
Work Highlights
• Represented a Ukrainian state-owned defense enterprise in a multi-million cross-border arbitration concerning international supply contracts.
• Acted for a foreign investor in enforcement proceedings of an arbitral award before Ukrainian courts.
• Represented a client in an investment arbitration under the ICSID Convention arising out of infrastructure development projects.
• Acted as a Ukrainian law expert in international litigation before US, UK and Israeli courts.
Industry Sector Expertise
Extensive experience in disputes across the aviation, defence, energy, infrastructure and shipping sectors, including matters involving state-owned enterprises, cross-border projects and regulated industries.
Advises on disputes related to aircraft financing and leasing, defence contracts, international trade operations and large-scale infrastructure development.
Expert in these Jurisdictions
• Ukraine (court litigation and enforcement of arbitral awards).
• International arbitration (UNCITRAL, LCIA, ICC, SCC, LMAA, VIAC, ICSID).
Languages Spoken
English, Ukrainian, Russian
Experience
Over 25 years of experience representing clients in:
• International commercial and investment arbitration;
• Enforcement and setting aside of arbitral awards before Ukrainian courts;
• Cross-border disputes involving state-owned enterprises;
• Acting as a Ukrainian law expert in proceedings before US and UK courts;
• Acting as the sole arbitrator and member of arbitral tribunals in commercial and investment disputes.
Education
Institute of International Relations, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, International Law Faculty
Master of International Law
1993 - 1998
