DLA Piper today announces the appointment of Natalia Kirichenko as Head of the Intellectual Property and Technology practice in its Kyiv office, starting with immediate effect. The appointment follows the departure of Natalia Pakhomovska, who led the team and has decided to leave the firm to explore new opportunities in other areas.

Previously a Legal Director at the firm, Natalia Kirichenko has, over the past 15 years been focusing on intellectual property, data protection and privacy, telecommunications and information technologies. She is widely recognized throughout the industry as a leader in her field with listing in numerous legal directories including the Legal 500, WTR 1000, Ukrainian Law Firms. A Handbook for Foreign Clients.

Natalia will lead the Intellectual Property and Technology team in Ukraine, which provides the full range of IP law services for leading international businesses in the country as well as international Ukrainian companies abroad. The practice has a strong track record in advising on all aspects of intellectual property related matters including trademarks (including advertising matters), copyright, trade secrets, designs and patents. The team is heavily involved in both contentions and non-contentious IP work, as well as IP matters within M&A transactions where IP is a core asset, and is regularly recognized by international and Ukrainian legal directories.

Margarita Karpenko, managing partner of the Kyiv office, comments: “Natalia has started working as an associate in the firm and thanks to her exceptional talent and business acumen, has become an undoubted leader. I look forward to Natalia driving further practice development.”