Ukrainian media: Kyiv's interests in international courts will be represented by lawyers charging a thousand dollars per hour
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has concluded an agreement on legal services with the international law firm Covington & Burling LLP for $6.66 million or 196.90 million hryvnia, reported the journalist of the investigative program Nashi Groshi (Our Money), citing the Prozorro system (Ukrainian government online procurement reporting system).
The law firm will consult and represent Ukraine on several legal cases. First, it will manage Ukraine’s lawsuit against Russia, filed on January 16, 2016 to the International Court of Justice.
Second, it will guide Ukraine through the arbitration proceedings against Russia initiated by Ukraine on September 16, 2016 according to Part XV of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982.
Third, it will represent Ukraine in the settlement of disputes under an agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Russian Federation on promotion and reciprocal protection of investments of 1998.
Finally, it will represent Ukraine’s interests in the lawsuit of the Law Debenture Trust Corporation P.L.C. (USA) filed against Ukraine on February 17, 2016 in the London High Court regarding the so-called " Yanukovych’s debt" and also other such proceedings as may be required.
Under the contract, the lawyers’ hourly rates are: $972 for Alan Larson, Senior Advisor; $872 for Alex Leitch, head of litigation cases of the London office; $776 for Marney Cheek, co-chairwoman of international arbitration practice; $660 for Jonathan Gimblett, partner; $660 for David Zionts, partner; $396 to $604 for junior and senior lawyers; and $204 to $388 for legal assistants.
Further, three international experts have been invited to render their services: Professor Harold Hongju Koh for $960 per hour, Professor Alfred Soons for 600 euro per hour, and Professor Jean-Marc Thouvenin for 400 euro per hour.
In total, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has concluded 4 agreements with the law firm for protection against Russia totaling $16.74 million since 2015.
Also, Covington & Burling LLP will represent the interests of the National Joint Stock Company Naftogaz of Ukraine from 2017 to 2018 in arbitration proceedings against Russia, in which Ukraine demands to be reimbursed for losses due to Russia’s annexation of the Crimea totaling at $11.61 million.