The Ukrainian Journal of Business Law

[index.php] ABOUT CURRENT ISSUE SUBSCRIBE & ORDER ADVERTISE UJBL TEAM EDITORIAL CALENDAR GET PUBLISHED CONTACT PRESS RELEASE Statement by the editorial board of the Yuridicheskaya Practika Newspaper on interference in the work of journalists by the Magister & Partners law firm KIEV. 9 November 2007. On 6 November 2007, the law firm Magister & Partners distributed a press release, where it declared its refusal to participate in the 2007 rating "50 leading law firms of Ukraine", which is being prepared for publication by the Yuridicheskaya Practika Newspaper. The firm indicates that the main reason for its refusal is that our (not yet ready) "research incorrectly reflects the trends and actual changes of the market because of non-transparent methodology and a judgmental approach". The press release was published by the UNIAN news agency and also disseminated by Magister & Partners via the Internet. The Yuridicheskaya Practika Newspaper hereby makes an official statement that this accusation is groundless. The Yuridicheskaya Practika has never, and never will, invite a law firm to Уparticipate in a ratingФ. Our journalistic project У50 leading law firms of UkraineФ is a series of materials which describe the legal services market and it is neither an official nor mandatory rating of law firms. The public importance of our project is solely based on the standing and independent stance of the newspaper. Following our editorial principles, which are grounded first and foremost on journalistic ethics and Ukrainian legislation on information, we request from law firms Ц direct targets of our research - various information on their activity. However, this is not an invitation to participate in the rating. It is an invitation to cooperate. The Yuridicheskaya Practika Newspaper believes any law firm has the ultimate right either to provide, or not to disclose information about its activity. Refusal on the part of a law firm to cooperate with the editorial board and to provide information is the internal matter of any law firm. At the same time, we consider it to be impermissible to make groundless accusations of Уnontransparent and nonprofessional ratingsФ, and more so even before our publication has been released. The allegations of nontransparent methodology made against the newspaper have nothing in common with bias and non-objectivity. Since many law firms provide us their information on the condition of "not for publication", we are under an obligation to preserve the confidentiality of the information received from law firms. We categorically disagree that preservation of confidentiality by us is equated with Уno transparencyФ and Уno professionalismФ in the course of our work with developing materials. In spite of the complaints made against our publication for 2006, Magister & Partners always states in its advertising that it was recognized as the No.1 law firm of Ukraine in that publication which, at least, shows the inconsistency of its views. We believe that the Magister & Partners law firm is entitled independently or jointly with other law firms and/or media at its own discretion to develop any ratings of law firms as it may consider necessary and УcorrectФ. However, we strongly deny its right to instruct Yuridicheskaya Practika Publishing on how we should develop our own journalistic materials for publication. We also will take all legal measures to curb the discrediting of the newspaper and its editorial projects by the Magister & Partners law firm. The Yuridicheskaya Practika Newspaper is fully authorized to collect and distribute information received in a lawful manner, and the journalists of the newspaper are entitled to express their opinion about law firms and the legal services market in Ukraine. We consider any interference in the activity of journalists as a violation of the constitutional freedom of speech and rights of journalists envisaged by the On Printed Media in Ukraine and ќn Information Acts of Ukraine. The Yuridicheskaya Practika also considers as groundless the statements made by the Magister & Partners law firm and its representatives about the Уnonprofessional approachФ of Yuridicheskaya Practika towards Уdevelopment of the rating and work with unverified informationФ, and it considers such statements as interference in the work of journalists and media, which constitutes a direct breach of law and rules of legal ethics. The Yuridicheskaya Practika is appealing to the qualification and disciplinary bar authorities to come up with their assessment of the statements made by the Magister & Partners law firm. The Yuridicheskaya Practika Newspaper will continue to adhere to the principles of free journalism and it intends to defend its right to freedom of speech and the right of its readers to receive information, including in judicial order. About Yuridicheskaya Practika Publishing Yuridicheskaya Practika Publishing was established in 1994. Along with the weekly specialized Yuridicheskaya Practika Newspaper (published since 15 March, 1995), the publishing house issues the newspaper Sudovyy Vypusk. Yuridichna Practyka and the magazines Ukrainskiy Yurist, Ukrainskiy Advokat, and The Ukrainian Journal of Business Law, a weekly review of legislation called New Regulations, an annual reference called LexQuorum, the Zakonoteka book series and various other legal literature. More detail can be found on the website: www.yurpractika.com About | Current Issue | Subscribe & Order | Advertise | UJBL Team | Editorial Calendar Get Published | Contact Counse link Konnov & Sozanovsky 23 Shota Rustaveli Street, Suite 5, Kiev, 01023, Ukraine phone: + 380 (0)44 490-5400 fax: + 380 (0)44 490-5490 info@konnov.com www.konnov.com Chadbourne & Park LLP 11 Mikhailivska Street, Kiev, 01001 Tel: (044) 464-0204 Fax: (044) 464-0231 kyivoffice@chadbourne.com www.chadbourne.com Shevchenko Didkovskiy & Partners 2A Kostyantynivska Street, Kiev, 04071 Tel: (044) 230-6000 Fax: (044) 230-6001 lawfirm@shevdid.com www.shevdid.com Vasil Kisil and Partners Leonardo Business Centre 17/52A Bogdana Khmelnytskogo Street, Kiev, 01030, Ukraine Tel/fax: (044) 220-5900 Tel/fax: (044) 220-4877 vkp@vkp.kiev.ua www.kisilandpartners.com Yuris Legal counsellors and advisers 4-6 Striletska Street, Fourth Floor, Kiev, 01025 Tel: (044) 235-8648, (044) 235-8649 Fax: (044) 235-8643, (044) 235-8646 yuris@carrier.kiev.ua tax@yuris.com.ua www.yuris.com.ua Copyright © 2003-2007 by Yuridicheskaya Practika Publishing. 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