Senior Associate, Corporate and M&A

We are seeking an experienced and highly driven Senior Associate to join the Corporate and M&A service line in our Kyiv office.

The successful candidate will independently lead complex domestic and cross-border transactions and act as a key advisor to clients on a broad range of corporate and commercial matters. The role involves working closely with partners and managing workstreams across mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, restructurings, and private equity deals.

This position is ideal for a lawyer with 5+ years of post-qualification experience, strong technical expertise in transactional work, and the ability to supervise junior colleagues while maintaining exceptional quality and client service standards.

Key responsibilities:

Transactional work & deal leadership

• Lead and manage full-cycle M&A transactions, including due diligence, structuring, drafting, negotiation, and closing;
• Draft, review, and negotiate complex commercial and corporate agreements, including SPAs, SHAs, JV agreements, investment agreements, vendor and services contracts, and corporate restructuring documentation;
• Coordinate all workstreams across a transaction (corporate, regulatory, tax, antitrust, employment, finance), ensuring seamless project delivery;
• Provide strategic advice on transaction structure, risk allocation, and commercial implications.

Corporate advisory

• Advise on sophisticated corporate governance, shareholder arrangements, corporate reorganisations, cross-border group structuring, and regulatory compliance matters;
• Draft high-level legal opinions, memoranda, and client risk assessments;
• Provide day-to-day corporate advisory support to multinational and local clients.

Team management & supervision

• Supervise and mentor Associates, Junior Associates, and Interns, ensuring quality control of their work and supporting their professional development;
• Allocate tasks, monitor progress, and provide constructive feedback;
• Contribute to internal knowledge development, templates, and best practices.

Client management & business development

• Act as the primary point of contact for clients on assigned matters and maintain strong, trust-based relationships;
• Prepare client deliverables, project summaries, and presentations with a high degree of independence;
• Support partners with business development initiatives, pitches, and thought leadership.

Key skills and experience required:

• Master's degree in Law (Ukrainian law);
• 5+ years of relevant experience in corporate/M&A at an international or top-tier Ukrainian law firm;
• Proven track record of managing or co-leading M&A or corporate transactions;
• Strong command of Ukrainian corporate, commercial, and contract law; familiarity with regulatory and cross-border aspects;
• Advanced skills in legal drafting (UA/EN), negotiation, and project management;
• Excellent written and spoken English;
• High level of autonomy, responsibility, and ownership of workstreams;
• Strong leadership abilities, attention to detail, and capacity to work under multiple deadlines;
• Proactive, commercially minded, and committed to excellence in client service.

Only candidates who meet all the requirements set out above will be considered for the position.

What we offer

If you are looking to take the next step up in your career and make a valued contribution, this is a fantastic opportunity for you to join an international law firm and be part of our success. To this end, we offer:

• professional development and training in a leading CEE law firm and interesting work for reputable local and international clients (more information at )
• a modern, friendly and dynamic flexible work environment;
• technical and soft skills training and development across practice groups and jurisdictions;
• very attractive and competitive compensation including future salary growth and annual performance bonus; and
• private medical services subscription;
• last but not least, you will become part of a team that believes success is measured in the long run – we approach all relationship with a desire to build long-lasting partnerships.

Why Kinstellar?

At Kinstellar, we provide premium legal services and pride ourselves on having a collaborative, team oriented, future looking culture providing unique development opportunities to grow in a highly supportive working environment throughout all stages of your career. At Kinstellar you will have the opportunity to work with outstanding lawyers of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), Southeast Europe (SEE) and Central Asia (CA) and of the world's greatest referring law firms on highly complex cases. We are a purpose-driven organization, with outstanding sector and service line expertise, knowledge and commitment to client service and innovation.

We know our people value flexibility around when and where they work. So, we are committed to offering a more adaptable way to work, balancing the way you work and your lifestyle with hybrid working options.

We will support your career aspirations by offering access to mobility programs such as intra- office secondments and secondments with referring law firms where possible. These programs give you the chance to travel to other countries, engage with international clients, lawyers and develop your networks.

Equal opportunities

Kinstellar provides equal opportunities to all employees and applicants and strictly prohibits discrimination based on ethnicity, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other protected characteristics.

Joining Kinstellar means working with some of the finest legal minds in CEE, SEE & CA on the region's most challenging mandates. We attract the best and brightest talents to help us continue our stellar growth.

Do you consider yourself Stellar?

At Kinstellar we welcome direct applications. Please send your application (CV and cover letter) in English to Kateryna Kryvozub, HR Manager, at . We will then be in touch with you once we have reviewed your application. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

By submitting your application, you agree to provide us with your personal data for the purposes of the recruitment process at Kinstellar. Your personal data will be processed with utmost confidentiality by Kinstellar solely for the purposes of selection and recruitment and will not be transferred to other data controllers unless required by law.

By submitting your application, you understand and consent to Kinstellar retaining your personal information for a period of up to 12 months. This allows us to consider you for future career opportunities.

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All information provided will be treated with strict confidentiality.