Effective Business Protection in Criminal Proceedings: Support During Investigative Actions

A group of companies (financial institutions) engaged in micro-lending and foreign currency exchange contacted the “ARMADA” Law Firm. Law enforcement conducted a series of investigative actions (searches) at 16 addresses corresponding to the registration locations of the legal entities and officials of the group.

Our Actions: The criminal defense attorneys at “ARMADA” formulated an effective defense strategy and took urgent operational measures under the legal assistance agreement. Attorneys urgently arrived at the key sites of the active investigative actions and identified the unjustifiability of such actions. Specifically, they discovered inaccuracies and discrepancies between the data in the judge’s ruling and the actual data. Additionally, the attorneys filed a complaint with the State Bureau of Investigation (DBR).

Result: As a result of the active defensive stance, the investigative actions were halted, and no property of the company’s clients was seized during the search.

A company manager, whose company participated in public procurement and was qualified as a tender winner, approached the firm. During the execution of construction work at the client’s site—a government agency—the investigators alleged that the company’s officials performed significantly less work than required. Law enforcement believed the amount of work done did not meet the tender documentation requirements, resulting in damages to the state budget exceeding 28,000,000 UAH.

Our Actions: Attorneys took a proactive stance. During the pre-trial investigation, a series of expert examinations were conducted, demonstrating that the volume of work performed fully matched the amounts indicated in the signed acceptance certificates. Attorneys participated in all investigative actions, represented the client’s interests during interrogations, and communicated with law enforcement agencies.

Result: The criminal case was closed due to the absence of a crime.

The “ARMADA” Law Firm was approached by a manager of a municipal institution in Kyiv, who received suspicion of committing a crime under Part 4 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which carries a penalty of imprisonment from five to eight years.

Our Actions: Attorneys developed an effective defense strategy, focusing on systematically countering all evidence presented by the prosecution. Specifically, they initiated repeat examinations, questioned witnesses, and compiled a robust evidentiary base that excluded any possibility of the client’s involvement in the crime.

Result: The client received an acquittal.