The RULG - Ukrainian Legal Group has taken a lead in advising Western companies as they begin to explore investment in the Russian and Ukrainian information-technology (also known as "high tech") sector. Recognized for their proficiency in this field, our attorneys have spoken at several conferences on Ukrainian legislation relating to information technology matters, most recently giving presentations at the:

• First Annual IT Conference held at the Embassy of Ukraine in Washington, D.C. on June 18, 2002, sponsored by the US-Ukraine Digital Alliance. Richard Smith delivered a presentation explaining Legal Aspects of IT Applications in Ukraine and participated in a panel discussion of Ukraine's prospects for foreign investment
• High-Tech Cooperation Forum held on February 21-22, 2002, in Kiev, Ukraine, where Richard Smith delivered a presentation on the legal aspects of some high-tech transactions in Ukraine. Mr. Smith's presentation from this conference is available in MS Word.

Our experience in advising clients on information technology matters includes:

• Advising one of Russia's leading web portal companies on Ukrainian customs legislation governing the import of information technology equipment into Ukraine
• Advising a major Internet provider operating in Ukraine, regarding obtaining antimonopoly consent for an acquisition of part of its shares by a Western investor
• Analyzing the prospects for establishing an internet-based commodities trading system for a major US commodities broker, to facilitate trade in Ukrainian steel exports
• Advising a fast-growing US software company on its development of a standard software licensing agreement for use in Ukraine and drafting a model agreement for this company's use
• Assisting several companies in registering their Internet domain names in Ukraine and in keeping such registrations current
• Assisting several companies in defending their rights to their registered Internet domain names when such are infringed upon
• Advised the Russian subsidiary of a U.S. corporation on U.S. federal and Maryland state law on the subjects of e-signatures and of requirements for registration and use of digital encryption programs
• Advised a U.S. corporation on the requirements for use of e-signatures under Ukrainian law in the course of investigating the possibility of including Ukraine in a worldwide system for online trading in commodities
• Advised a Russian Web services company and a major U.S. financial company regarding Ukrainian regulatory requirements for import of high technology items