Lobbying in Ukraine: Legal Boundaries, Professional Standards, and Practical Tools

On October 15, 2026, an open webinar titled “Lobbying: New Career Opportunities, Legal Boundaries, and Practical Tools” was held, organized by the Committee on Lobbying of the Ukrainian National Bar Association (UNBA). The speakers at the event were Valentina Tyutyunnik and Yulia Kopiyko—attorneys, lobbyists, and members of the UNBA Committee on Lobbying.

During the webinar, participants examined the legal requirements for engaging in lobbying activities, the specifics of obtaining the status of a lobbying entity, the rules for entering into contracts, reporting requirements, and liability for violations of the law. Special attention was paid to distinguishing between the practice of law and lobbying, as well as to the role of the professional community in shaping standards for this legal institution, which is new to Ukraine.

Lobbying as a Professional Activity: What Lawyers Need to Know

Valentyna Tiutiunnyk began her presentation by defining the key elements of lobbying. This refers to activities aimed at influencing—or attempting to influence—those involved in lawmaking for the commercial benefit of the beneficiary or for one’s own interests.

The purpose of lobbying is to promote the adoption, amendment, or repeal of a regulatory act in accordance with specific interests. An important principle in this regard is transparent interaction with lawmakers, rather than exerting behind-the-scenes influence on the decision-making process.

The Law of Ukraine “On Lobbying” took effect on September 1, 2025. Since then, the Transparency Registry, maintained by the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (NACP), has been in operation.

According to data presented during the webinar, as of September 2026, 207 lobbying entities were registered in the Transparency Registry, 107 of which were individuals. At the same time, according to the speaker, the National Agency for Corruption Prevention (NACP) has already drawn up reports on violations of lobbying laws and forwarded the relevant materials to the court.

These figures indicate a transition from an initial familiarization with the new legislation to the practical application of its provisions.

Does a lobbyist need a college degree?

One of the issues raised by Valentina Tyutyunnik was the absence in current legislation of a general requirement for individuals acquiring the status of a lobbying entity to have a college degree.

The speaker drew attention to the debate over the advisability of establishing qualification requirements for lobbyists. In particular, the professional community is discussing the possibility of introducing requirements for education and periodic professional training.

The Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association helped promote this position, in particular by submitting requests to government agencies and obtaining their views on possible legislative changes.

At the same time, the issue remains a matter of debate. Among the arguments in favor of qualification requirements are the complexity of rulemaking processes, the need for high-quality legal analysis, and the need for responsible representation of interests. Among the concerns are the risk of unduly restricting access to the profession, the lack of a defined list of specializations, and the fact that holding a degree does not in itself guarantee integrity.

According to Valentina Tyutyunnik, professional requirements should complement—not replace—transparency, accountability, and oversight of compliance with the law.

Legal Practice and Lobbying: How to Distinguish Between the Two Legal Regimes

A separate segment of the webinar focused on distinguishing between the practice of law and lobbying. According to Valentina Tyutyunnik, these activities have different legal bases, objectives, and rules governing their conduct.

The practice of law involves defending, representing, and providing legal assistance to clients. Lobbying, on the other hand, is aimed at influencing the adoption, amendment, or repeal of laws and regulations.

The requirements regarding the verification of status, contractual relationships, confidentiality, and liability also differ. In particular, lobbying activities require a separate contract for the provision of lobbying services, and the relevant information must be disclosed in accordance with legal requirements.

For attorneys who practice in both areas, this means they must clearly distinguish between the legal regimes, properly document their work, and take into account the limits of attorney-client privilege.

Three questions serve as a practical guide for determining the nature of an activity: what is the purpose of the work, who is the target audience, and what result is to be achieved. If the goal is to influence a regulatory act in the beneficiary’s interest or in one’s own interest, the activity may constitute lobbying.

The speaker also highlighted the risks of engaging in lobbying without the proper status. Improper delineation of activities can create not only legal risks but also reputational risks for the professional and their client.

Lobbying Strategy: From Interest Analysis to Legal Argumentation

Valentyna Tiutiunnyk presented a practical approach to developing a lobbying strategy. It involves systematically identifying the beneficiary’s interests, analyzing the regulatory framework, identifying the decision-makers, and preparing a well-reasoned position.

The main steps include:

• Defining the objective. What specific regulatory outcome is the beneficiary seeking to achieve: the adoption of a new law, the amendment of an existing one, or its repeal?
• Legal analysis. A review of legislation, existing barriers, procedures, and the authority of the relevant agencies.
• Stakeholder Analysis. Identifying individuals who make decisions, influence those decisions, or shape public opinion.
• Position Paper. Drafting a well-reasoned document that analyzes the problem, possible solutions, and recommendations.
• Communication. Choosing legitimate and transparent channels for interacting with entities involved in lawmaking.

A brief analytical report for government officials is an important tool. It should explain the essence of the proposed changes, justify their necessity, and demonstrate the benefits they can bring to the state and society.

The speaker emphasized that a lawyer-lobbyist’s strength lies primarily in legal argumentation, knowledge of procedures, and the ability to justify proposals. Effective lobbying should not be based on pressure, threats, concealment of interests, or manipulative influence on public opinion.

Lobbyist Status, Agreement, and Transparency Registry

Yulia Kopiyko devoted her presentation to the practical legal requirements for lobbying entities.

She noted that the status of a lobbying entity takes effect upon the entry of the relevant record in the Transparency Registry. Registration is carried out electronically using a qualified electronic signature. The law provides for the possibility of acquiring this status by both individuals and legal entities, provided that the established requirements and restrictions are met.

Yulia Kopiyko paid particular attention to the contract for lobbying services. To properly formalize the relationship between a lobbyist and a client, the document must specify the subject matter of the agreement, the beneficiary, the purpose of the lobbying, the compensation, the scope of services, and the procedure for resolving conflicts of interest.

A lobbyist’s compensation must be paid by non-cash means and may not be contingent on the achievement of a specific result, such as the passage of a particular bill. Payment is made for services rendered, not for a guaranteed decision by a government agency.

The speaker also noted the importance of clearly defining in the contract the procedure for reimbursing expenses related to the organization of meetings, conferences, roundtables, and other events.

According to Yulia Kopiyko, the NAAU Committee on Lobbying has been working on developing a model contract that takes legislative requirements into account and helps the parties properly regulate their relationship.

Reporting and Oversight: Transparency Requirements

An essential component of lobbying activities is submitting reports to the Transparency Registry. As Yulia Kopiyko explained, reports are submitted twice a year in electronic format—by January 31 and July 31, in accordance with the reporting periods established by law.

If a lobbyist has engaged in lobbying activities, the report must include the information required by law regarding contracts, communications with government officials, and expenses. Documenting these activities makes it possible to verify their content and ensure compliance with legal requirements.

The National Agency for Corruption Prevention (NACP) is responsible for enforcing compliance with lobbying regulations. The agency may conduct monitoring, respond to reports of possible violations, and take the measures provided for by law.

Among the risks are engaging in lobbying without registration, failing to meet reporting deadlines, and failing to comply with established restrictions regarding clients, beneficiaries, and sources of funding.

Yulia Kopiyko emphasized that proper documentation, timely reporting, and verification of compliance with legal requirements are essential conditions for a lobbyist’s professional work.

Conflict of Interest and Professional Responsibility

Another important issue was the need to prevent conflicts of interest. Such conflicts can arise, in particular, when a lobbyist represents clients with opposing positions on a single piece of legislation.

Under these circumstances, it is important to establish in advance mechanisms for identifying and resolving conflicts of interest, as well as to include the relevant procedures in the contract.

For attorneys who also engage in lobbying activities, this issue is of particular importance due to the need to comply with the rules of legal ethics, maintain attorney-client privilege, and meet the requirements for lobbying transparency.

Professional diligence, vetting clients and funding sources, proper documentation, and a clear distinction between the two types of activities help mitigate legal and reputational risks.

Professional Standards as the Foundation for the Development of the Lobbying Market

The webinar demonstrated that the development of the lobbying sector in Ukraine requires not only knowledge of the law but also the establishment of practical standards for professional conduct.

Valentyna Tiutiunnyk highlighted the prospects of a career as a lawyer-lobbyist and the importance of the professional community’s involvement in shaping rules and approaches to the work. Yulia Kopiyko emphasized the need to constantly monitor changes in legislation, comply with reporting requirements, and properly document contractual relationships.

For the Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association, key priorities remain the development of the professional community, participation in improving regulatory frameworks, and the dissemination of practical knowledge about lawful mechanisms for representing interests.

The development of transparent and professional lobbying practices is an important prerequisite for trust in this institution and for effective cooperation between the business community, professional associations, and government authorities.