W4UA Summit 2024

Mr. Serhiy Koledov was born on July 03,1974.

Mr. Koledov graduated and received his masters degree in international law from the Institute of International Relations of Kyiv National Taras Shevchenko University.

Serhiy Koledov joined diplomatic service in 2002, having worked at different posts at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

In 2002-2025 – Attaché, Third Secretary, Second Secretary, Treaty and Legal Directorate, MFA of Ukraine.

In 2005-2009 Mr. Koledov was posted as Second Secretary at the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In 2009-2011 – First Secretary, Treaty and Legal Directorate, MFA of Ukraine.

In 2011-2015 Mr. Koledov was posted as served as Consul of the Consulate General of Ukraine in Chicago.

In 2015-2020 – Head of Division, Deputy Director General, Directorate for International Law, MFA of Ukraine.

Serhiy Koledov was appointed Consul General of Ukraine in Chicago in July 30, 2020.

Mr. Koledov holds diplomatic rank of Counselor of the First class.

 

 

Anna Zorya is a Ukrainian law-qualified attorney-at-law and a partner in the corporate department of Rymarz Zdort Maruta.

A specialist in corporate law and M&A, she has worked on transactions for clients from various sectors, including agriculture, TMT, IT and real estate. She has provided comprehensive support for M&A transactions, including due diligence, transaction structuring, preparation of transactional documents, developing an effective corporate structure, and corporate support of company activities.

She graduated from the Faculty of Law of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv in 2001 and completed a course of professional education of Kutafin Moscow State Law University (MSAL). She qualified as an attorney-at-law in 2019. Prior to joining the law firm, she worked as a corporate and M&A partner at one of the leading Ukrainian law firms.

She is ranked as a well-regarded practitioner by such directories as IFLR 1000 (2019-2020), Who’s Who Legal (2019-2021), Chambers Global (2019-2021), The Legal 500 (2019-2021), and Best Lawyers (2019-2021, 2022).

 

Roman Brytanchuk (@roman_brytanchuk” target=”_blank” title=”https://www.instagram.com/roman_brytanchuk/”>@roman_brytanchuk”>https://www.instagram.com/roman_brytanchuk/”>@roman_brytanchuk) is Chief Fundraising and Partnership Officer at SpivDiia Charity Foundation. @spivdiia” target=”_blank” title=”https://www.instagram.com/spivdiia/”>@spivdiia”>https://www.instagram.com/spivdiia/”>@spivdiia is one of the leading charity foundations in Ukraine, that has provided support to 2.5M+ war-affected and vulnerable Ukrainians since 2022. Due to its network of regional hubs (support centers) across Ukraine and an tech driven approach the Foundation successfully unify the country’s needs with opportunities for assistance, coordinating the efforts of volunteers, businesses, donors, INGOs, government and local authorities, all aimed at developing self-sufficiency among Ukrainians and facilitating positive changes in Ukraine. The Foundation is verified by CAF America, American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, European Business Association and others.

With 19 years of experience in fundraising, strategy development and event/project management, Roman consults and provides strategy sessions for different customers in social and business fields. Furthermore, he is a speaker and mentor of different programs in fundraising and investments for NGOs and SMB in Ukraine. Roman is passionate about impact investments, innovations and opportunity management, so you will be able to hear his valuable insights at the conference💡

 

Bethany Waggoner is CORE Director of Global Program Development, leading efforts to design and resource programming that empowers communities in and beyond crisis to respond to the devastating impacts of climate change, inequality in health access, and humanitarian emergencies. With a decade of experience in the international development sector working in Latin America and the Middle East, Bethany brings a background in business development, program management, and reporting to inform CORE’s program design and resource mobilization strategies for country programs in Sudan, Ukraine, Haiti, and the United States. Bethany has a Master of Public Administration in Development Practice from the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) at Columbia University in The City of New York and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Winthrop University.

Polish intermedia artist, designer, author of innovative projects in the field of architecture, landscape architecture and interior design, performer, graphic designer, photographer, scenographer sculptor, creator of video and semi-and interactive installations, including multi-sensory, site-specific and public space structures. Curator, author of projects in the field of multimedia, graphic design, exhibition displays based on new technologies (AR, VR, AI, holography, immersion).

He is implementing an original project, in cooperation with architects from Ukraine, RED CROSS MED CENTER – a network of diagnostic and therapeutic facilities in Ukraine.

Winner of numerous awards in Poland and abroad for interdisciplinary work combining new technologies and architecture, among others: First Degree Award of the Minister of Construction „For Outstanding Creative Achievements in the Field of Architecture and Construction” for the completed design of the Polish Pavilion at the World Expo 2005, Aichi, Japan (with Ingarden; Evy Architekci), SARP 2005 Award of the Year, Special Award of the President of the City of Krakow in the SARP Krakow „Project of the Year 2004 – Realization of the Year 2004” competition, First Prize in the SARP Project of the Year 2004 competition, Honorable Mention in the REFE Orły 2005 competition for the Polish Pavilion Expo 2005 investment, First Prize in the international competition ContractWorld 2007 (Hanover, Germany) in the category „Exhibition Spaces”, Museum Event of the Year 2016 „Sibylla” for the Pavilion J. Czapski o. National Museum in Krakow (permanent exhibition), Sybilla 2016 Museum Event of the Year and special EMYA European Museum of the Year Award 2022 for the multimedia Copernicus Museum in Torun, awarded in a nationwide competition for a unique realization in the superfluous fabric of the city, honored with the title Modernization of the Year Construction of the 21st Century 2022 for the KTO Theater building in Krakow. Author of innovative concepts in the spirit of NEB: Wesoła Hub, Red Cross Med Center, HHous and Aqua Haus.

Director of public space and hybrid actions, including paratheatrical and technology-based large-format projections, mapping and multi-channel zonal sound. Founder of HiQ Formation and Big Data Collective. President of AYA Found, creator of: Kultura Futura Forum, ePOLIS International Kultura Futura Biennale and Creative Industry Platform. Owner of Gallery i! , Pharmacy Janicki Gallery, PerForm. Long-time lecturer at the Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow. His works are in collections in Europe, Asia, North America. He regularly exhibits in Japan.

Since 2022 AYA FOUND supports refugee populations, is engaged in education and promotion of Ukrainian culture. Exhibits in Ukraine (2023-24) supporting the international center in Świrz Castle in cooperation with the National Association of Architects of Ukraine.

www: swit.kulturafutura.eu, aptekagallery.com, kulturafutura.pl, alekjanicki.eu, performspace.eu, hiq.com.pl

 

Eveline Buchatskiy has 10+ years of experience working with fast-growing startups. She is the founding Managing Partner at D3, a seed stage fund dedicated to defense startups that Dare to Defend Democracy. The fund has a portfolio of hardware and software technologies currently in use in the battlefield by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Eveline was part of the leadership team at Ukrainian unicorn tech company airSlate, CEO for ultracapacitor startup APCT, and media company Ekonomika. Prior to entering the startup world, Eveline had a decade of chemical engineering experience with a global leader in industrial gases. She holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from UC Berkeley, an MS in Engineering from University at Buffalo, and an MBA from INSEAD.

@spivdiia” target=”_blank” title=”https://www.instagram.com/spivdiia/”>@spivdiia”>https://www.instagram.com/spivdiia/”>@spivdiia is one of the leading charity foundations in Ukraine, that has provided support to 2.5M+ war-affected and vulnerable Ukrainians since 2022. The SpivDiia Charity Foundation is dedicated to providing integrated services with the mission of empowering Ukrainians to become self-sufficient. Through its ecosystem of support, SpivDiia fosters social engagement by offering legal assistance, career counseling, psychological services, programs for post-traumatic recovery and educational catch-up for children, and volunteer opportunities, all aimed at strengthening social bonds and supporting Ukraine’s recovery.


Anna Biloshapka is a development expert with 7 years of experience in management. As Chief Development Officer at SpivDiia Charity Foundation, she specializes in strategic growth, fundraising, and building impactful partnerships. Anna’s experience spans working with international organizations, Ukrainian NGOs, government institutions, and the educational and agricultural sectors. She is passionate about talent management, social entrepreneurship, and non-profit innovations. Her efforts were also recognised by the President of Ukraine in 2022 from whom she received the honour of “Gold Heart of Ukraine.”

 

Brock D. Bierman is President and CEO of Ukraine Focus, a Washington, DC based 501c3 humanitarian organization committed to working directly with communities across Ukraine to meet urgent assistance needs through direct cooperation and collaboration with Ukrainian local, state and federal authorities.

Prior to helping found Ukraine Focus, Bierman established the Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Light Up Ukraine and Playgrounds4Peace programs. Bierman has personally organized and led 13 missions to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s brutal full-scale invasion to deliver urgently needed humanitarian supplies to communities across Ukraine.

A recognized leader, Bierman has served two Presidents, most recently as the Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Bureau for Europe and Eurasia, and was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 21, 2017, by unanimous consent. Bierman also served three terms in the Rhode Island House of Representatives, where he cultivated strong bipartisan support, received public recognition for extraordinary ethical integrity and accountability, and delivered responsive constituent services.

Bierman remains a dedicated community leader, with an extensive history of service to various boards and commissions. A native of Rhode Island, Bierman received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Bowling Green State University in Ohio.

David Brooks leads Global Empowerment Mission’s partnerships with UN Clusters in Ukraine and some of the UN agencies like International Organization for Migration (IOM). This includes data sharing, coordination and co-planning within clusters. Prior to working with GEM, David has worked in rapid aid deployment to Hurricanes Irma, Maria, Michael, the Haiti Earthquake, Afghan Refugee Camp construction, and in various roles at 5 Olympic Games including starting off as an assistant to the Ukrainian team at the Atlanta Olympics.

 

Jax Harrison is an Angel Investor, and the Founder and Executive Director of The Future Found, a pioneering Public Benefit Corporation focused on responsible innovation and impactful investments. With a unique blend of business acumen and a deep commitment to societal good, Jax leads The Future Found in investing in cutting-edge technologies and early-stage companies that create both financial returns and societal benefits, to safeguard the future and provide protection for at-risk populations.

Drawing from hands-on experience in crisis response, Jax’s team played a critical role during the Ukraine-Russia conflict, deploying The Future Foundations Rapid Response for Refugees program within 48 hours after the conflict began at the Ukraine-Polish border. This initiative provided essential humanitarian support, security, and technology, impacting over 1.4 million lives.

This experience significantly shaped the organization’s approach to investing in scalable solutions that protect and empower vulnerable populations, including children, women, and refugees.

The organization also blends investment with philanthropy, with their charity The Future Foundation which aims to provide those at risk a lifecycle of safety and the opportunity for prosperity.

Jax’s work extends to advising governments, including the UK and Ukrainian governments, on technology, anti-child and human trafficking, child safety, on and offline harms, technology, technology in crisis situations, strategies for rapid response during humanitarian emergencies, anti-human trafficking, and how kindness can make an impact. She has also spoken in the UK House of Commons and House of Lords

Jax is known for building strong partnerships between the public and private sectors, aligning with global goals like the UN Sustainable Development Goals and collaborating closely with stakeholders in Europe, the UK, and the USA. Jax believes that the movement of capital through strategic investments is imperative to economic growth to support critical infrastructure and humanitarian needs in post conflict regions to make a future more equitable for all.

 

Clara M. Martins is a legal and compliance expert with significant experience in high finance, international business development, and investment opportunities between Latin America and Ukraine. As a key representative of the Brazil Ukraine Chamber of Commerce and a founder of the Ukraine-Latam Initiative, Clara has been instrumental in fostering cross-border partnerships and driving business growth between these regions. With her deep understanding of international markets, she provides valuable insights into navigating complex economic environments. Additionally, she is the founder of BRAVA – Brazilian Volunteering Aid, recognized for its humanitarian work in Ukraine.

Dina Wild is a Coordinator of EduHub in Chicago in the Refugee Resettlement Initiative (RRI) at the National Association of Higher Education Systems (NASH), helping Ukrainian immigrants to maintain their lives through education. Also, she is Founder and Director of the Diagonal Solutions, LLC where she manages Diagonal Math School or middle school level to university level students from Ukraine studying across the world.

She started her career in education in the East of Ukraine when launched Diagonal Tutor Centers for local students from preschool to high school levels, a business that helped more than 500 students to prepare and enter the Universities in Ukraine and abroad. As a part of the Board she collaborated with Fundacja Central European Academy Studies and Certifications supporting access to higher education all over Europe for Ukrainian students.

Later, Dina worked as a Head of Educational and Certification Center in Kozyavkin International Rehabilitation Clinic for children with cerebral palsy in Truskavets, Lviv Region, Ukraine, organizing special courses of Kozyavkin Rehabilitation Method for doctors from Middle East countries.

At the moment Dina is an active member of the Ukrainian community in Chicago and is involved in many events and projects that help to learn more about Ukrainian culture and history, also in advocacy and representation.

Eva is a recognized leader in the field of translation and European citizenship. She regularly presents and lectures at conferences, universities and training institutions on language services, cultural awareness and history. She is the founder of Polaron and plays an active role in the company’s global development. Previous positions include management and operations in a telecommunications company and management of a local government department for the elderly and disabled. Over the years, Eva has made a huge contribution to the translation and interpreting industry and to the Polish and Jewish communities worldwide. In 2022, Eva was appointed Honorary Consul of the Republic of Austria in Victoria, Australia.

A conqueror of the poles and founder of Life Plan Academy and Kaminski Academy, organizations supporting mental resilience in children and adults. A mentor, entrepreneur, and discoverer of human potential. He has completed over 80 extreme expeditions. As the first person in the world, he reached both poles of the Earth within a single year without external assistance, earning a place in the Guinness Book of Records. Among other achievements, he reached the poles with a disabled 15-year-old Jasiek Mela, proving that nothing is impossible. He inspires hundreds of thousands of people in Poland and around the world through books, films, podcasts, webinars, and coaching programs.

Graham Weihmiller is the CEO of Pioneer Equity Partners – a world-class investment firm focused on making equity investments into a handful of organizations that have the unique opportunity to transform their respective industries. Previously, Mr. Weihmiller was the CEO of BNI, the world’s largest referral networking organization with operations in 77 countries supporting over 325,000 businesses that recently generated over $24 billion USD in revenue from their membership in BNI in a 12-month period. Graham also serves as a Director of the BNI Foundation, which helps underprivileged children access educational opportunities throughout the world. Graham was previously the CEO of a 35-year-old homecare company with locations across the US, and worked in leadership roles with American Franchise Company, Bank of America, and Merrill Lynch. Earlier in his career, he spent time at JP Morgan, Booz Allen Hamilton, and the White House in Washington, DC. Graham received his MBA from Harvard Business School and his BBA cum laude from The College of William & Mary. He has done extensive executive education with Harvard Business School in Boston, Mumbai, and online, and is a two-time participant in executive training from Johnson & Johnson’s Human Performance Institute. He is a Certified Franchise Executive, a Six Sigma Blackbelt, and a Certified Senior Advisor. He was elected to the board of the International Franchise Association (IFA) in 2020 and reelected for a second term in 2024. He is an active member of YPO and speaks frequently on entrepreneurship, franchising, and operational excellence. He has participated in seminars and panels at Harvard University, Stanford University and Georgetown University. In 2020, along with Dr. Ivan Misner and Robert Skrob, he wrote The Connector Effect, which became a best seller on Amazon. Originally from Virginia, Graham lives with his family in North Carolina. He is a three-time Ironman triathlete, a marathoner, and has summited Mt. Kilimanjaro. He and his wife – a pediatric emergency room doctor – are active members of their church, enjoy movie time with their three children, playing with their two German Shepherds and two cats, camping trips in the Carolina mountains, and traveling throughout the world.

Ukrainian Medical Association of North America (UMANA)

President, Ukrainian Congress Committee of America-Illinois (UCCA-IL)

Dr. Mariya Dmytriv-Kapeniak is a practicing physician and global health professional. Mariya was born in Ukraine and immigrated to Chicago in her mid 20s, her extensive clinical and public health experience derives from practicing medicine in unique and enriching environments ranging from the highly academic setting of the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine to extremely rural and underserved areas in the US and abroad.

Since the full scale war in Ukraine started, Dr.Dmytriv-Kapeniak started working with several medical and humanitarian relief projects aimed to help victims of war. Currently she is elected president of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, Illinois Division, co-founder of the Humanitarian Relief project with Ukrainian Medical Association of North America, appointed member of the New American Advisory Council with the city of Chicago and a board member of Selfreliance Association – the largest community organization helping newly arrived war refugees.

Outside of work and activism Mariya enjoys spending time with family and friends, exploring nature and traveling.

 

Roman Nikitov is a partner at ICU Ventures, the venture capital arm of ICU group, an independent multi-strategy investment firm that specialises in emerging and frontier markets.

ICU Ventures is one of Ukraine’s largest venture funds. Since 2018, the fund has made over 30 investments.

Roman is also a board member of the Ukrainian Venture Capital Association (UVCA) and the founder of the Polish-Ukrainian special situations fund – United Heritage.

Iuliia Markhel is a Ukrainian environmental activist with 22 years of experience. She is best known as the leader of „Let’s Do It Ukraine” and a founding member of the global movement „Let’s Do It World”, which organizes „World Cleanup Day” in 211 countries. Iuliia is also the founder of the youth organization „School Recycling World”, which has united over 500,000 students from all regions of Ukraine. As a researcher of ecological disasters in Ukraine, she was one of the first to discuss the impact of the war on the environment and the consequences of the Kakhovka HPP explosion on June 6, 2023. Iuliia has worked extensively in de-occupied and frontline areas, bringing her significant experience working with both adults and children affected by the war in Ukraine.

@Jmarkhel” target=”_blank” title=”https://www.instagram.com/jmarkhel/’>@Jmarkhel”>https://www.instagram.com/jmarkhel/’>@Jmarkhel

Olha Lykova serves as the Mental Health and Sponsorship Coordinator at the Selfreliance Association in Chicago, IL. The organization’s mission is to support Ukrainian immigrants seeking refuge in the USA due to the war in Ukraine, as well as the broader Ukrainian-American community.

Olha brings a wealth of experience to this role, having previously held positions such as Project Manager at Luxoft, a global technology company, and Project Manager at the Ukrainian Corporate Governance Academy (UCGA), an educational institution for professionals at various management levels in Ukrainian companies. Additionally, she has served as a researcher and analyst at HCM International, a Swiss-based consulting firm specializing in corporate governance and remuneration.

Olha’s qualifications extend to teaching and translation, and she holds a master’s degree in international intermediation.

As a co-founder of MITS Capital LLC, Perry Boyle is working to bring capital to the Ukrainian defense industry. MITS Capital owns MITS Accelerator for Ukrainian defense tech startups and is the sponsor of MITS Lightning Fund, which invests in Seed to Series A rounds in Ukrainian defense companies.

Mr. Boyle is the Chair of The Board of Directors at The BOMA Project (BOMA.ngo),a nonprofit organization that empowers women, youth, and displaced persons in the drylands of Africa to overcome extreme poverty and climate change.

Prior to founding MITS Capital, Mr. Boyle spent 35 years in investment banking and asset management.  He co-founded Thomas Weisel Partners,, led global teams, and provided research and strategic insights to offer consulting services to investment banks, family offices, and asset management companies.  For fifteen years, he helped lead the growth of SAC/Point 72 as the head of long/short investing.

Mr. Boyle holds an MA in International Relations from The Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, an MBA from Dartmouth College, an AB in Economics from Stanford, a PG Cert in Security Studies from King’s College London, and a CFA designation. He has lectured on investing and ethics at leading universities and participated in international security dialogues.

Kamil Czyż is a graduate of the Jagiellonian University in Cracow (European Relations) and the University of Rzeszów (English and Russian Philology); Head of the Department of the City Brand, Economic Cooperation and Tourism, responsible for international relations, investor service, tourist promotion.

Co-founder of various initiatives in the municipality, incl. Rzeszów is Us and International Aerospace Cities Network.

During the war crisis in Ukraine, responsible for overall cooperation with all international partners in Rzeszów, including UN agencies, NGOs, diplomats, media. Also in charge of the humanitarian aid distribution.

Participant of World Bank Housing and Urban Recovery Knowledge Exchange in Japan on Urban Crises.

Speaks fluent Polish, English and Russian.

 

Mark Kehaya is a founding Partner of UAF, LLC.  He has over 34 years of investment and operating experience.  In 2002, Mr. Kehaya co-founded Meriturn Partners, LLC, a lower/middle-market private-equity firm focused on investing in control positions of distressed companies.  Meriturn completed 10 transactions and invested over $150 million of debt and equity capital.  In 2010, Mr. Kehaya was asked by the Board of Alliance One International, Inc (AOI) to help lead the turnaround (as Chairman & CEO) of the $2 billion revenue agricultural processing and trading company.   AOI had extensive operations in Eastern Europe, Africa, S. America and Asia.  As part of its operations, AOI contracted with over 200,000 farmers and provided such farmers with inputs to improve their yield and incomes.  Early in his career, Mr. Kehaya was responsible for building a tobacco-processing factory in Eastern Europe.  Mr. Kehaya has served on the board of several private companies including Chairman of Dunn Paper (a Meriturn Partners’ portfolio company), and Wayne Farms, a leading vertically integrated poultry company (#6 in the United States).

Liana Khorovytska is CORE Ukraine Country Director, where she actively cultivates high-level partnerships, engages with national government and local authorities, and collaborated closely with UN agencies, international partners, and other key stakeholders. With extensive experience in humanitarian support and invaluable local knowledge, Liana’s voice has been critical in informing donors of the often-shifting priorities in Ukraine, focusing on emergency demand-driven response in the East and South and long-term support in the West of the country. Liana holds a Master in International Law from the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.

Kateryna Savytska is a psychotherapist with over 7 years of practical experience. Since the outbreak of the full scale invasion, she has concluded more than 3.000 hours of psychological assistance to Ukrainian refugees. As a member and representative of the National Psychological Association of Ukraine, she specializes in helping people affected by war and studies the impact of collective traumas on family structures.

Nazarii Volianskyi is an expert in communications and public relations, with a focus on government relations, strategic communication, and investment promotion. In 2023, he was appointed as Head of the International Relations and Communications Department at UkraineInvest, where he developed strategies to raise the agency’s profile in European and US markets, and attracted private capital for Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction. He has worked closely with global media outlets, securing more than 500 international media contacts, and coordinated campaigns to promote investment in Ukraine.

Previously, Volianskyi served as Director of Corporate Communications at the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where he elevated the chamber’s brand domestically and internationally. With over 10 years of experience in journalism, he has worked as an editor for leading Ukrainian TV channels and created the English-language project Spotlight Ukraine to highlight the country’s wartime economic situation.

Volianskyi holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from Ivan Franko National University and is pursuing a PhD at the same institution. He has also completed a Foreign Direct Investment program at the Moller Institute, Cambridge.

 

Contact

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nazarii-volianskyi/” target=”_blank” title=”https://www.linkedin.com/in/nazarii-volianskyi/”>https://www.linkedin.com/in/nazarii-volianskyi/”>https://www.linkedin.com/in/nazarii-volianskyi/”>https://www.linkedin.com/in/nazarii-volianskyi/

 

Andrew J. Futey is the President of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), the largest umbrella organization representing over 2 million Ukrainian-Americans. He also serves as Vice-President of the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) having been re-elected in October 2023. In June 2002, the government of Ukraine appointed him as Honorary Consul of Ukraine for the states of Ohio and Kentucky, a position he currently serves.

Professionally, Futey is President of Andrew J. Futey & Associates, a public policy firm and brings more than 30 years of extensive government and campaign experience. He provides public policy and government relations consulting, strategic planning, public affairs and campaign development strategies at the international, federal, state and local levels

In September 2023, he was awarded the Order of Merit, Second Degree, by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He was also awarded in August 2021, the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In August 2018, he was awarded the Order of Merit by President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine for his personal significant contribution to advancing the image of Ukraine and to strengthening the U.S.-Ukraine bilateral relations.

Richard Walawender is a senior partner at the international law firm “Miller Canfield”. He specializes in corporate law and leads the firm’s international practice. He represents many Polish and foreign clients doing business in the U.S. and many companies doing business in Poland and other countries. His practice specialties include mergers and acquisitions, corporate and commercial law, export controls, financing, real estate development, start-ups, international transactions and joint ventures.

He acts as general counsel to domestic and international companies, and has been the lead attorney on numerous multinational M&A transactions for clients, including companies in the automotive, manufacturing and defense industries, as well as for technology start-up companies and investors. He frequently advises clients and lectures on outbound and inbound investment structuring and strategies, international joint ventures and strategic alliances, as well as FCPA, CFIUS, CTA, export controls, and other cross-border issues.

He co-founded the firm’s three Polish offices in 1991 and its affiliation in Ukraine. Since 2018, he also has been serving as the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland in Detroit. Richard received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and his law degree from the University of Michigan School of Law.