Beyond Borders.
Beyond Advisory.

The situation

Bettter is a first Ukrainian fashion brand built on upcycling – transforming pre-existing materials into new apparel. It is a 2023 LVMH Award winner, today sold in Harrods in London.

The company was ready to take its brand beyond Ukraine into EU and US markets. The business needed an international corporate and operations structure, a framework for cross-border employment, and legal rails for partnerships with major global fashion brands.

What we did

• Built international corporate and operations structure across Ukraine, UK, EU, and US
• Navigated tax complexities arising from multi-jurisdiction operations
• Structured international employment-related matters
• Advised on international partnerships and collaborations

The outcome

Today, Bettter sells across Europe and the United States, and collaborates with international brands including FILA, Gieves & Hawkes, and DSQUARED2.

The situation

The client, a Ukrainian high-net worth individual and business owner, needed to restructure his business interests and transfer assets worth £180 million across jurisdictions.

The transfer had to be executed in a way that avoided triggering UK capital gains tax – a complex exercise given the scale of assets involved and the interplay between UK and international tax regimes.

What we did

• Designed the restructuring plan across multiple jurisdictions
• Structured the asset transfer to ensure no UK capital gains exposure
• Coordinated the holding architecture to support the client’s ongoing business operations
• Managed the tax residence and reporting implications of the transfer
• Worked with the client’s other advisors to ensure seamless execution

The outcome

£180 million in assets transferred with zero UK capital gains tax. The restructured business continues to operate across jurisdictions with a holding architecture designed for long-term efficiency.

The situation

Bazhane, one of Ukraine’s most iconic and viral fashion brands, approached us with a clear goal in mind - launch online sales across the EU, and later open a flagship boutique in Europe.

What we did

• Built a supply chain, including all logistics from Ukraine to the distribution warehouse in Poland
• Structured export/import regulations
• Built legal framework for online store operations: opened legal entity in EU and the bank account
• Advised on corporate and indirect taxation
• Addressed compliance of the EU company
• Covered all legal aspects of stock management
• Addressed statutory bookkeeping requirements
• Structured the movement of goods and cashflow for EU operations together with Bazhane’s team

The outcome

A tax-efficient setup enabling seamless access to all 28 EU markets.

The situation

MA-KO is a Ukrainian IT company that had outgrown its original corporate structure. As the business expanded internationally, the existing setup created tax inefficiencies and operational friction across jurisdictions.

The company needed a new corporate and operational architecture that could support international growth while ensuring tax efficiency on retained profits.

What we did

• Analysed the existing corporate structure and identified inefficiencies
• Designed a new international holding and operational structure
• Structured the business to achieve 0% tax on retained profit
• Implemented the restructuring across multiple jurisdictions
• Ensured compliance with local regulatory requirements in each jurisdiction

The outcome

A fully restructured corporate and operational framework that supports MA-KO’s international operations with 0% tax on retained profit – freeing capital for reinvestment and growth.

The situation

A Ukrainian miltech company valued at €150 million was raising investment and needed to restructure its business and transfer ownership across jurisdictions before the fundraising could close.

The restructuring had to be done quickly, within the timeline of the financing deal, and on terms acceptable to both the investor and the client.

The defence sector adds layers of regulatory complexity – export controls, security clearances, and government approvals – on top of the standard corporate and tax challenges of cross-border restructuring. The tax treatment of a cross-border asset deal in this industry was also unclear, with no settled tax framework to rely on.

What we did

• Designed the pre-fundraising restructuring plan to accommodate defence sector regulatory requirements
• Delivered the restructuring on an accelerated timeline aligned with the fundraising process
• Balanced the interests of the investor and the client to reach a structure both sides accepted
• Worked through the unclear tax consequences and grey zone of the cross-border asset deal
• Structured the ownership transfer to achieve zero tax on the transition
• Built the holding architecture across multiple jurisdictions
• Navigated defence and miltech compliance requirements in each relevant jurisdiction
• Coordinated with the client’s team and external advisors for seamless execution

The outcome

A €150 million business successfully restructured ahead of its fundraising, with zero tax on the ownership transfer despite an unclear tax framework. The structure satisfied both the investor and the client, and the new holding architecture supports the company’s continued operations and growth in the defence and miltech sector across jurisdictions.

The situation

Poynto is a new hotel concept – a travel social hub designed for modern travellers who value connection over luxury. It is founded by Vasily Grogol, prominent Ukrainian hotelier and entrepreneur.

The company needed a corporate and tax structure for its very first location, and support through the investment process – from structuring the holding architecture to coordinating with local providers and communicating with investors.

What we did

• Designed the legal and tax structure for the first Poynto location
• Built the holding architecture to support the investment round and future expansion
• Supported Poynto through the investment process, including investor communications
• Coordinated with local providers across jurisdictions

The outcome

A launch-ready legal and tax structure for Poynto’s first location – to be announced soon – with the holding architecture in place to support the investment round and scale to future locations.

The situation

AtSchool is a Ukrainian distance educational institution with over a decade of experience delivering remote education. With a proven model at home, AtSchool decided to launch in the UK market – bringing its distance learning platform to British students and families.

The company needed a corporate and operational structure that would satisfy UK regulatory requirements for educational providers while maintaining tax efficiency across both jurisdictions.

What we did

• Designed the corporate structure for UK market entry
• Advised on regulatory requirements for distance education providers in the UK
• Structured the operational framework for cross-border educational service delivery
• Planned the tax architecture to support operations in both Ukraine and the UK
• Set up the UK entity and ensured compliance with local requirements

The outcome

AtSchool launched in the UK market with a compliant corporate structure, a clear regulatory framework, and a tax-efficient operational model – extending over 10 years of distance education expertise to a new market.

The situation

The client is a prominent Ukrainian fintech entrepreneur with a personal net worth of $200 million.

The client held an investment portfolio with a Swiss bank, through which they traded and generated income. The client benefited from a special UK tax regime under which their foreign income was not subject to UK tax: initially the non-dom regime, and subsequently the FIG (Foreign Income and Gains) regime.

Due to a potential change in the client’s tax regime, there was a risk that every item of income from the portfolio would become taxable under UK law on a worldwide basis. Depending on the asset class, the tax exposure could have ranged from 24% to 40%.

What we did

• Worked with the client’s bank and investment manager to restructure the portfolio
• Proposed a strategy for exiting the existing investment assets and transitioning into a new investment structure
• Designed a structure that allowed the client to retain the portfolio while receiving income with minimal UK tax consequences
• Created an opportunity for the client to receive part of the portfolio income tax-free
• Preserved the ability to receive portfolio income tax-free after a change in tax residence

The outcome

Significant savings achieved: the estimated tax exposure on this portfolio could have been approximately $450k per year.

The restructured portfolio allows the client to continue generating income with minimal UK tax impact, both under the current regime and in the event of a future change in tax residence.