Andrii Chornous

Andrii Chornous is the Managing Partner of Averites and a senior corporate and dispute resolution legal counsel qualified in New York, England & Wales and Ukraine. He advises companies, investors, founders and private clients on complex cross-border transactions, international arbitration, commercial litigation and strategic matters involving multiple legal systems.

Andrii’s practice combines transactional and contentious work. He has advised on M&A, venture capital and private investment transactions, corporate restructurings and shareholder arrangements, as well as major commercial and investment disputes. His arbitration experience includes proceedings under the ICC, LCIA, SCC, VIAC and other international rules, emergency arbitration, cross-border enforcement and disputes involving governments, investors and international businesses.

He has acted on matters spanning the United States, the United Kingdom, Ukraine and other jurisdictions, including high-value corporate and shareholder disputes, technology and venture capital investments, construction and infrastructure matters, asset recovery and enforcement. His experience allows him to approach transactions with an understanding of how contractual rights may ultimately be tested in litigation or arbitration, and disputes with a clear view of their underlying commercial structure.

Andrii holds a Magister Juris from the University of Oxford, an LL.M. from Stanford Law School and a PhD in Law from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb).

He has been recognised by The Legal 500 EMEA as a Next Generation Partner in Dispute Resolution and by Benchmark Litigation Europe. Andrii has also published and spoken on international arbitration, enforcement, asset recovery and cross-border legal issues.

• New York
• England & Wales
• Ukraine

• Stanford Law School, LL.M.
• University of Oxford, Magister Juris
• Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, PhD

The Legal 500 EMEA

• Next Generation Partner, Dispute Resolution / 2025
• Rising Star, Dispute Resolution / 2022–2024
• Recommended, Dispute Resolution & Private Client / 2021

Benchmark Litigation Europe

• Future Star, Central & Eastern Europe / 2025

Professional Memberships

• Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) / 2022
• Board Member, Oxford Alumni Association of New York

Publications & Speaking

• “Cooling-Off Period and Futility in Investment Arbitration” — Ukrainian Law Firms: A Handbook to Foreign Clients / 2022
• “Applicability of the Estoppel Principle by Ukrainian Courts” — CIS Arbitration Forum / 2020

Investment and Commercial Arbitration

• Stati & Ors v Republic of Kazakhstan & related proceedings (US$550m) – Acted as a global coordinating counsel for the investor in the SCC award recognition and enforcement proceedings against the Republic of Kazakhstan. Coordinated asset tracing and enforcement proceedings in Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the U.S. Successfully resisted counteroffensive measures in England, Gibraltar, and BVI, achieving successful settlement in 2024.
• Komaksavia Airport Invest Ltd v Republic of Moldova (EUR 883.7m) – Represented Komaksavia, a Cyprus investor, in a complex investor-state arbitration under the SCC Rules concerning the concession to operate the national airport. Secured emergency relief preventing the termination of a EUR 883.7m airport concession.
• LCIA arbitration proceedings for the debt recovery (US$100m) – In 2022, WFO was obtained in the High Court of Justice in England in support of the arbitral claim. Besides, a Chapter 15 Order was obtained from a Florida court and a process of broad discovery of financial transactions was fulfilled in the U.S. based on the Order. In 2023 it was defended. During 2023-2024 the arbitral award recognition and enforcement advisory work continues.
• LCIA arbitration in oil & gas sector (US$4m) – Acted as a co-counsel in an LCIA and coordinated parallel ICAC arbitration proceedings in Kyiv, Ukraine.
• VIAC arbitration in Vienna under the VIAC rules for over (US$20m) – Sole and lead counsel in a US$20m military procurement dispute under VIAC rules in Vienna. Conducted witness cross-examinations and advised on annulment proceedings in Austria following an unfavorable award.
• ICC arbitration in a cross-border supply dispute (US$3.5m) – Successfully represented a Ukrainian claimant in a Polish law ICC arbitration against a Polish debtor arising from the non-delivery of goods and failure to refund advance payments. Advised on recognition and enforcement in Poland and the State of Florida.
• SIAC arbitration in a venture capital and technology financing dispute (US$2.15m) – Acted as lead counsel for a U.S. VC investor in a Singapore-law SIAC arbitration arising from a SAFE, side letter and token warrant investment in a technology company. Secured emergency relief under the SIAC Rules restraining the company from proceeding with a proposed CLN and brought the matter to settlement.