28 June 2023
Partnership | Poland
Gide Warsaw is a partner of the programme United Business for Ukraine (Zjednoczony Biznes dla Ukrainy), carried out as part of the United Nations Global Compact Network Poland. As part of the initiative, the firm's lawyers will provide invaluable pro bono legal support to entities involved in humanitarian assistance to victims of Russian aggression against Ukraine.
The United Business for Ukraine programme was started by the UN Global Compact Network Poland in March 2022 as a direct response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Ukraine. It aims to mobilise the private sector and foster cooperation between businesses, NGOs and other key humanitarian stakeholders.
The initiative implements long-term aid projects for victims of war, including psychological support for the residents of the town of Bucha, educational support for Ukrainian children and young people in Poland, as well as assistance with finding accommodation for Ukrainian refugees.
The programme also includes pro bono legal support for businesses, as well as associations and foundations involved in or related to providing humanitarian aid or countering the effects of the war in Ukraine, offered through the United Legals for Ukraine project, of which Gide Warsaw is a member.
“Since the first days of the war, thanks to the invaluable help of many businesses, we have provided vital assistance to the refugees fleeing the war. From the beginning, however, we knew that we faced a huge challenge in setting up a system of long-term assistance. Through the dedication of our team and companies like Gide Warsaw, we are steadily expanding the scope of the United Business for Ukraine programme, conducting both relief efforts and mobilising business to be involved in rebuilding the war-ravaged Ukraine,” said Kamil Wyszkowski, Executive Director, UN Global Compact Network Poland, UNOPS Representative in Poland.
As part of the initiative, the firm's lawyers will provide pro bono support in various areas, including company law, data protection, IT and new technologies, e-commerce, real estate and construction investments, banking and finance (including AML), taxation, state aid, infrastructure, life sciences and labour law.
“Since the beginning of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, our team has been actively involved in providing legal, material and logistical assistance to the victims of the war. We hope that, by continuing our cooperation with the United Nations Global Compact Network Poland and working with other law firms within the framework of the United Legals for Ukraine programme, we will be able to provide the most comprehensive support possible to those involved in humanitarian efforts in Ukraine,” commented Paweł Grześkowiak, partner at Gide.
Gide Warsaw’s lawyers will also co-author the second edition of the 'United Business for Ukraine' report, which will present the activities implemented so far and set out plans for the reconstruction of Ukraine.