Strategic Legal Support for Move One’s Operational Structuring in Ukraine

Client’s Situation

Move One’s growing workload in Ukraine, particularly in humanitarian logistics and time-critical transport services, demanded a comprehensive legal support system. The company needed to:

• Strengthen its local legal entity’s structure and governance protocols
• Obtain valid work and residence permits for its international managers and technical experts
• Secure necessary licenses and operational approvals to run logistics, customs, and warehousing services
• Formalize commercial relationships through enforceable contracts under Ukrainian law
• Stay ahead of wartime regulatory developments that affect labor, taxation, and licensing

To ensure continuity and efficiency, Move One required legal services that went beyond formal compliance—what it needed was an embedded partner with a strategic, real-time approach to Ukrainian law.

Problem

Move One’s expansion in Ukraine involved several legal complexities:

Immigration Challenges for Foreign Staff

International team members were critical to overseeing field operations. Ukrainian law requires non-citizens to hold both work permits and temporary residence permits, supported by compliant employment arrangements. Any discrepancies could result in rejection or processing delays.

Contractual Clarity for High-Pressure Operations

As a logistics provider working with government contractors and NGOs, Move One handles time-sensitive, high-liability shipments. Contracts needed to include clauses on performance standards, indemnities, dispute resolution, and liability caps—all tailored to Ukrainian legal enforceability.

Licensing for Regulated Activities

The company’s work in customs clearance, warehousing, and goods transport is tightly regulated. Permits and licenses are issued by separate agencies, each with its own procedures, document requirements, and risk of bureaucratic delay.

Constant Legal Flux Due to Wartime Legislation

Ukraine’s legal environment has become increasingly fluid. Emergency decrees, labor regulations, and changes to compliance timelines were being updated frequently. Legal risk had to be monitored and addressed proactively to avoid operational disruption.

Our Approach

Analysis

We began by auditing Move One’s local operations to determine legal gaps and compliance risks. This included reviewing corporate documents, immigration statuses, license histories, and existing contracts. From there, we developed a multi-phase plan to enhance legal security across all operational dimensions.

Strategy

Intermarium’s comprehensive legal roadmap focused on five key pillars:

1. Formalizing corporate governance under Ukrainian law
2. Facilitating immigration compliance for foreign employees
3. Obtaining and renewing operational permits for logistics and customs work
4. Drafting and aligning commercial agreements with Ukrainian enforcement standards
5. Implementing real-time legal monitoring to keep up with evolving regulations

Implementation

Corporate Structuring and Governance

• Updated the Ukrainian entity’s founding documents to reflect expanded operational scope
• Registered governance changes with state authorities and tax offices
• Ensured the internal control structure complied with both Ukrainian law and global group policies

Immigration Compliance

• Reviewed the legal status of each foreign staff member
• Submitted complete applications for work permits and temporary residence cards
• Translated, apostilled, and notarized all supporting documents
• Created bilingual employment agreements that met all statutory requirements and minimized risk

Licensing and Regulatory Engagement

• Applied for transport, warehousing, and customs-related authorizations
• Ensured licenses were matched to declared business activities and valid for the appropriate timeframes
• Coordinated directly with Ukrainian regulators to resolve processing delays or clarifications

Contractual Formalization

• Drafted supplier, subcontractor, and client contracts using Ukrainian civil law as the legal foundation
• Integrated clauses on delivery obligations, payment terms, force majeure, and arbitration venues
• Reviewed contracts in English and Ukrainian to ensure dual validity in cross-border engagements
• Adapted terms for humanitarian and defense-related partnerships involving foreign funders

Real-Time Compliance and Legal Oversight

• Built a compliance tracking dashboard for Move One’s HR and finance teams
• Issued legal updates on changes to labor codes, tax payment windows, and new emergency decrees
• Advised on adjustments to employment, insurance, and supplier practices to maintain compliance

Result

As a result of Intermarium’s legal support, Move One:

• Reinforced the legal structure of its Ukrainian company for long-term growth
• Successfully obtained and renewed immigration permits for its international team
• Gained the licenses required to perform complex logistics operations across Ukraine
• Entered into enforceable, transparent contracts with local and international stakeholders
• Set up a legal monitoring framework that ensures uninterrupted compliance with all wartime regulatory changes

Expert Commentary

“This was a textbook case of converting day-to-day activity into a legally solid infrastructure. We helped Move One transition from being operational in Ukraine to being operational with confidence—protected by a legal framework that adapts to risk.” — Senior Legal Counsel, Intermarium Law Firm

Conclusions

Move One’s collaboration with Intermarium shows how a company already active in Ukraine can dramatically improve its operational certainty through strategic legal structuring. Key takeaways include:

• Full legal audits help reveal hidden risks and gaps in compliance
• Bilingual contracts are essential for enforceability and clarity in cross-border work
• Immigration compliance is not one-size-fits-all; tailored solutions matter
• Real-time legal monitoring is a must in an environment shaped by rapid change

Through careful planning, expert execution, and proactive legal support, Move One is now operating in Ukraine not just efficiently—but confidently, with all key risks accounted for.

Submit a Request

Is your company already active in Ukraine and ready to take legal compliance and operational structure to the next level? Intermarium Law Firm specializes in supporting companies like yours with licensing, immigration, corporate governance, and legal continuity. Contact our team today to learn how we can support your next phase in Ukraine.