On May 19, 2025, the UBA Committee on Civil, Family and Inheritance Law held an online event titled “Divorce: Cross-Jurisdictional Disputes.” The event became a significant professional forum for lawyers, attorneys, judges, and legal experts working in the field of family law, particularly those dealing with divorce cases involving parties residing in different countries or holding different citizenships.

The discussion was moderated by Olena Sibirceva, Chair of the Committee, Counsel at AGA Partners, and practicing attorney at law. Among the distinguished speakers were Olga Stupak, Judge of the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court of Ukraine; Yurii Nekliaiev, Deputy Chair of the Committee and Counsel at Asters; and Olga Lepikhina, attorney at law and member of the Committee’s Board. Each speaker delivered an in-depth analysis, addressing both theoretical frameworks and practical challenges encountered in real-world litigation.

The event provided an opportunity to examine a wide range of critical issues practitioners face in cross-border divorce proceedings. Among the topics that sparked particular interest were:

• key matters to clarify during the initial client consultation;
• steps to take when one or both spouses live abroad;
• legal grounds and procedural nuances of initiating proceedings in Ukrainian or foreign courts.

Special attention was given to determining competent jurisdiction, the applicability of foreign forums, the role of international treaties, and the principles of mutual recognition of court decisions. The phenomenon of forum shopping—when a party strategically selects a jurisdiction likely to deliver a more favorable outcome—was also actively discussed as a potential abuse of rights.

The event attracted a broad audience, from seasoned professionals to junior practitioners seeking to deepen their expertise in international family law. Participants praised the high professional standard of the discussion, the practical value of the insights shared, and the importance of such initiatives for the Ukrainian legal community.

The Ukrainian Bar Association extends its sincere gratitude to the speakers and all participants for their active engagement and interest in developing meaningful, practice-oriented dialogue in the legal field—particularly relevant in the context of globalization, increased migration, and the growing number of cross-border marriages and disputes.