Next week, a Ukrainian delegation is traveling to the United States to discuss a renewed agreement on the extraction of minerals, including rare earth metals. Although the names of the participants have not yet been officially announced, there is reason to believe that the law firm Redcliffe Partners, one of the most influential players in the field of strategic legal support on the verge of public-private partnerships, may play a key role in the negotiations.
Redcliffe Partners is not just a Ukrainian law firm. It is the successor to the Kyiv office of international giant Clifford Chance, which once had a significant presence in key projects in Eastern Europe. Since 2015, Redcliffe has been operating independently, but maintains strong ties with Western financial institutions.
The firm has long been advising international banks, government agencies, and multinational corporations. High-profile cases include participation in Ukrainian public debt restructuring projects and investments in the energy sector in partnership with such giants as Rothschild & Co and Alvarez & Marsal.
Redcliffe’s leaders, Oleksiy Soshenko and Dmytro Fedoruk, both have experience working at Clifford Chance and hold influential positions in the legal market. Both are figures who have participated in high-profile transactions – in particular, in the Naftogaz and Ukreximbank cases. Their expertise covers complex financial structures, international law and investment support at a strategic level.
If Redcliffe is indeed involved in the negotiations, this could be a strategic signal. Ukraine is demonstrating its willingness to negotiate in formats that are understandable to global investors. The involvement of a “neutral” advisor with a Western reputation could serve as a guarantee of transparency, legal clarity, and protection of the interests of both parties.
In an environment where interest in Ukrainian rare earth resources from the US is only growing, the format of legal support may become as important a factor as the very essence of the agreements.
