Former PwC Man Dmytro Trut Becomes Partner at Everlegal

Last week Everlegal announced that Dmytro had become a partner in the White Collar Crimes practice, despite the fact that partnership was never an end in itself for him. We recorded a short blitz interview with him about this and that.

Dima Gadomsky: I think the first question civilized people should begin any somewhat intellectual conversation with is: what’s your zodiac sign and why?

Dmytro Trut: Scorpio, born in the Year of the Dragon. I should at least be eligible for the Prime Minister’s chair.

D.H.: If we trust LinkedIn, your professional life abruptly stopped in 2023. Your last role was head of the White-Collar Crimes practice at PwC. Tell us what mysterious events occurred after that and why you didn’t inform your attentive followers on LinkedIn?

D.T.: The natal charts said it was time to rest and take a break. In reality nothing stopped — I don’t use social media and I don’t publicize everything. I simply focused on many personal projects related to WCC, tax litigation and military matters. In particular, I began active cooperation with Everlegal as an external freelance advisor, was involved in certain investment projects, and continued teaching at NaUKMA. It was a busy and active period.

By the way, here’s an interview we recorded with Dima in 2021, when he moved from Arzinger to PwC.

And things went so well off the payroll that they offered you a staff position as a partner. Payroll partner, I hope?

That’s their decision and responsibility) Yes, the collaboration proved effective and productive. It worked out well financially for me and the partners) and also allowed us to be useful to clients. But partnership was never an end in itself for me. It is, first and foremost, an obligation. I have always valued freedom more.

Was WCC a new practice for Everlegal when you joined?

No. Oleksandr Ruzhytskyi and Andrii Porayko laid a solid foundation.

There’s huge competition in this field. For example, Legal500 lists 47 firms in the WCC section. That’s the fourth-largest category by number of firms (corporate is first with 55). International trade is last with 17. It’s one way to gauge how red the ocean of competition is, but that’s what there is. You’re in Legal500 in the fourth band alongside Baker McKenzie. What’s your plan for surviving and fighting from the bottom of this ultra-competitive market?

Rankings aren’t always an objective reflection of reality. Self-promotion skill plays a significant role. In our portfolio are some of the largest cases, including under Art. 212 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine; we have gathered a good, professional and driven team. We have a strong reputation for resolving business problems within criminal proceedings, in particular those under BEB jurisdiction. We are effective, dynamic, ethical, professional and result-oriented. The best strategy is proactivity: take care of clients and win. Overall, there’s enough work for everyone)

I see very few truly different firms on the market; most look roughly the same. Effective, dynamic, professional, result-oriented — you can attach that description to almost anyone. Ethics is indeed a distinguishing feature. In such circumstances only proactivity really works (say hi to Timur?), because everything else is the same. Do you agree with this market assessment? If not, what unique or interesting practices of law firms do you see (mention unethical ones too, if they’re interesting and unique).

Look, everyone is doing their best, especially during wartime. The latter taught me to plan short-term and grab every opportunity life throws at you. Tomorrow may never come. The legal market has always been highly competitive. As soon as something unique appears — in a couple of months half the firms already do it. I recall when the military practice first appeared: everyone learned the criticality and employee protection issues and the uniqueness disappeared. But uniqueness lies in the details: how comfortable a client is working with you, how fast you are, how effectively you communicate and manage a project, what unconventional solutions you offer. And when you care about a client — they feel it. A lawyer’s level is determined by the level of problems they solve.

I’ve observed that law firms are becoming narrowly specialized across different categories of criminal cases and business sectors. I think this trend will continue.

If we’re not talking about large legal business and about unethical behavior, there are a number of advocates who have amassed a good capital on cases related to TCK) there’s also a criminal element to that.

Then let’s finish with this summary question. You worked at two companies you will now compete against. I understand you don’t see a fundamental difference in the quality and approaches to service delivery. Do you see a fundamental difference between the quality of work and approaches of the new and old law enforcement bodies and courts?

I’m more likely to compete with one of them and be friendly with the international one. Quality is already judged by clients. So are the differences. Everyone decides for themselves whom they feel more comfortable with. I don’t focus on analyzing competitors. On the contrary, I respect them and sometimes even partner with them on certain cases. I do see a difference. But as experience shows, it’s better not to praise the authorities, because some people grow a crown and a sense of righteousness… like some judges of the High Anti-Corruption Court or some NABU detectives.