Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance's statement on Ukraine

We are shocked and appalled by the continuing and increasing Russian military aggression in Ukraine and the resulting human suffering in Ukraine and the surrounding countries. We stand together in condemning the invasion which is a clear and blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter. We strongly support the rights of the government and the people of Ukraine.

We are united with the governments and fellow members of the legal and wider business community calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a withdrawal of all Russian forces from Ukraine in compliance with international law.

In support of these objectives, we will not accept new mandates from any Russian state entity, Russian state-owned enterprises or individuals identified as having close connections to President Putin. We will review all existing and new mandates relating to Russia, or where there is a connection to Russia, to ensure that our work remains consistent not only with the letter and the spirit of the international sanctions but also with our responsible business principles and values.

We always prioritise the safety, security and wellbeing of our people wherever they may be in the world. In particular, we stand in solidarity with both our Ukrainian and Russian colleagues across our offices, our many colleagues and former colleagues in the region, and those with close connections to the people of Ukraine and Russia. These are distressing and emotional times for many, and we commit to help and support wherever we can. We are fully committed to use our skills and resources to provide pro bono and significant financial support in response to the immediate and inevitable long-term impacts of the violence and resulting humanitarian crisis in the region.

Matthew Layton, Charles Adams and Jeroen Ouwehand